John Salvest, professor of art, is one of 102 artists from throughout the nation, and one of only four in Arkansas, whose work was selected for a major new exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. "State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now" will debut Sept. 13 as part of the museum's new initiatives to discover and exhibit recently created artwork from across the country.  Museum representatives visited almost 1,000 artists in their studios across the country to make the selections. See the news release from Crystal Bridges to learn more.

Dr. Paul Sikkel, associate professor of biology and a field marine biologist, is co-author of a recently published article in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal of science and medical research.  Sikkel and his fellow researchers are exploring the red lionfish's low susceptibility to a generalist ectoparasite in both its native and introduced ranges, basing their work on parallel experiments in the Caribbean and the Philippines.  Read more about Sikkel's research in an A-State news release or the journal article.

The National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP) has announced that Carol Barnhill, director of procurement and travel services, received its Distinguished Service Award during the group's annual meeting in Lexington, Ky.  The award was given in recognition of extraordinary service to her institution, the higher education community, and the procurement profession. Barnhill has been a full-time A-State employee since 1978.  NAEP has approximately 4,000 members at 1,500 institutions.

Dr. Elizabeth Hood, distinguished professor of agriculture, will serve as a reviewer on an impact panel and lead a discussion on strategic investments in the agri-food sector for the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI).  The panel is reviewing the prestigious SFI Research Centres Programmes.  She also will be evaluating the Centres's proposals for economic impact and educational outreach.  SFI is seeking expert input on appropriate models for developing research endeavors that will boost the Irish economy.