Tracy Rosser Joins ARA Board of Trustees

                                                                                                                     For More Information:

                                                                                                             Jeremy Harper, 501-747-3973

                                                                                                            jharper@aralliance.org

 ARA welcomes Transplace VP to its Board

 Conway, AR, June 15, 2020 – The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) announced today that Tracy Rosser, Executive Vice President of Operations, Transplace Inc., has joined the ARA Board of Trustees. Mr. Rosser, who holds a bachelors degree in Business from the University of Alabama and an MBA from Tulane Univesity, begins his service to science and discovery immediately.

“Our Board of Trustees is the leadership foundation upon which we have built a strong and effective Arkansas Research Alliance,” says ARA President and CEO Jerry Adams. “We’re honored to have Tracy at our table working to elevate research in Arkansas.

“It’s very much an honor and privilege to work with such a talented board on such a great mission,” said Mr. Rosser. “I look forward to playing a role in furthering economic opportunity for Arkansas through advancing research and technology.”

Mr. Rosser, who has 25 years of senior-level supply chain experience, joined Transplace in 2019, where he is responsible for transportation management operations. Previously, Mr. Rosser  served as senior vice president of transportation and supply chain for Walmart. Prior to Walmart, he spent nine years in the truckload transportation industry holding positions in sales, marketing, and operations.

The ARA Board of Trustees is comprised of Arkansas business leaders and the chancellor from each of the state’s five major research universities. Arkansas Research Alliance supports groundbreaking research that improves the quality of life for people worldwide, including recent advancements in countering the COVID-19 pandemic.

## 

About Arkansas Research Alliance

Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance is dedicated to elevating a fundamental belief: Research Matters. Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.

###

The Takeaways

• Arkansas Research Alliance announces a new Board of Trustees member
• Tracy Rosser, Executive Vice President of Operations, Transplace
• The Arkansas Research Alliance Board of Trustees is comprised of many of the state’s high-profile corporate leaders and the chancellor from each of the state’s top research universities
• Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance elevates the role of research in Arkansas and its impact on the state’s economy
• Arkansas Research Alliance is led by former Acxiom executive Jerry Adams
• The ARA Board of Trustees is comprised of leaders from Arkansas’ business and academic communities:

Sonja Yates Hubbard (Chairperson), Principal, The Yates Group

Robert Shoptaw (Treasurer), Retired CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield

Dr. Laurence Alexander, Chancellor, UA at Pine Bluff

Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Chancellor, Arkansas State University

Dr. Christina Drale, Chancellor (Interim), UA Little Rock

Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor, UAMS

Dr. Joseph Steinmetz, Chancellor, University of Arkansas

Ritter Arnold, Executive VP External Affairs, E. Ritter & Co.

Daryl Brown, Executive Director, MISO

Andrew Clyde, President & CEO, Murphy USA Inc.

Ronnie Dedman, President, AT&T Arkansas

Jerry Jones, EVP and Chief Ethics and Legal Officer, LiveRamp

Laura R. Landreaux, President & CEO, Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Gaylon Lawrence, The Lawrence Group

Drew May, Chief Client Officer, Acxiom

Tommy May, Chairman & CEO, Simmons First Foundation

Charles Nabholz, Chairman Emeritus, The Nabholz Group

David Peacock, President, Hytrol Conveyor Co.

Tracy Rosser, Executive Vice President of Operations, Transplace, Inc.

Reynie Rutledge, President, First Security Bank

Dan Williams, Retired CEO, Garver

Michelle Wolfe, VP of Human Services, Walmart

### June 15

COSMOS and Arkansas Partner to Counter Plague of COVID-19 Misinformation

                                                                                                                    For More Information:

                                                                                                                Jeremy Harper, 501-747-3973

                                                                                                            jharper@aralliance.org

COSMOS and Arkansas Partner to Counter Plague of COVID-19 Misinformation

ARA Fellow Dr. Nitin Agarwal Puts Science on the Frontlines

Little Rock, AR, April, 2020 – Anyone monitoring the nation’s daily COVID-19 updates know just how deadly the virus is and how rapidly it spreads. However, another dangerous contagion is infecting communities worldwide right alongside COVID-19, and it’s even more difficult to contain.

“We call it an ‘infodemic’ which is in many ways more dangerous than COVID-19,” explains Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) Fellow and Distinguished Professor of Information Science at UA Little Rock. “The cases of misinformation about the virus are rising exponentially from the dark corners of the web.”

Dr. Agarwal is Director of The Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies, or COSMOS. He and his team of cosmographers study social media and online behavior to combat threats to social good, ranging from safeguarding elections to countering terrorism. The work of COSMOS is now being used to put down this current threat of harmful misinformation regarding the pandemic.

The range of misinformation is expansive. “Fake cures. Medical equipment scams. Anti-foreign sentiment. Basically, anything designed to sow division and unravel the fabric of our society,” says Dr. Agarwal. “This environment of high-anxiety makes it easy for us to fall prey to fake news.”

COSMOS is partnering with the Arkansas Office of the Attorney General to develop a website that can help people identify, understand, and even report fake news regarding COVID-19. The technology is supported by the work COSMOS has completed for agencies like the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, DARPA, and the National Science Foundation among many others. Still, the new website requires new methodology to combat the problem at hand.

“We’re working night and day because we really wanted to do something to help Arkansas,” says Dr. Agarwal. “The Arkansas Research Alliance helped put us in touch with the Attorney General, and now we believe this can be a resource used nationally, or even globally.”

Dr. Agarwal also credits the ARA Fellows grant with helping him fund projects dealing with unexpected events like COVID-19.

“We’re working with the Arkansas Attorney General on a volunteer basis,” says Dr. Agarwal. “The ARA funds made that possible.”

The website, cosmos.ualr.edu/covid-19, is an essential tool to countering the spread of misinformation, which too often takes fraudulent advantage the anxiety associated with the virus. “This pandemic has created an unprecedented  level of uncertainty and I will not tolerate bad actors seeking to leverage this crisis to fill their pocketbooks,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “The goal with this partnership is to make sure we are quickly identifying fake websites that are spreading misinformation with the purpose of stealing from Arkansans.”

Dr. Agarwal wants to remind people that news spreads fast online – the weirder the faster. “The only way to expose these dark characters on the web is to shine a light on them. Our mission is to shine that light.”

###

About Arkansas Research Alliance

 Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance is dedicated to elevating a fundamental belief: Research Matters. Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.

###

The Takeaways

• COSMOS of UA Little Rock and the Arkansas Office of the Attorney General have launched a new website, ualr.edu/covid-19, an essential tool to countering the spread of misinformation surrounding COVID-19
• Nitin Agarwal, ARA Fellow and Maulden-Entergy Chair and Distinguished Professor of Information Science at UA Little Rock, is the director of COSMOS, The Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies
• COSMOS studies online and social media behaviors to help combat threats like terrorism, election fraud, viral spreads, crime, and more.
• COSMOS and the Arkansas Office of the Attorney General is teaming up to combat the harmful misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The website identifies misinformation placed on popular web platforms, provides tips for recognizing fake news, and enables users to report misinformation to authorities.
• The website is available to the public NOW
• Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance elevates the role of research in Arkansas and its impact on the state’s economy.
• Arkansas Research Alliance is led by former Acxiom executive Jerry Adams.

Arkansas Research Alliance Names Daryl Brown to Board of Trustees

        For More Information:

                                                                                                             Jeremy Harper, 501-747-3973

                                                                                                            jharper@aralliance.org

Arkansas Research Alliance Names Daryl Brown to Board of Trustees

ARA welcomes MISO Executive Director to the Board

Conway, AR, April 3, 2020 – The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) announced today that Daryl Brown, Executive Director, External Affairs South Region at Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), has joined the ARA Board of Trustees. Mr. Brown, a graduate of Mississippi State University and a 17-year veteran of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, begins his service immediately.

“With a consistent history of support for ARA, MISO has shown just how committed the company is to making research a priority in Arkansas,” says ARA President and CEO Jerry Adams. Brown replaces outgoing MISO Board Member Todd Hillman.

“I am honored to join my esteemed colleagues on the Arkansas Research Alliance board of trustees,” says Mr. Brown. “With a background in innovation, I passionately support the organization’s fundamental belief that research matters. I look forward to working with ARA.”

The ARA Board of Trustees is comprised of Arkansas business leaders and the chancellor from each of the state’s five major research universities. Mr. Brown is a recent addition to MISO’s executive team. Previously, Brown was the director of innovation for both Current powered by GE and Hitachi Social Innovation Business. In addition, he has more than 20 years of experience as an executive at Southern Company.

##

 About Arkansas Research Alliance

Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance is dedicated to elevating a fundamental belief: Research Matters. Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.

###

The Takeaways

• Arkansas Research Alliance announces a new Board of Trustees member
• Executive Director, External Affairs South Region at Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
• The Arkansas Research Alliance Board of Trustees is comprised of many of the state’s high-profile corporate leaders and the chancellor from each of the state’s top research universities
• Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance elevates the role of research in Arkansas and its impact on the state’s economy
• Arkansas Research Alliance is led by former Acxiom executive Jerry Adams
• The ARA Board of Trustees is comprised of 20 leaders from Arkansas’ business and academic communities:

Sonja Yates Hubbard (Chairperson), Principal, The Yates Group

Robert Shoptaw (Treasurer), Retired CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield

Dr. Laurence Alexander, Chancellor, UA at Pine Bluff

Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Chancellor, Arkansas State University

Dr. Christina Drale, Chancellor (Interim), UA Little Rock

Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor, UAMS

Dr. Joseph Steinmetz, Chancellor, University of Arkansas

Ritter Arnold, Executive VP External Affairs, E. Ritter & Co.

Daryl Brown, Executive Director, MISO

Andrew Clyde, President & CEO, Murphy USA Inc.

Ronnie Dedman, President, AT&T Arkansas

Laura R. Landreaux, President & CEO, Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Gaylon Lawrence, The Lawrence Group

Drew May, Chief Client Officer, Acxiom

Tommy May, Chairman & CEO, Simmons First Foundation

Charles Nabholz, Chairman Emeritus, The Nabholz Group

David Peacock, President, Hytrol Conveyor Co.

Reynie Rutledge, President, First Security Bank

Dan Williams, Retired CEO, Garver

Michelle Wolfe, VP of Human Services, Walmart

Arkansas Research Alliance Names Drew May to Board of Trustees

Arkansas Research Alliance Announces New ARA Academy Director

LITTLE ROCK, AR, July 15, 2019 – The Arkansas Research Alliance announced that Douglas Hutchings has joined ARA as Director of the ARA Academy of Scholars & Fellows effective July 1. Hutchings is a well-known and respected innovator, entrepreneur and collaborative research leader with extensive experience launching start-up companies. Hutchings was also a founding board member of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association.

“The growth and maturity of the ARA Academy made it clear that someone of Douglas’ talent and experience was needed to accelerate the impact of the Academy,” said Jerry Adams, President and CEO of ARA.  ‘I have known Douglas for many years, and I am very excited with his addition to the ARA team – he will make an immediate and long-term difference in ARA’s ability to leverage university research to improve the economic future of Arkansas and our nation.”

The ARA Academy was founded in 2016 and is comprised of ARA Fellows and Scholars from the state’s five major research universities (University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), plus the U.S. FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR). Since its inception, the ARA Academy has expanded to nearly 30 members, bringing together many of the state’s top researchers for collaboration and idea-sharing.

About Arkansas Research Alliance

Founded in 2008, ARA is a 501(c)3 organization governed by a board of trustees comprised of chancellors from Arkansas research universities and chief executives from companies across the state. The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) is dedicated to elevating the fundamental belief that research matters.  Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration and strengthens economic opportunity in areas in which Arkansas possesses core competency.

###

ARA Announces Hucthings press release

Arkansas Research Alliance announces new Board of Trustees members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conway, AR, November 6, 2018 – The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) announced today the addition of four new Board of Trustees members: Ronnie Dedman, President, AT&T Arkansas; David Peacock, President, Hytrol Conveyor Co.; Laura R. Landreaux, President & CEO, Entergy Arkansas, Inc.; and Cam Patterson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

“In my opinion, we have one of the best boards in the state,” says ARA President and CEO Jerry Adams. “The new members bring an incredibly wide range of perspective to the table, and we’re proud to have them help guide ARA.”

The ARA Board of Trustees is comprised of Arkansas business leaders and the chancellor from each of the state’s five major research universities. The new members represent high-profile state organizations across Arkansas, continuing a precedent that began with ARA’s founding in 2008.

“The board was created to drive the strategic role of research in the economic future of Arkansas,” explains Bryan Barnhouse, ARA Chief Operating Officer. “Each member is truly excited about elevating the role of research in Arkansas.”

The ARA Board of Trustees meets three times a year, with its next meeting scheduled for December.

About the New Members

Ronnie Dedman (President, AT&T Arkansas) is a graduate of Arkansas State University and a 41-year veteran of AT&T. In 2018, he was named President of AT&T Arkansas. The position enables Mr. Dedman to promote growth and development of AT&T business interests for the benefit of the communities and customers it serves through legislative, business and community affairs.

David Peacock (President of Hytrol Conveyor Company) began his career at Hytrol as the Executive Vice President in 2014 and assumed the Hytrol presidency in 2015. Mr. Peacock has led the company to back-to-back record years while implementing strategies to move Hytrol into the future. Before joining Hytrol, he spent 18 years in manufacturing management positions. Prior to serving at Hytrol, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Kalmar RT Center in Cibolo, Texas.

Laura R. Landreaux (President and CEO of Entergy Arkansas) joined Entergy in 2007 and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas. Before assuming the leadership role in 2018, she served Entergy Arkansas as finance director. Prior to joining Entergy, Ms. Landreaux was an attorney for Salt River Project in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a Founding Member of Arkansas Women in Power and is a member of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Women’s Auxiliary.

Dr. Cam Patterson (Chancellor, UAMS) leads Arkansas’ only academic health sciences center, which encompasses patient care, education, research and outreach resources at locations across the state. Just prior to assuming the leadership role at UAMS, Dr. Patterson joined New York-Presbyterian Hospital as the Chief Operating Officer of Weill-Cornell Medical Center. He attended Emory University School of Medicine and became the Chief Resident at Grady Memorial Hospital at Emory University in 1992.

About Arkansas Research Alliance

 Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance is dedicated to elevating a fundamental belief: Research Matters. Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.

###

The Takeaways

• Arkansas Research Alliance announces four new Board of Trustees members
• The new board members are: Ronnie Dedman, President, AT&T Arkansas; David Peacock, President, Hytrol Conveyor Co.; Laura R. Landreaux, President & CEO, Entergy Arkansas, Inc.; and Cam Patterson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• The Arkansas Research Alliance Board of Trustees is comprised of many of the state’s high-profile corporate leaders and the chancellor from each of the state’s top research universities
• Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance elevates the role of research in Arkansas and its impact on the state’s economy
• Arkansas Research Alliance is led by former Acxiom executive Jerry Adams
• The ARA Board of Trustees is comprised of 22 leader members from Arkansas’ business and academic communities:

Sonja Yates Hubbard (Chairperson), Principal, The Yates Group

Robert Shoptaw (Treasurer), Retired CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield

Dr. Laurence Alexander, Chancellor, UA at Pine Bluff

Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Chancellor, Arkansas State University

Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor, UAMS

Dr. Andrew Rogerson, Chancellor, UA Little Rock

Dr. Joseph Steinmetz, Chancellor, University of Arkansas

Ritter Arnold, Executive VP External Affairs, E. Ritter & Co.

Andrew Clyde, President & CEO, Murphy USA Inc.

Ronnie Dedman, President, AT&T Arkansas

Kent Fonvielle, Executive Director, MISO

Jerry Jones, EVP and Chief Ethics Officer, Acxiom

Laura R. Landreaux, President & CEO, Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Gaylon Lawrence, The Lawrence Group

Alex Lostetter, Vice President, Cree

Tommy May, Chairman & CEO, Simmons First Foundation

Charles Nabholz, Chairman Emeritus, The Nabholz Group

David Peacock, President, Hytrol Conveyor Co.

John Roberts, President & CEO, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

Reynie Rutledge, President, First Security Bank

Dan Williams, CEO, Garver

Michelle Wolfe, VP of Human Services, Walmart

Arkansas Research Alliance names Barnhouse COO

Conway, AR, August 1, 2018 – The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) announced today that Bryan Barnhouse will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer. Formerly the organization’s vice president, Barnhouse’s tenure has helped ARA see growth and influence in the state.

“Bryan has done a great job for us,” says ARA President and CEO Jerry Adams. “To elevate him to this position is just the natural next step.”

Before joining ARA, Barnhouse served as the Director of Economic Development for Jefferson County, AR. His collaborations with Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) and his close relationship with the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) have allowed ARA to bring even stronger unity between the state’s research campuses, government and business.

“I love what we’re accomplishing at ARA,” says Barnhouse, who joined ARA in 2016. “The science and research community in Arkansas has never been stronger. Or more exciting!”

In recent years, ARA has moved forward with a number of initiatives to increase the value and visibility of science in Arkansas, including starting a Fellows Program in 2015, hosting the annual Arkansas Bioinformatics Consortium, and founding The ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows, a unique fellowship of the state’s brightest researchers from Arkansas’ five research campuses, plus NCTR.

About Arkansas Research Alliance

Founded in 2008, Arkansas Research Alliance is dedicated to elevating a fundamental belief: Research Matters. Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.

Arkansas Business: “Governor, ARA Name 5 New Research Fellows”

“The fellows program recognizes research talent at UA, UAMS, Arkansas State University, UA Little Rock and UAPB. Thursday’s announcement brings the number of ARA Fellows to 14.

ARA’s goal is to attract and retain world-class researchers and support research that fuels innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.”

KUAR: “Arkansas Research Alliance, Governor Recognize Five Scientists For Excellence”

“The ARA Fellows program supports distinguished researchers already working at one of the five research universities in the state, including Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.”

Talk Business and Politics: “Gov. Hutchinson, Arkansas Research Alliance announce five ‘fellows’ for scientific research program”

“The announcement brings the ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows to 23 researchers across the state who will specifically support university study that fuels innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.

Gov. Hutchinson told a roomful of business leaders and university officials that the new research fellows will be an incredible asset to the state in the area of scientific research and progress.”

Fox 16: “5 New Arkansas Research Alliance Fellows Announced”

“Governor Asa Hutchinson joined the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) today at the State Capitol building to announce five new ARA Fellows. The ARA Fellows awards are part of ARA’s continued investments in attracting and retaining world-class researchers to the state, specifically supporting research that fuels innovation, encourages collaboration, and strengthens economic opportunity.”

ArkansasOnline: “5 Arkansas researchers to receive $75,000 grants from alliance”

“The [Arkansas Research Alliance] is a public-private partnership that says it invests in and concentrates on research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration and strengthens opportunity.

‘This is a good example of the private sector partnering with the state to enhance research in this state with our higher education institutions that are working together,’ Gov. Asa Hutchinson said at news conference in the governor’s conference room.”

Watch Asa Hutchinson and AR Alliance Announce 2017 Research Fellows

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson joins the Arkansas Research Alliance in announcing five new research fellows. “Arkansas Research Alliance continues to serve the state well with its commitment to economic prosperity through science and technology based jobs,” he says.

Watch the full announcement on YouTube

Arkansas Research Alliance Sees Growth ARA Scholars and Fellows Programs

Governor Asa Hutchinson joined the Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) today at the State Capitol building to announce two new ARA Scholars and two new ARA Fellows. And, in a first in the organization’s history, ARA awarded two of its fellowships to researchers from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) in Jefferson, Ark. Both ARA Scholars are on staff at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

Bryan Barnhouse Joins Arkansas Research Alliance

Bryan Barnhouse recently joined Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) as vice president. Barnhouse will be based in Little Rock and will initially focus on the growing partnership between ARA and the federal laboratory, the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) at Jefferson, Arkansas. He will also be actively involved with other ARA programs like the ARA Scholars and the ARA Fellows programs.

E-Z Mart CEO Sonja Hubbard to Lead Arkansas Research Alliance Board

Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA), an organization focused on strengthening economic opportunity in Arkansas by investing in university-based research, announced the appointment of Sonja Hubbard, CEO of E-Z Mart Stores Inc., as chairman of its board of trustees. Founded in Nashville, Ark., E-Z Mart is one of the largest, privately held convenience store chains in America. Hubbard, who has been involved with ARA since 2011, will provide leadership to the 22-member board made up of 17 Arkansas business executives and chancellors of the state’s five research universities.

Arkansas Research Alliance Expands Fellows Program

Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) announced five new ARA Fellows today during a press conference at the State Capitol building. In its second year, the Fellows program recognizes distinguished university research leaders who are already working in Arkansas at one of the state’s five research universities: Arkansas State University (A-State), University of Arkansas (UA), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). Fellows are nominated by the chancellor of their affiliated university and receive a $75,000 grant paid over three years.