Honors College Recognizes Outstanding Staff on Campus

Megan Jennings

From left: Rafael Arciga Garcia, Rhonda Roberson, Gina Daugherty, Dean Lynda Coon, Georgette Madewell and Lisa Kulczak

The Honors College recognized five staff members who have provided outstanding support to honors students, faculty and staff at a Wednesday reception in Gearhart Hall. Rafael Arciga Garcia, Gina Daugherty, Lisa Kulczak, Georgette Madewell and Rhonda Roberson each received an Honors College Staff of the Year Award certificate and a check for $500.

The Honors College launched the awards and the staff reception six years ago to recognize staff members who go the extra mile to help students succeed and to document the honors experience on campus and beyond.

"Our annual staff awards ceremony celebrates the 'unsung heroes' of the Honors College, that is, staff in other units whose tireless labors on behalf of honors students often go unnoticed by the wider campus community," said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon. "Without them, we could not recruit nor retain the exceptional honors cohort we currently have."

Winners of the 2023 Honors College Staff of the Year Award include:

Rafael Arciga Garcia, assistant dean for diversity recruitment in the Office of Admissions

My initial work with the Honors College began with Latino Scholars' Day, a collaboration between the Oficina Latina and the Honors College inviting high-achieving Latino high school students from area schools onto campus to discover the opportunities available at the U of A. As a recruiter, I often work alongside Xochitl Delgado Solorzano, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as Michelle King, associate director of the Path Program, to identify and inform prospective students either about the Honors College and/or the Path Program. The work Xochitl and Michelle do with the Path Scholars inspiring, and each semester, the three of us work together to inform underrepresented students about the Path Program. On a given semester, we see over 200 students through targeted recruitment events. I'll do my best to make sure students are aware of these opportunities.

Gina Daugherty, curriculum manager and workday student curriculum lead in Enrollment Services

It has been such a privilege to work with the wonderful faculty and staff of the Honors College for the past eight years. Working with Dean Jennie Popp and seeing her passion for the Service Learning Initiative was not only inspiring but also entertaining. Working with John Treat on class scheduling and curriculum changes makes the typically tedious process surprisingly enjoyable. As the parent of a son who was a member of Honors College and another son who was a part of the Health Coaches Program, I certainly appreciate the opportunities available for high-achieving students at the University of Arkansas.

Lisa Kulczak, associate registrar for Curriculum Management

As associate registrar for Curriculum Management, I had the pleasure of working closely with deans Lynda Coon and Jennie Popp on several projects. When the college sought to expand class offerings, I assisted Dean Coon with scheduling them by providing training and support for the campus scheduling software. With Dean Popp, I developed a system by which approved classes were identified as fulfilling service learning requirements in UAConnect, allowing students to search for them when enrolling and for those classes to be designated on their transcript. When John Treat, director of interdisciplinary and curricular learning, assumed the responsibility of submitting course and policy updates for the college, I provided instruction and guidance on how to navigate the campus curriculum management software modules so that those proposals advanced through the approval process in a timely manner. 

Although I have since changed job positions within the university, I am honored and humbled to have been selected for this award, which ultimately recognizes the partnership between the Registrar's Office and the dedicated (and fun-loving) leadership in the Honors College to further serve students.

Georgette Madewell, fiscal support supervisor in the Treasurer's Office

I have worked closely with the Honors College since it was founded many years ago, ensuring that students receive the correct amount in scholarship aid before we release refunds to their accounts. I also help answer questions about student accounts that come up. I very much enjoy the relationship that I have cultivated with the college after all these years, and I am delighted and honored to receive this award from Dean Lynda Coon and my colleagues.

Rhonda Roberson, assistant director for admission operations in Enrollment Services.  

I have spent the majority of my 19-year career at the University of Arkansas in the Office of Admissions, but I was fortunate to spend three of those years in the Academic Scholarship Office several years ago. My time in the scholarship office made me more aware of how a student's grade point average affects scholarship awards, fellowships opportunities and admission to the Honors College. Now, in the admissions office, the unit I supervise is fully aware of how the information we enter impacts more than an admission decision. I assist Noah Pittman, associate dean of enrollment, in recalculating GPAs and ensuring applicant data is correctly entered, whether it is ACT scores or high school information. I do my best to answer requests sent by the Honors College as a quickly as possible so that students receive the Honors College admissions application and can begin that process. It is very rewarding when I recalculate a GPA or find a test score that makes the difference for a student. 

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university's top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students' academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.