Ouachita Stories

Pandemic Profiles: Kristi Seals and Kristin Kesterson, Ouachita's COVID-19 Testing Center

For many Ouachita students, the slightest sign of COVID-19 symptoms or the realization that they have been exposed to a positive case causes anxiety, naturally. But since students returned to campus for residential learning in August 2020, they have had two on-campus “mommas” to call for guidance: Kristin Kesterson and Kristi Seals.

Pandemic Profiles: Kari Ledford, Sodexo Retail and Marketing Manager

Consider providing three meals a day to Ouachita’s residential campus of roughly 1,500 students, physically distanced, observing the Arkansas Department of Health and CDC’s vigilant cleaning guidelines and all while keeping lines of hungry students moving. For Kari Ledford, Sodexo’s retail and marketing manager, and her team, their focus was always Ouachita students and their safety.

Pandemic Profiles: Matt Douglass, Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs

After months of remote learning in the spring of 2020, Ouachita students were able to return to their physically-distanced classrooms and desks on campus in mid-August. One of the individuals who made on-campus learning possible is Dr. Matt Douglass, assistant to the vice president for academic affairs and institutional research analyst.

Pandemic Profiles: Kevin Herrington, Network Services Administrator

When Ouachita sent students home for an extended Spring Break in March of 2020, it took some by surprise. Thankfully, Ouachita's Kevin Herrington and the Office of IT Services had already been working on contingency plans for the possibility of remote learning.

Pandemic Profiles: Randall Quillin, Building Services Supervisor

Remember at the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S. when toilet paper was impossible to find and hand sanitizer was out of stock? Imagine the demand for those supplies on a college campus, specifically at Ouachita. Thanks to the work of Randall Quillin, building services supervisor in Ouachita’s Office of Facilities Management, and his building services team, Ouachita was able secure needed supplies to return to on-campus classes.

Time-out: Sports media students score Zoom interviews with industry pros during global pause of athletics events

What do you do in Sports Journalism class when sports are cancelled, and what do you do in Broadcast Performance class when your students aren’t able to get into the studio or work with the equipment on campus? Thankfully, there was another group of people who were asking themselves the same questions – the professionals.

Ouachita surprises students by canceling classes Oct. 16, declaring Student Catch-Up Day

Ouachita Baptist University surprised its students today, Oct. 16, by declaring it Student Catch-up Day and canceling classes in an effort to encourage self-care. The unplanned break was largely in response to a survey of students conducted last weekend to check in on their academic and personal well-being in the midst of an unprecedented semester.

Tiger for Life Podcast: Anna Lloyd ('00), Back to School

On this episode of the Tiger for Life Podcast we hear from Ouachita alumna Anna Lloyd ('00), who serves as principal at Pulaski Heights Elementary in Little Rock. Anna shares about leading through the pandemic, how she prepared to open her school for on-campus instruction, what she learned surviving the crash of American Airlines flight 1420 as a Ouachita student, and her favorite Ouachita memories.

Ouachita's Elrod Center to hold Fall Tiger Serve Day Sept. 26

Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community will host Tiger Serve Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, encouraging Ouachita students, faculty and staff to serve the Arkadelphia community even amid a global pandemic.

Tiger For Life Podcast: Kelly Martin Stamps ('95)

This episode of the Tiger For Life Podcast features alumna Kelly Martin Stamps ('95). Kelly is a well-known and loved blogger from Northwest Arkansas who is married to Scott and has three children: Harper, Hollis and Will Holden. Kelly shares how her family survived the spring and summer at home due to quarantine, what it's been like getting kids back to school, about her work with Tangible Truth Ministries, and more.