The National Endowment for the Humanities announced its latest round of grants, including a digital humanities grant to Dr. Alyson Gill, associate professor of art and director of the Center for Digital Initiatives.  The two-year grant will support an institute in advanced topics in the digital humanities to be hosted by A-State in 2015 and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2016.  See details in the university news release.

Lions Clubs International Foundation has named Robert Bahn a Melvin Jones Fellow in Lions International.  Named for the Lions founder, the award was based on Bahn's dedication to the humanitarian services he helps provide as a leader in University Heights Lions Club.  Bahn, a consultant in the Small Business and Technology Development Center, in the College of Business, just concluded a year as president of the club.

Dr. Hans Hacker, associate professor of political science and pre-law adviser, has been named administrative law editor at Administrative Theory & Praxis, the quarterly journal of the Public Administration Theory Network.  The journal publishes innovative, rigorous scholarship that critically examines topics in public administration theory and introduces frameworks and literature in the field.  A-State offers an accredited Master of Public Administration program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, associate professor of environmental biology and director of the Ecotoxicology Research Facility, recently tested water from area rivers and lakes for a news report on KAIT-TV.  She was analyzing pathogens, such as E. coli, that are potentially harmful to people participating in water-based recreation.  Bouldin was interviewed about the test results, causes of contamination, and potential for long-term impact.  The story was picked up by more than 30 stations in 12 states.  View the report on KAIT's website.

Dr. Paul Mixon was interviewed last week for an article in Arkansas Professional Engineer, the magazine for members of two state engineering associations.  A faculty member since 1996 and director of the electrical engineering program, Mixon recently accepted appointment as interim dean of the College of Engineering, following the retirement of Dr. David Beasley.