UA news: DiBrezzo named vice provost, gift honors Sam Walton, RFID center moving

Ro DiBrezzo, vice provost for academic affairs.

Courtesy photo

Ro DiBrezzo named vice provost for academic affairs – DiBrezzo, a professor in the College of Education and Health Professions, has served as interim vice provost for the past year. She previously served as chair of the Faculty Senate in 2010-11 and chair of the Campus Faculty in 2009-10. (read more)

RFID Research Center moving into new home – The UA’s RFID Research Center is moving into a home of its own. The new facility, located at 1637 Fred Hanna Dr. in Fayetteville, will be the third location for the research center since it was founded in 2005. This is the first building to be entirely dedicated to the center. (read more)

$1 million gift honors Sam Walton – A combined $1 million gift from Walmart and the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation will fund the renovation and expansion of the current Sam M. Walton College of Business display, honoring Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton. Each organization donated $500,000 to update the display in the Business Administration Building. (read more)

Book of veterans’ stories to be unveiled with Woodruff County monument – A book of stories and essays honoring military veterans will be released on Saturday, May 26, in conjunction with the unveiling of a new veterans’ monument at 10 a.m. on the grounds of the Woodruff County Courthouse in Augusta as part of Memorial Day weekend observances. (read more)

Summer Chamber Music Festival runs through June 28 – The fourth annual KUAF/Fulbright Summer Chamber Music Festival opened this week as the first of six programs featuring works by Bach, Loeffler, Biber and Dvorak. The free concerts, held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings in May and June, will be in the Smith Concert Hall, except for the one on May 31, which will take place in the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Parish Hall. (read more)

Research lab receives $250,000 for high-res microscope – The Optoelectronics Research Lab in the College of Engineering recently purchased a micro-photoluminescence/Raman high-resolution microscope thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Department of Defense and an additional $50,000 from the university. (read more)

Fulbright College announces 2012 Connor Faculty Fellows – The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences recently selected its 2012 class of Connor Faculty Fellows. Ten assistant professors were awarded this honor and given funds to support their career advancement this year. (read more)

Honors College selects 2012 Bodenhamer Fellows – Six students will enter the UA Honors College in August 2012 as the 15th class of Bodenhamer Fellows. The $50,000-$62,500 fellowships will cover most of the general costs of attending the university and may be used for study abroad, attendance at professional and educational conferences, research and any special equipment needed. (read more)

Volunteers needed for Black Music Month activities – Call 479-575-7399 to volunteer to help with several activities in celebration of the contributions of African American singers, musicians and composers. (read more)

Fulbright College advisers awarded for service to veterans – Jill Geisler Wheeler and Jennifer Coldiron were rewarded for their work to help make the University of Arkansas a veteran-friendly campus. (read more)