The Diversity Excellence Award recognizes efforts to enhance diversity and inclusion. Dr. Malathi Srivatsan, assistant director of Arkansas Biosciences Institute and professor of neurobiology, the 2015 recipient, was chosen from a group of nominees, known as "Friends of Diversity": Dr. Tim Crist, professor of music; the Department of Political Science Master of Public Administration program; Department of Teacher Education at ASU-Mountain Home; and the Interactive Teaching and Technology Center. Video coverage is online.

Congratulations to staff members who have been selected as Distinguished Performance Award recipients for 2014-2015. They will be recognized by the vice chancellors Tuesday, May 5, during the 22nd annual Distinguished Performance and Service Recognition ceremony, which will be hosted by Angela Daniels, Staff Senate president.

Those to be recognized are:

• Rookie of the Year -- Terry Kelly, Information & Technology Services
• Team Player -- Rebecca Spicer, Procurement & Travel Services
• Unsung Hero -- Billy Hogue, Accounts Payable & Disbursing
• Team Achievement (Departmental Award) -- ITS Hardware Services
• Enhancing the Student Experience -- Sherry Hufstedler, Honors College
• Outstanding Part-Time -- Morgan Castelli, Procurement & Travel Services
• STAR (Service, Teamwork, Attitude, Reliability) -- Christine Perry, Accounting Dept.

During the Distinguished Performance Awards and Service Recognition ceremony for non-faculty employees, 18 retiring employees will be recognized, along with 38 individuals who have reached service milestones. Three staff members -- Philip Jackson, Advancement Services, Tom Moore, University Communications, and Jan Woodruff, Payroll Services -- have completed 30 years. Other veteran employees will be recognized for reaching service milestones of 20 and 10 years. Chancellor Tim Hudson will present the retirement and service certificates.  See the news release for a list of individuals to be honored.

Nikki Arnell, assistant professor of graphic design, conducted a workshop recently for members of the American Advertising Federation chapter in Victoria, Texas. In her program she discussed the premise and techniques of "guerrilla marketing," covering how the strategy has evolved, how audience and placement are affected, how brand loyalty is built, and the resulting return on investment.

Dr. Simon Hosken, instructor in history, was local arrangements chair for the 74th annual conference of the Arkansas Historical Association, held this year for the first time at West Memphis. Several A-State faculty and students participated, including Dr. Joe Key, History Department chair, and Dr. Brady Banta, archivist, who moderated panels on health care and the Civil War, respectively. Louis Intres, instructor in history, discussed the Sultana disaster. Sessions are listed online.

Bryan Pierce, who conducts research and provides educational tours at the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza, was selected as Graduate Student of the Year by the Arkansas Museum Association at the state meeting in Helena. A graduate student in the Heritage Studies Ph.D. program, Pierce was nominated for his outstanding work by Linda Hinton, director of the museum, which is an A-State Heritage Site.