A salamander Dr. Stan Trauth observed over a five-year period while conducting research near Hot Springs became the creative inspiration for one of the central characters in "an animal adventure/fantasy novel" written by Trauth and his wife, former faculty member Joy Trauth. Just released by Mockingbird Lane Press, Salamandria is an entertaining tale that educates young readers about natural science. See details in an online news feature.

Dr. Wayne Narey, associate professor of English, presented "Faulkner's 'The Reivers': Hollywood's Coming of Age" for a panel on movies and Delta life during Delta Symposium XXI. This more "readable" Faulkner novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize, brought Hollywood and Faulkner together. Narey discussed how "The Reivers" became one of the best amalgams in entertainment, a collaboration in which literature and Hollywood met with the best results for both.

The Publications and Creative Service team and the Digital Creative Media team, both in the Office of Marketing and Communications, won 10 awards during the District IV conference of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. The PCS team includes director Mark Reeves, assistant director Heath Kelly, and graphic designers Mary Williams, Robby Myers and Muriel Schrepfer. The Digital Creative Media team includes director Todd Clark, videographer Tyler Silvey and photographer Andrew Ferguson. District IV includes universities in five states. Award details are online.

Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, associate professor of environmental biology and director of the Ecotoxicology Research Facility, spoke at the STEM Leadership Conferences for Girls, at A-State and Forrest City. She discussed opportunities in STEM careers, using as an example her own work with freshwater resources and why it is important to protect them. She also set up a mock toxicity test that proved popular using  organisms from her lab, fathead minnows and water fleas.

Dr. Charlotte Young, professor of nursing, was one of the featured speakers for the Sigma Theta Tau Research Day, presented by the professional chapters at A-State and Harding. She covered the topic, "Use of Technology and Complementary Therapy in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," for the conference, "Evidence Based Practice: Guiding Nursing to Excellence." Young's presentation was covered in The Jonesboro Sun.