Jon Merryman
Faculty Profile: Ruth Plymale, holder of the J.D. Patterson Chair of Biology
March 10, 2021Ask Dr. Ruth Plymale what she loves about Ouachita, and her answer is easy – the students! Born in Japan and growing up in Texas and Northwest Arkansas, Plymale arrived at Ouachita to teach biology in 2009 after earning degrees at the University of Arkansas and Penn State. Now Arkadelphia feels like home and her students like family.
Alumni Profile: Christa Neal ('08) Facilitating hope and healing
March 10, 2021Seven years ago, Christa Neal was named executive director of the newly established Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center in Arkadelphia. There wasn’t a “center” to speak of at the time, just a vision of helping children who were victims of abuse or maltreatment in the area. Soon, a location would be found, Neal would grow funding and support and families would gain much needed services.
Staff Profile: Rob Hewell, director of Online Learning Initiatives & professor of music
March 10, 2021While many of us were home in March learning to bake homemade bread or binging Netflix, Dr. Rob Hewell was working swiftly with IT Services and other campus partners to shift every Ouachita student to remote learning. Hewell thrived not only assisting current students but also faculty and staff with moving courses to Zoom and Moodle while continuing his typical daily work with students in Ouachita’s online degree programs.
Tiger for Life Podcast: Lewis Shepherd ('80) Stories & Reflections on Black History at Ouachita
February 25, 2021This episode of the Tiger For Life Podcast features double Ouachita graduate Dr. Lewis Shepherd ('80). Dr. Shepherd shares about integration at Ouachita in the 1960s, how Ouachita has continued to welcome and support students of color, how the work continues today and some of his favorite Ouachita memories as a student and now as special assistant to the president for advancing racial diversity.
Tiger for Life Podcast: Christa Neal ('08) Bringing Hope & Healing to Victims of Child Abuse
November 23, 2020Christa (Bennett) Neal ('08) serves as the Executive Director of the Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center in Arkadelphia, Ark., which provides forensic interviews, trauma-focused therapy, advocacy and education surrounding child maltreatment and abuse. On this episode, Christa shares about the center's work, how you can get involved and help protect children in your community.
Julio Pruitt ('09) finished his 4-season career with the Ouachita Tigers with 171 catches for 2,406 career yards – a school record at that time. Later, Julio was signed by the Miami Dolphins and joined their practice squad and before being promoted to the team’s active roster, where he played for three seasons. New on the Tiger For Life Podcast, Julio shares about finishing his degree this fall with Ouachita Online, his favorite football memories and his plans to return to Newport, Ark., to invest in youth in his hometown.
After teaching elementary students for 10 years and later working in education sales and consulting, Sara Wheeler McDaniel ('98) moved home to Louisiana and restored a cottage. Her beautiful home has now been featured in magazines and on social media accounts like "Better Homes and Gardens," "Southern Living," "Cottages and Bungalows" and more.
Tiger for Life Podcast: Lindsey Catlett ('14) Serving Small Businesses, Adopting a Teenager & More
October 27, 2020On this episode of the Tiger for Life podcast, alumna Lindsey Fowler Catlett ('14) shares about life in Birmingham with her husband, Jacob ('14), their son Rodney, but also about her work supporting small businesses and their adoption journey.
On this episode of the Tiger For Life Podcast, we hear from alumna Abby Turner ('11). Abby currently serves as Senior Manager of Brand Reputation at Walmart and has a popular entertaining blog "A Table Top Affair" where she shares recipes and inspiration as she encourages you to share the table with new and old friends alike.
Tiger For Life Podcast: Levi Dade ('23) Pandemic Podcasting
October 05, 2020On this episode of the Tiger For Life podcast, we hear from Ouachita student Levi Dade ('23). Levi is a sophomore Christian Studies and Spanish major from Senatobia, Miss. Levi shares about his journey to Ouachita, his love of Tiger Tunes, his favorite Ouachita memories so far and about his podcast he started during quarantine this summer, "Defending Christianity."