Dr. Brady Banta, the first head of archives and special collections at Ellis Library, and associate director, Ph.D. program in heritage studies, will retire in early January. After arriving at A-State in 1997, Banta has concentrated on gathering a documentary heritage of Northeast Arkansas, with support from grant and gift funding for special projects. In the Ph.D. program, he directed 13 doctoral dissertations. Banta's future plans include travel and renewing his research agenda.

Dr. Timberly Baker, associate professor of educational leadership, made a research presentation and chaired a symposium during the annual conference of the American Educational Studies Association. She and co-authors presented "We have our Priorities Misplaced: Critical Community Conversations about the School Prison Nexus," and the symposium, which included authors from six institutions, was titled "Critical Analyses of the Intersections of Race, Religion, Gender, & Class in Education."

Congratulations to Dr. Cliff E. Jones, deputy director, Delta Center for Economic Development, who recently earned an executive education certificate from the Authentic Leadership Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. As a 2017 Executive Academy Fellow with the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) Delta Leadership Institute, Jones was chosen to participate in the 2019 leadership event.

Thanks to everyone at A-State for contributing in myriad ways, both large and small, to the institution's success in 2019. Inside A-State has highlighted many of you, and many more deserve to be highlighted. As we reflect on 2019 and prepare for 2020, we appreciate the tips that have led to items this year and we hope you will continue to share your ideas for future editions. Happy New Year to all.