Ouachita Stories

Ouachita recognizes graduates during Commencement exercises May 13

Ouachita Baptist University honored more than 400 students during its 136th Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 13, on the front lawn of Cone-Bottoms Hall. Graduates earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, as well as Master of Science degrees, post-baccalaureate certificates for Dietetic Internship and the university’s first Master of Education degrees in curriculum & instruction and Master of Science degrees in nutrition.

Megan Foshee selected for National League for Nursing leadership program

Megan Foshee, assistant professor and coordinator of the nursing simulation lab in Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Nursing, has been selected for the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators. The year-long initiative is part of the NLN Leadership Institute.

Ouachita's Office of Communications & Marketing earns national recognitions

Ouachita Baptist University’s Office of Communications & Marketing earned eight national recognitions as part of Baptist Communicators Association’s 59th annual Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition; those honors included four first place awards for branding and recruitment materials. The awards were announced April 19 at the organization’s annual meeting at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, N.C.

Dr. Caroline Taylor named dean of School of Fine Arts

Dr. Caroline B. Taylor, professor of music and interim chair of the Division of Music at Ouachita Baptist University, has been named dean of Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts. She will provide leadership starting June 2023 to the school’s divisions of and Applied Arts in pursuing their goal of producing artists and scholars who integrate their intellect and faith with their art, and their art with their worldview.

Sherry Kuhn named Support Staff Member of the Year

Sherry Kuhn, senior cash manager and grant specialist in the Office of Business Services at Ouachita Baptist University, has been named the university’s 2022-23 Support Staff Member of the Year. Kuhn was recognized in April by the university’s staff development committee and Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president.

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As we reflect on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, it is important to remember that Dr. King was a civil rights activist who fought continuously for racial equality and social justice. Dr. King condemned discrimination and segregation because of race, and he affirmed that the American dream belonged to all citizens and that everyone should have an equal opportunity to reach that dream.

Reyna, Plymale and Pruett publish research paper on AR-CURE program

Ouachita Baptist University professors Dr. Nathan Reyna, Dr. Ruth Plymale, and Dr. Christin Pruett collaborated with colleagues at other universities on a research paper that has been published in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, vol. 50, issue 5. Their paper, titled, “From genetics to biotechnology: Synthetic biology as a flexible course-embedded research experience,” details the implementation and assessment of the Arkansas Course Embedded Undergraduate Research Experience (AR-CURE) teaching model developed at Ouachita by Reyna and Plymale.

Motl takes on new mission as Sutton School dean

When classes at Ouachita resume in August, Dr. Kevin C. “Casey” Motl will have a cool story to share about what he did during his summer vacation: He flew the Millennium Falcon.

Dr. Justin K. Hardin named Ouachita's vice president for academic affairs

Ouachita alumnus Dr. Justin K. Hardin has been named Ouachita’s vice president for academic affairs (VPAA), effective July 2022. He brings a strong background in teaching, scholarship and administration to his new role as the university’s chief academic officer.

Steve Guymon

Some might think starting a track program would require a track. Not Steve Guymon. Sure, it would come in handy. But while plans are in the works to build one on campus, Guymon went ahead and grew Ouachita’s cross country and track & field teams from seven athletes in 2019 to 90 this fall.