Timby, Mobley Honored for Work with Bumpers College's Honors and International Programs

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Veronica Mobley (left) is assistant director of outreach and international service learning programs in U of A's Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange, and Donia Timby is a human development and family sciences, and a birth through kindergarten instructor in Bumpers College's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Donia Timby and Veronica Mobley are being honored for their service to the honors and international programs, respectively, in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Timby is being presented the college's Outstanding Honors Faculty Mentor award and Mobley the Outstanding International Education award.

Both will be formally recognized at the annual U of A System Division of Agriculture Awards Luncheon in January.

Timby is a human development and family sciences, and a birth through kindergarten instructor in the college's School of Human Environmental Sciences. Mobley is assistant director of outreach and international service learning programs in U of A's Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange.

Timby earned bachelor's (1999) and master's (2004) degrees from the U of A. She was a master teacher at the U of A Nursery School and program project specialist for the Child Assessment team of Childhood Services at Arkansas State University before joining the HESC faculty in 2017.

She is being honored for partnering with and mentoring students with class and honors projects. Her experiences include assisting an honors student in transforming a garden space into a healing garden at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center. She is currently working with another honors student on developing a culturally competent library space for children, families, students and staff, also at the JTCDSC.

"Honors mentors are an integral part of the honors student experience," said Lisa Wood, assistant dean for honors and international programs. "Donia was nominated by two students who clearly expressed how important her guidance and support has been to them and to the success of their projects. Mentoring our honors students is a time commitment not to be taken lightly. I thank Donia for her willingness to give of her time to support our honors students in such an impactful way."

Mobley coordinates faculty-led programs and advises students who are interested in study abroad for Bumpers College and the College of Education and Health Professions.

She helps foster partnerships with external study abroad providers, project manages the Study Abroad social media accounts and the Study Abroad Student Ambassador Program. Mobley provides support for international service learning programs such as Bumpers College's programs in Belize and Mozambique, where she combines a passion for education and service through administration of programs that build community partnerships across the world.

"International education and study abroad experiences are an integral part of the student experience promoted by Bumpers College," said Wood. "As a result of COVID-19, Bumpers students would have been shut out of international experiences were it not for the resourcefulness of Veronica to pivot to creating virtual experiences for our students that included internships abroad and a successful virtual apparel merchandising and product development study tour in Italy. Veronica works with our faculty leaders to ensure high-quality programming within Bumpers College, particularly related to place-based, service-learning programs like Belize and Mozambique. Her dedication to our students, faculty and international programming is second to none."

Mobley earned her bachelor's degree from the U of A in international relations, and Latin American and Latino studies, and her master's degree in communication.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.