Southern Arkansas University recently recognized 75 faculty members for their scholarly accomplishments. The event, titled the All-Star Scholars Celebration, was held to recognize the research and scholarship produced by faculty.

“It was a wonderful event to acknowledge what our faculty are doing,” said Dr. Robin Sronce, provost and vice president for academic affairs at SAU. “It was to recognize that even though these faculty members are busy with teaching and advising students, they still remain active in the subjects that they teach.”

There were a total of over 280 scholarly activities reported by faculty members in the most recent academic year. They were in the categories of creative expressions, publications, presentations, and grants.

During the 2024 academic year, SAU faculty members produced 46 publications, gave over 140 presentations, presented 50 creative expressions, and wrote 52 grants.

The scholarly work by faculty members also benefits current students at SAU.

“This scholarly work allows them to bring new ideas to the classroom,” added Sronce.

Dr. Tim Wise, professor of management, agrees that his research allows him to stay fresh in his field while presenting new ideas to his students.

Wise enjoys engaging in case research. One of his recent cases centered on the local restaurants MuleKick and Lefty’s.

“I like to use case research because it’s something I can use in the classroom,” said Wise. “I talked with the owner of Lefty’s and MuleKick. She talked about how she started the restaurant, how she managed her restaurant, and a lot of other details that go into opening a restaurant and making a business successful.”

“I try to relate my case studies to topics we study in class and from the textbook,” added Wise.

Dr. Stacey Stanberry, assistant professor of education and director of elementary education and Rider Residency lead, said she uses research as a way to stay current in her field and to help students as they prepare for careers in education.

“My research is more centered around public education to help prepare educators,” said Stanberry. “Most of my research recently has been around our residency program and how it affects school districts.”

Sronce said the All-Star Scholars Celebration was a way of honoring and recognizing faculty members for their scholarly work. And she hoped the event would encourage faculty members to continue with that work.

“We want to encourage faculty members to be lifelong learners and contributors to their fields,” said Sronce.

About SAU: Southern Arkansas University provides students with the complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees across four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to meet the needs of today’s career and professional trends. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.