UAPB names Walker interim dean
Tanya Walker, Ph.D., was appointed interim dean of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff University College while continuing to serve as UAPB director of academic advancement programs.
Walker recently served as the assistant director of student success and the retention coordinator for the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Success.
Her appointment was effective in February with the retirement of previous University College Dean Janice Coleman, according to a news release.
Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Bruce McGowan, highlighted engagement, energy, and interaction with administrators, faculty and students as strengths she brings to the University College.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
He anticipates her leadership will elevate the unit.
“Dr. Walker’s bio underscores her strategic leadership in academic and student affairs, particularly in the areas of student success, career preparation, and retention. Her exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to motivate and teach in an academic and student-involvement environment are also noted. Above all, her unwavering commitment to academic success and assisting students in reaching their personal and academic goals is a defining feature of her work,” according to the release.
She is a seasoned higher education administrator with over a decade of experience.
“I am excited for this opportunity to lead the Division of University College and support student success initiatives, and I look forward to collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to enhance academic programs and student development,” said Walker.
She holds a Master of Education degree in education administration, a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Prairie View A&M University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in marketing from UAPB.
Walker completed her Ph.D. program in urban higher education at Jackson State University in July 2022. Her research topic, “The Impact of the covid-19 Pandemic on Students’ Mental Health and Degree Completion at HBCUs,” has been featured at the National Association of African American Studies & Affiliates and the Jackson State University Research Engagement Symposium.
Town hall meeting set
The community is invited to attend a town hall meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Kevin D. Collins Center (City Council Chambers), 200 E. Eighth Ave. Topics of discussion will include affordable housing, healthcare and food security.
The meeting is presented by the Social Impact and Sustainability Committee of Mayor Vivian Flowers’ Transition Advisory Board, according to StuffinTheBluff.com.
“Your input is needed as Pine Bluff residents help shape the city’s future. Don’t miss out on this opportunity,” according to the release.
Those unable to attend may watch the town hall meeting live on YouTube.
USACE issues small craft advisory
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is issuing a small craft advisory for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in Arkansas.
Heavy rainfall in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas over the last 24 hours has resulted in Arkansas River flows exceeding 70,000 cubic feet per second at Trimble Lock and Dam, according to Wednesday’s news release.
Small craft advisories are issued when flows exceed 70,000 cfs. Strong currents and large debris can threaten the safety of pleasure craft during high flows.
A crest near 90,000 cfs. will make its way downstream over the next few days.
Daily river information can be found online at www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil.
March Madness Wellness event set
Jefferson Regional Medical Center will host March Madness 2025 Wellness from 4-7 p.m. March 18 at the White Hall Community Center, 9801 Dollarway Road.
There will be free health screenings including PSA blood test, diabetic testing, cholesterol testing, blood pressure checks, cancer screening, and urology education and product demonstrations, according to a flier.
Urologists, Drs. Nathan Green, Nick Scherzer, and Jordan Hanberry, will also attend.
Participants can watch the game/pre-game on a big screen TV. A $500 gift card grand prize will be sponsored by Hunter’s Refuge. Free wings and pizza will be served.
Exodus.Life sets recruitment event
Exodus.Life, 316 W. Sixth Ave., will host a peer specialist recruitment and informational meeting from 1-4 p.m. March 10 at their agency.
Exodus.Life is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate addiction treatment services to individuals, no matter where they are in their recovery journey, according to the website. For details or to RSVP, visit https://www.exodus.life/.
UAMS plans free MS Symposium
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is holding a free 2025 Multiple Sclerosis Symposium on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Jo Ellen Ford Auditorium in the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at UAMS. For those unable to attend in person, it will also be available on Zoom.
The symposium is geared toward patients with multiple sclerosis, their caregivers and family, neurologists and anyone who wants more information about MS, according to a news release.
MS is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. During MS, the immune system gets confused and attacks the myelin sheath, which protects the nerves. This damage, commonly referred to as lesions, interrupts the transmission of nerve signals, causing a variety of issues.
To register, visit medicine.uams.edu/neurology/ms-symposium/.