The Arkansas Heritage Sites Program took another big step Friday.  Under the guidance of Dr. Ruth Hawkins, director, and Paula Miles, assistant director, the Dyess Colony Administration Building and the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home opened for viewing by the Cash family, key donors and supporters, and news media.  The public opening will be Aug. 16, after the annual Johnny Cash Music Festival. Restoration has been financed by festival proceeds, grant resources, the Arkansas General Assembly, and private gifts.

Congratulations to the Controller’s Office in Finance and Administration, which has received a prestigious national award.  The staff, led by Dr. Russ Hannah, associate vice chancellor for finance, Myra Goodwin, controller, and Brandy Hampton, associate controller, received the Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the Government Finance Officers Association for their work preparing the ASU System’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for fiscal 2013.  This is the second consecutive year A-State has won the award.

Dr. Annette Hux has accepted appointment to serve as chair of the School of Teacher Education and Leadership in the College of Education and Behavioral Science, effective July 1.  She has been filling this position on an interim basis.

Morgan Lehman Gallery in New York City has opened an exhibition of sculpture and found-object based work by John Salvest, professor of art.  Salvest was honored at an opening reception at the gallery last week. The exhibition continues through May 17.

Congratulations to Dr. Dale Miller, director of choral activities, for his leadership with the Concert Choir and Community Choir’s recent three-city “American Celebration of Music” tour of Spain. The trip to Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid capped months of preparation and was a highly memorable cultural enrichment experience for the music students.

Several staff members in A-State’s Marketing and Communications Office enjoyed recognition from their peers at CASE District IV institutions.  The publications and videos they produced are some of the best representations of the work they do on behalf of faculty researchers, the Honors College and student recruitment.  See the details about how Mark Reeves, Heath Kelly, Mary Williams, Robby Myers, Muriel Schrepfer, Todd Clark, Hunter West and Dr. Bill Smith put their talent to work for A-State.