UAPB dean to discuss founder
Kimberley Davis, Ph.D., professor and dean of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Education, will present “Introducing Professor Corbin in the Primary Classroom.” Corbin was an American educator and the founder and principal of Branch Normal College (predecessor of AM&N College and UAPB) from 1875 to 1902.
Davis’ presentation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church, 3319 S. Ohio St., in the Albert King Hall. The Rev. Dr. Derick Easter is the church’s pastor.
The presentation and program commemorate the third annual Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Day, established by the city of Pine Bluff in 2023.
The event hosts are Friends of Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Legacy Endowment and New St. Hurricane church, according to a news release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Saturday’s program will feature a presentation by Davis and a question and answer session on research, scholarships, and opportunities to learn more about Corbin. Davis, an innovator in teacher training and curriculum development, will bring a unique perspective to the event.
“Her novel lessons, which incorporate Professor Corbin into the elementary classroom, are a testament to her expertise. As an heir to the Corbin Legacy and the head of Teacher Preparation and Training at UAPB, her role will have a lasting impact on students in the Pine Bluff area, the state of Arkansas, and the nation as a whole for years to come,” according to the release.
According to the Friends of Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Legacy Endowment, Corbin is already part of the approved Arkansas State History Curriculum, and they thank and celebrate Davis for this important work.
Corbin was born March 26, 1833, in Chillicothe, Ohio, to formerly enslaved parents. Corbin was a linguist, mathematician, musician and scholar. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University in 1853 and two masters’ degrees in 1856 and 1889. He migrated to Arkansas in 1872 and was elected state superintendent of public education. In this position, he served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Industrial University (now the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville). During this time, he recommended a college “for the education of the poorer classes,” according to the release.
In 2023, the Pine Bluff City Council declared Sept. 27, 2023, to be Professor Joseph Carter Corbin Day in perpetuity thanks to the hard work, dedication and passion of Gladys Turner Finney, herself an heir to the legacy and author of Professor Joseph Carter Corbin: Educator Extraordinaire and Founder of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Her efforts have ensured that Corbin has been honored and remembered for his contributions to public education in Arkansas since 2013.
The community is invited to celebrate Professor Corbin Day 2025.
UADA economists to visit Stuttgart
Agricultural economists from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will discuss farm policy, marketing opportunities and financial outlooks at “Farm Gate Economics: Surviving the Cost-Price Squeeze.” The event will be held Oct. 23 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.
Lunch is included. There is no cost to attend. The event is co-hosted by the Southern Risk Management Education Center, according to a news release from the Division of Agriculture.
“With the current ag economy, we’re trying to put information in the hands of farmers as they start planning for next season,” said Grant Beckwith, Arkansas County extension staff chair for the Division of Agriculture. “The program will also highlight practical web-based tools designed to turn farm numbers into clear decisions.”
“Farmers across the United States find themselves crammed between ascending input costs and bottom-of-the-barrel commodity prices,” said Ryan Loy, extension economist for the Division of Agriculture. “We understand the strain our farmers are feeling and want to be able to offer means to help growers play the hand they’re dealt.”
THE AGENDA
8:30 a.m. — Registration
8:45 a.m. — Welcome and purpose; Grant Beckwith, Arkansas County extension staff chair
9 a.m. — Introductions; John Anderson, director – Cooperative Extension Service
9:10 a.m. — 2025-26 farm policy outlook; Hunter D. Biram, extension agricultural economist, associate director, Southern Risk Management Education Center
10 a.m. — Domestic economy outlook and marketing opportunities; Scott Stiles, extension economics program associate
11 a.m. — Financial outlook and international trade; Ryan Loy, extension economist
1 p.m. — Turning numbers into decisions: Tools for farmers; Biram and Loy
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact a local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.