Every year, art educators from ten counties across southeast Arkansas send the best works of art from their K-12 students for inclusion in the Southeast Arkansas Regional Art Exhibit. The exhibit aims to highlight the hard work, creativity and success of young artists in the area. 

Student artwork selected for 2026 Southeast Arkansas Regional Art Exhibit, organized by the Arkansas Art Educators (AAE) organization, will be on display in the Spencer Gallery in the Fine Arts Center at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) through March 29. A closing reception and awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 29, at 2:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features artwork from grades K-12 from schools throughout Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, Jefferson, Lincoln and Union counties. First-place winners from each grade will be showcased in an exhibition in Little Rock, Arkansas, that will include artwork from across the state. 

For more information, contact the UAM School of Arts and Humanities at 870-460-1078. 

On Wednesday, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) announced a new partnership designed to expand access to affordable four-year degrees in eastern Arkansas.

This new collaborative program will allow students to complete select bachelor’s degrees through UAM while remaining on PCCUA campuses, creating a true “start here and finish here” program for students from the Delta and surrounding communities.

Through this partnership, PCCUA students will have the chance to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in K-6 elementary education degree beginning in May 2026 and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree starting in August 2026. The partnership plans to expand to include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a targeted start date of fall 2027.

This initiative is designed to increase access, strengthen workforce development and provide a seamless transition for students who are ready to continue their education close to home. By combining resources and expertise, PCCUA and UAM aim to improve degree completion rates while offering some of the most affordable tuition rates in the state.

On January 21, the Simmons First Foundation gifted $50,000 to support the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence, a nationally unique research center dedicated to advancing waterfowl and wetlands science.  

The center, based at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), is a partnership with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UADA). It was established to address concerns related to waterfowl and wetlands, and UAM’s proximity to waterfowl and wetlands regions provides a geographic advantage in research and education.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Division of Music will host a lecture recital by Dr. Kylan Bigby, assistant professor of percussion at UAM, on Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building’s Harris Recital Hall, Room 101, on UAM’s Monticello campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The lecture recital will feature selections from Dr. Bigby’s newly written solo timpani book, “Echoes of the Orchestra.” This innovative collection explores the rich musical language of the orchestra through the lens of the timpani, transforming characteristic orchestral gestures, textures and dramatic moments into compelling solo works for the instrument. Drawing inspiration from the expressive and technical demands that timpanists encounter in symphonic repertoire, “Echoes of the Orchestra” bridges the gap between orchestral performance and contemporary solo artistry, offering performers new ways to develop musical sensitivity through advanced techniques. 

The 2025 graduates of the Practical Nursing program at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology–McGehee (UAM-CTM) recently achieved a 100% first-attempt pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). This marks the 3rd consecutive year that all graduates have passed the exam on their first attempt.  

The December 2025 program cohort includes Maria Avila, Melanie Barajas, Kennedi Bledsoe, Emmaleigh Branch, Megan Forrest, Carmen Fourie, Zoe Humphries, Kanesia Pitts, Monisha Williams and Halle Wilson. 

Paisley Owyoung, director of Allied Health at UAM-CTM, expressed her pride, stating, “We are incredibly proud of our students for their dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence. Their success on the NCLEX is a direct reflection of their hard work and perseverance, as well as the outstanding nursing faculty who invest their time, expertise and mentorship into every student. This achievement speaks to both the determination of our graduates and the exceptional quality of our nursing program.” 

UAM presented 392 awards to 368 fall 2025 graduates, according to information released by the UAM Registrar’s Office.

To view the list of graduates, visit UAM News: Click Here

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) will partner with the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) to expand access to affordable four-year degrees in eastern Arkansas.

On Wednesday, March 11, the two institutions will officially announce a new collaborative program that will allow students to complete select bachelor’s degrees through UAM while remaining on PCCUA campuses, creating a true “start here and finish here” program for students from the Delta and surrounding communities.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Division of Music will host the recital “You’ve Got a Friend in Me/Piano” on Thursday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building in the Harris Recital Hall, Room 101, on UAM’s Monticello campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The recital will feature Dr. Hee-Kyung Juhn, assistant professor of piano at UAM, who will be joined by guest musicians David Gerstein, the principal cellist of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Dr. Lei Cai, professor of piano at Ouachita Baptist University. The program will include music by Ginastera, Mozart, Saint-Saens, Gershwin and Lester Pack, professor of music theory and guitar at UAM.

For more information, contact the UAM Division of Music at 870-460-1060. 

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Division of Music will host its “Summer Music Camps @UAM” offerings in June and July 2026 for rising sixth through twelfth graders. Two sessions will be offered, and students may attend one camp per session, with the option to stay on or off campus for the duration of the camp. 

On February 12, the Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) hosted a Cookies & Cards event, allowing UAM students to make Valentine’s Day cards to be distributed at The Woods, A Nightingale Community, a nursing home in Monticello. 

The chapter hosted the event at the Gibson University Center as both a service project and a recruitment opportunity. “Service is one of our core values, and we believe the best way to show who we are is through action,” said Bryleigh Myers, a sophomore accounting student and member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. “By creating an event that allowed us to give back, while also welcoming potential new members, we were able to demonstrate that our sisterhood is rooted in compassion, kindness and purpose.”

Recognizing that holidays are often challenging for residents of nursing homes, Alpha Sigma Alpha decided to host Cookies & Cards. The organization was able to deliver 60 Valentine’s Day cards to The Woods. 

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) are set to announce a new partnership that will expand access to affordable higher education in Arkansas. On Thursday, February 26, the two institutions will unveil a program allowing UACCB students to earn bachelor’s degrees in Batesville at one of the state’s lowest tuition rates.

The strategic partnership between UACCB and UAM will integrate education and business programs, enabling UACCB students to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in K-6 Elementary Education degree starting in May 2026 and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree beginning in August 2026. Both degree programs are currently pending approval from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Higher Learning Commission.

The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both institutions and combine resources to support student success and improve college completion rates within the region.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) recently received a $125,000 gift to the UAM Fund from Angelia, Bennie III, Margaret Anne, Marion and Ray Ryburn. 

Beyond their contributions to the UAM Fund, the Ryburn family and their businesses — Commercial Bank & Trust Company, Connect Bank and Ryburn Motor Company — have demonstrated steadfast support for UAM through a variety of initiatives. Their continued dedication underscores a strong belief in the university’s mission and its transformative impact on students’ lives.

Their most recent contribution will help fund the university’s operational expenses, capital projects, equipment needs and special academic initiatives.

The Ryburn family established the UAM Fund within the UAM Foundation in 2020 and has actively encouraged fellow supporters to join them in making a lasting difference for the university. Since its establishment, numerous donors have contributed to the UAM Fund, ensuring that UAM can continue its mission of providing quality education to students.   

Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, stated, “I extend our gratitude to the Ryburn family for their steadfast support of UAM. Their generosity not only sustains our commitment to delivering quality education but also empowers our students to realize their fullest potential. The Ryburn family has a deep understanding and belief in UAM’s mission, and their commitment creates a lasting impact. We are honored to consider them partners in our pursuit of excellence.”

In June 2024, Dr. Kevin Bryson was sitting in the Miami International Airport, applying to academic teaching positions on his laptop. Having just earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in jazz instrumental performance from the University of Miami in May, he was awaiting a flight to London, England, where he had been invited to play bass trombone on a jazz album to be recorded in the historic Abbey Road Studios.“We recorded in the same room where the Beatles recorded,” Dr. Bryson explains. “There is so much history there. Pink Floyd. So many others. Just look it up. So much iconic music.” Radiohead. Adele. Oasis. Amy Winehouse. U2. Lady Gaga.

The project was based on the music of jazz musician Kenny Wheeler. Dr. Nick Smart, head of Jazz Programmes at the Royal Academy of Music, in London, had been a personal friend of Wheeler’s and spearheaded the effort, which focused on recording experimental, unpublished music the jazz legend had written early in his career. Dr. Smart brought his friend, Dr. John Daversa, chair of studio music and jazz at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, into the project, which led to Dr. Bryson’s involvement.

In the final year of his doctoral studies, Dr. Bryson was working as a graduate assistant in the Frost School of Music’s library. In that role, he was tasked with working through the original scores for the trombone parts of the Kenny Wheeler project, determining how they needed to be appointed to the players in the ensemble. His work served as the early organization during the planning stages for the record. For his contribution, he was invited to play the bass trombone on the project.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) named 345 students to the?Dean’s?List?and 268 students to the Chancellor’s?List?for the fall 2025 semester, according to Keith Chambliss, UAM’s registrar.?

Selection to the?Dean’s?List?requires a student to earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on at least 12 semester hours of course credit at the 1000-4000 level.?Selection to the Chancellor’s?List?requires a student to earn a grade point average of 4.0 on at least 12 semester hours of course credit at the 1000-4000 level.?

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Office of Admissions will host Weevil Welcome: College Preview Day on Monday, March 9, beginning at 9 a.m. Registration will be held in the Gibson University Center on UAM’s Monticello campus. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the program will run until noon. 

Prospective high school juniors and seniors who are interested in attending UAM, the UAM College of Technology-Crossett (UAM-CTC) or the UAM College of Technology-McGehee (UAM-CTM) are invited to attend the free event on the Monticello campus to learn about programs of study, financial aid, new scholarship opportunities, residence life, student organizations and more. Parents and guests are also welcome to attend. 

Prospective students who have already applied to the university are still encouraged to attend the event to meet with faculty, staff and current UAM students. 

Mary Whiting, director of Admissions and Recruiting at UAM, encouraged interested students to attend the event, stating, “We look forward to sharing scholarship information and our UAM Pledge program with prospective students. Faculty from all academic areas from all three campuses will be available for students to meet with on the Monticello campus. It’s a great opportunity to have a personalized visit.” 

Students should register for Weevil Welcome here. 

For additional information, contact the UAM Office of Admissions at?admissionsoffice@uamont.edu?or 870-460-1026. 

Due to the potential for hazardous road conditions and icy surfaces beginning on Friday, January 23, the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), the UAM College of Technology-Crossett (UAM-CTM) and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee (UAM-CTM) will operate on modified class schedules.

On the UAM Monticello campus, all classes will shift to virtual instruction on Friday, January 23.

On the UAM-CTC and UAM-CTM campuses, morning classes will be held as normal on Friday, January 23. Classes beginning at noon or later on Friday on these two campuses will be canceled.

All offices on the Monticello, Crossett and McGehee campuses will remain open on Friday, and staff should report as normal. This is subject to change as weather conditions are monitored.

Notices concerning the operation of each of UAM’s campuses can be obtained on the UAM website, on local TV and radio stations and through UAMAlert.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology–McGehee (UAM-CTM) and the UAM Adult Education Center will launch the UAM Digital Literacy Program in January as part of the “3 Southern States Connected Communities Program,” a regional effort led by Digitunity and AT&T to expand computer access and digital skills training.

The program launch will be held on January 21 at 11 a.m. on the UAM-CTM campus. Several special guests will be in attendance, including representatives from Digitunity, AT&T and Congressman Bruce Westerman’s office, local mayors, Chamber of Commerce directors and other dignitaries. The event is free and open to the public.

Through the program, students who complete WAGE I and WAGE II employability courses will receive a refurbished laptop, and students in the Business Office Technology and Health Information Technology programs at UAM-CTM may check out laptops for use during their studies and keep them after graduation. All participants will complete a digital literacy workshop on basic computer use, online safety and internet skills.

On Thursday, the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) announced a new partnership to enhance access to affordable higher education in Arkansas. The collaboration enables UAHT students to pursue bachelor’s degrees from UAM at some of the most affordable tuition rates in the state.

Through the partnership, UAHT students on both the Hope and Texarkana campuses can pursue bachelor’s degrees from UAM in business and education.
The Bachelor of Arts in K-6 Elementary Education degree program is scheduled to begin in May 2026, with the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program following in August 2026. Both offerings are pending approval from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Higher Learning Commission.

The city of Crossett has received an honorable mention in the Arkansas Business Trendsetter City 2025 awards in the Education/Workforce Development category for its workforce development initiatives with the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) through the UAM Sustainable Trades Alliance (UAM-STA).

Arkansas Business cited UAM-STA as a key driver of industry-focused training that supports the manufacturing and forestry sectors, which are vital to the economy of southeast Arkansas. The award highlights Crossett’s investment in workforce development through innovative programming housed at the UAM College of Technology–Crossett (UAM-CTC). 

Launched in December 2024 with $2 million in funding from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) through its Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) grant funding, UAM-STA is a collaborative initiative involving multiple UAM entities and nearly 45 industry partners, each contributing to the forestry supply chain. The Arkansas Center for Forest Business, housed in the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (CFANR) at UAM, collaborates closely with alliance partners to develop training for forest product mill and logging workforce needs as part of the project. 

The UAM-STA office is housed at UAM-CTC. Programs of study supported by the alliance deliver training in forestry automation and industrial maintenance and are available at UAM, UAM-CTC and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee (UAM-CTM).

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) will hold orientation for the spring 2026 semester on Monday, January 5. Prospective students are encouraged to attend and register for classes during the event. Spring 2026 semester classes will begin on Wednesday, January 7.Orientation is open to students who have already been admitted to UAM, as well as those still considering attending the university during the spring 2026 semester. The event provides an opportunity for new or prospective students to meet with advisors, receive assistance with admissions steps and register for spring classes.

Orientation for prospective UAM students will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 102 of the Student Success Center on the Monticello campus.

Prospective students interested in attending the UAM College of Technology–Crossett (UAM-CTC) or the UAM College of Technology–McGehee (UAM-CTM) should attend orientation sessions on those campuses at 1 p.m.

In addition to registering for classes, students may visit any office related to attending school in the spring.

Amanda Smith, assistant professor of nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM), has been named dean of the UAM School of Nursing, effective December 16, 2025. She has been serving as the dean in an interim capacity since May 2025.A part-time faculty member at UAM since 2022, Smith has taught clinical courses in both the Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. She became a full-time employee at UAM in 2023, serving as assistant dean for the School of Nursing, while continuing to teach in classroom and clinical settings.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UAM in 2007 and a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in nursing education from the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in 2024. In 2024, she was the graduate student recipient of the 2024 UCA School of Nursing Outstanding Nurse Educator Award. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing education and administration at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

“I’ve enjoyed my experience as a student, faculty member and assistant dean at UAM, and I’m proud to now serve as dean and assist faculty and students in a greater capacity,” Smith said.

Smith brings more than 18 years of nursing experience to the School of Nursing, including specialties in medical-surgical nursing, geriatric psychiatry, home health, critical care, pediatrics and simulation education. She has served as a peer reviewer for BMC Nursing and currently serves on the Allied Health Advisory Board at the UAM College of Technology-McGehee, the National Park College Nursing Advisory Committee and the Jefferson School of Nursing Advisory Board.

Smith is a member of the National League for Nurses, the American Nurses Association, the Arkansas Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International and the Nurse Christian Fellowship. She is active in local civic organizations, including the Ashley County Go Red Committee, the Arkansas Nurse Honor Guard’s Ashley County chapter and Cloverdale Assembly of God outreach programs. She recently participated in a medical mission trip to Kenya, Africa, providing care in rural clinics and instructing students at the Kilimanjaro School of Missions in basic first aid.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) held its fall commencement exercises on Friday, December 12, in the Steelman Field House. Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, recognized graduates completing academic credentials ranging from master’s degrees to technical certificates during the ceremony.

Dr. Doss commended the graduates and their families and friends, stating, “Today, we honor not only what you have achieved, but all you are yet to become. Congratulations, graduates. May your path be filled with success, purpose and the joy of making a difference.”