The Arkansas Research Alliance announced Thursday Dr. Brandon Kemp, associate professor of electrical engineering, is one of its five ARA Research Fellows for 2016. The Fellows are selected from Arkansas's research universities. Kemp's research seeks to better understand the fundamental interactions between light and matter by developing a consistent theory of the momentum, energy and forces that electromagnetic fields exert on materials. See details in the ARA news release.

The university community is highly appreciative to the first responders, especially our own University Police Department, and countless public safety professionals whose cooperation and teamwork successfully defused a dangerous situation last week. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial Tuesday, "Jonesboro's Finest," also commended the effort. Chancellor Tim Hudson captured the feelings of many through his online message to the campus community and alumni Friday morning.

During the Board of Trustees' quarterly meeting Friday at the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home campus, members of the board viewed a video report from Chancellor Tim Hudson.  The report features numerous achievements by students, faculty and staff, along with highlights of many special events during the fall semester at A-State. The report also is available online.

Congratulations to Dr. Paula D. Ruby and Dr. Ralph Ruby Jr., professors of computer and information technology, upon receiving a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for their Translator. The patent is based on their research, development and application of a number of functionality properties for communicating and note-taking using a mobile device. The U.S. Copyright Office also issued a copyright certificate to the Rubys for the Translator code.

Congratulations to head football coach Blake Anderson and members of his coaching staff on guiding the Red Wolves football team to an 8-0 conference record, Sun Belt championship, and R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl berth. Assistant coaches are Walt Bell, Joe Cauthen, Glen Elarbee, Luke Paschall, Dan Dodd, Brian Early, Allen Johnson, Trooper Taylor and Anthony Tucker. The team will meet Conference USA representative Louisiana Tech Saturday at New Orleans.

Ever wondered how the Convocation Center, fully outfitted for the "pomp and circumstance" of a fall commencement ceremony that concludes after noon Saturday, is transformed for tip-off of Red Wolves basketball at 5 p.m.? A time-lapse video from last weekend shows how quickly the Convocation Center staff, already at work before the commencement recessional concludes, turns the arena from a time for celebration to a time for competition.