Rising STAR

This award recognizes and reward a new and junior faculty member for outstanding performance in at least two of these areas: research, teaching, service and mentoring/advising.

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 — Julie Hill, Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision
• 2024-25 — Sheida Raley, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• 2023-24 — Michele Kilmer, Assistant Professor of Nursing
• 2022-23 — Albert Cheng, Assistant Professor of Education Reform
• 2021-22 — Allison Ames Boykin, Assistant Professor of Educational Statistics and Research Methods
• 2020-21 — Jonathan Wai, Assistant Professor of Education Reform
• 2019-20 — Christine E. Holyfield, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• 2018-19 — Suzanne Kucharczyk, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• 2017-18 — Erin Kern Popejoy, Assistant Professor of Counselor Education
• 2016-17 — Kaitlin Gallagher, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
• 2015-16 — Elizabeth Lorah, Assistant Professor of Special Education
• 2014-15 — Michael Hevel, Assistant Professor of Higher Education
• 2013-14 — Kristen Jozkowski, Assistant Professor of Community Health Promotion
• 2012-13 — Matthew Ganio, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
• 2011-12 — Karee Dunn, Assistant Professor of Educational Statistics and Research Methods
• 2010-11
  • David Deggs, Assistant Professor of Workforce Development
  • Stephen Dittmore, Assistant Professor of Recreation
• 2009-10
  • Ketevan Mamiseishvili, Assistant Professor of Higher Education
  • Gretchen Oliver, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology
• 2008-09 — John Pijanowski, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

☞ 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. ☜