Empowerment Award

The intent of the Empowerment Award of the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions is to recognize and reward a faculty member for exhibiting outstanding performance and excellence in empowering all students, faculty, staff and communities through their work in at least three of the four areas over the previous two (or more) calendar years:

• Service
• Teaching
• Mentoring/Advising
• Research/Scholarship

The College of Education and Health Professions honors faculty and staff members each year for their teaching, research and service to the college and the University of Arkansas. The 2026 winners have been announced.

• 2025-26 — Sheida Raley, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• 2024-25 — Lyn Laye, Clinical Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision
• 2023-24 — Thomas Kippenbrock, Professor of Nursing
• 2022-23 — Karmen Bell, Instructor of Childhood Education

☞ Nominations for 2027 will open in January. Find the 2026 instructions on the cover sheet form (PDF). For more information, write to cs098@uark.edu . ☜