Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Peters, assistant professor of psychology, who is December Professor of the Month as selected by the Program-Level Assessment Committee and Office of Assessment at A-State. In an online video, he discusses removing barriers to developing a successful program evaluation. After Peters began directing the B.S. in psychology program, his nominator for the award said he has successfully helped design and improve the assessment strategies.

Dr. Michael Bowman, assistant professor of creative media production, presented "All Rockers Go to Heaven: The Afterlife of Musical Superstars" at the Southwest Symposium of the Southwest Education Council for Journalism & Mass Communication. The paper examines how the media applies religion and religious terms toward the death of famous musicians, and how marketers and the media create a commercial afterlife by capitalizing on the musical treasures left behind.

Dr. Mohammad Abrar Alam, assistant professor of chemistry, is the lead author of an article published by Scientific Reports, an open access journal from the publishers of Nature. His medicinal chemistry research has resulted in the reported efficient hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol-mediated synthesis of novel 2,3-dihydro-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-ones. The article, with acknowledgements to various A-State units and to funding sources, is online.

Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Wilson, associate professor of music, for a recent achievement by one of his trumpet students. Austin Merriman of Highland was awarded first place at the state level of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artists Competition, Brass Division, which was held in Conway. Merriman, who is majoring in music performance, will represent the state of Arkansas and compete at the regional level in January.