Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, professor of plant metabolic engineering, is co-author of a paper published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Sepideh Mohammadhosseinpour, a Ph.D. student in the molecular biosciences Ph.D. program, is first author. They describe a compound, isolated from peanut roots, and its effects on triple-negative breast cancer cells. They are very optimistic about the potential benefits because triple-negative breast cancer is the most difficult to treat.

Congratulations to Emily Sisco, adjunct instructor, occupational therapy assistant program, whose work with her students has been the subject of extensive news media coverage. Sisco challenged her occupational therapy assistant program students to develop a piece of adaptive equipment to assist stroke patients, and they tested it with Sisco's father. Her video went viral; television coverage has included KAIT, Fox16 and KTHV in Little Rock, and CBS News, which visits today.

Jennifer Keys, director, Childhood Development and Research Center, is February recipient of the PROPS (Proudly Recognizing Our Pack Staff) recognition. Keys oversees two buildings, 13 classrooms, numerous staff and student workers, and more than 140 children. Her ability to build positive relationships with staff was noted in her nomination. More about Keys is online. Organized by Staff Senate, the PROPS program highlights one individual each month.

Dr. Edward Salo, associate professor of history, has been named the director of outreach for the Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC), which is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, all-volunteer, non-partisan, non-profit organization. CIMSEC publishes reader-submitted content on international maritime security, naval affairs, and defense and foreign policy topics. Salo also continues to be a producer for CIMSEC’s podcast, which is called “Sea Control.”

A paper authored by Dr. Jessie Thacker-King, adjunct professor, educational leadership, was accepted for publication in the Journal of Global Education and Research, published by the University of South Florida. The paper, a literature review, examines the topic of how COVID-19 school closures and slow reopening processes affect the equitable global education of minorities and children living in poverty and extreme poverty.