Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Behind The Names: O.C. Bailey, Madison Cresswell, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

More than a century ago, in 1911, a Ouachita freshman was falsely accused of trespassing on a farmer’s land across the Ouachita River. Since the university lacked men’s dormitories, the student was served a warrant of arrest on the front porch of his rooming house. Luckily, his Latin professor, Mr. Gaines, dismissed his classes the day of the student’s trial and went to the courthouse to testify on behalf of this student, resulting in the charges being dropped.

What Does That Student-Faculty Ratio Number Mean? Mentors Abound., Michael Burge, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

In my opinion, one of the best things Ouachita has to offer is that it is a university of roughly 1,500 on-campus students and with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. What that means when you yourself are a Ouachita student is that you’ll have great opportunities for mentor relationships with your teachers.

Dear Furture Freshmen…: Advice For Your First Few Weeks Of Freshmen Year, Anna Weyenberg, Ouachita News Bureau

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I loved my freshman experience at Ouachita, and there’s not a lot that I would change. During that year, I grew closer to the Lord as I navigated through new friendships, experiences and challenges.

Ouachita Baptist University Graduate And Professional Studies Catalog 2022-2023, Ouachita Baptist University

OBU Catalogs

This is the Graduate and Professional Studies Catalog of Ouachita Baptist University with Announcements for graduate students for the 2022-2023 school year in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Ouachita Baptist University Online Catalog 2022-2023, Ouachita Baptist University

OBU Catalogs

This is the Online Catalog of Ouachita Baptist University for the 2022-2023 school year in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Ouachita Baptist University General Catalog 2022-2023, Ouachita Baptist University

OBU Catalogs

This is the General Catalog Bulletin of Ouachita Baptist University with Announcements for the 2022-2023 school year in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Pumphrey To Help Launch Engineering Program At Ouachita, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Dr. Norman D. Pumphrey Jr. has been named professor of engineering at Ouachita Baptist University. Pumphrey joins Ouachita faculty in the J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences after serving nearly 30 years in the engineering department at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. He will help launch Ouachita’s new 4-year Bachelor of Science degree pathway in engineering, planned to begin in Fall 2023 pending approval from the university’s institutional accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

“We’re excited about the addition of Dr. Norm Pumphrey to help jump-start our engineering program, which will have three emphases: general, mechanical and civil,” said Dr. …

Moving To College: Tips For Out-Of-State Students, Jessica Danielle, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Moving in to your first college dorm is a very exciting time! However, it can come with many questions and challenges. This can be even harder if you’re moving to Arkadelphia from out of state and need to pack everything you might need for an entire year in one trip – yikes!

Stephens-Ward Quilt, 1937, Archivists

Guides and Finding Aids

This presentation quilt was pieced and quilted by the TEL Sunday School class of the First Baptist Church, Stephens, Arkansas. The ladies charged 10 cents per petal. Each petal bears the name of one person or one family and, in all, the quilt contains 574 names (some are repeated). The quilt was presented to Pastor Fred Hays Ward. Ward was a Southern Baptist minister. He was born in Columbia County, Arkansas, in 1885. In 1911, he married Fannie Boswell, and soon after was ordained by First Baptist Church, Arkadelphia. He graduated from Ouachita College in 1924 with an A. B. …

Ouachita Awards First Johnny And Susan Wink Scholarship, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Alex Moore, a junior English and philosophy double major from Gulfport, Miss., was named Ouachita Baptist University’s inaugural Johnny and Susan Wink Scholarship Award winner. He was recognized during an April ceremony in Ouachita’s Young Auditorium.

“He’s been a student of mine in several classes,” said Dr. Johnny Wink, Betty Burton Peck Professor of English and namesake of the award along with his wife, the late Dr. Susan Wink, professor emerita of English. “He’s a splendid fellow and a stellar student. I’m pleased as punch to have him be the first awardee of this scholarship.”

Stepping Up For Ouachita 2022 Honorees Announced, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University’s Office of Development will host its annual Stepping Up for Ouachita luncheon Friday, Nov. 4, at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock, Ark. Simmons Bank is presenting sponsor for the 2022 luncheon, which will honor Nancy Benton of Jonesboro, Ark.; Sheila Powell Strickland of Fort Worth, Texas; Sarah Shell Teague of Fayetteville, Ark.; and Toni Thrash of Little Rock, Ark.

“Stepping up for Ouachita began with the purpose of increasing scholarship dollars for women,” said Terry Peeples, Ouachita’s vice president for development. “The honorees always represent women who love their family and their Lord. They are all …

Small Town, Shmall Town: Here Are The Top Things To Do When You Live In Arkadelphia, Madison Cresswell, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Growing up in North Little Rock, Ark., I was concerned about moving to a small town like Arkadelphia. Will I ever get out of my room? What would I do on the weekends?

Tolbert Named Vice President For Finance At Ouachita, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Jason Tolbert, formerly the chief financial officer at Ouachita Baptist University, has been named the university’s vice president for finance effective June 1.

“Jason has been a key partner in our university-wide journey to make Ouachita’s mission more viable financially,” said Dr. Ben R. Sells, Ouachita’s president. “Ouachita is financially stronger than at any time in the past two decades, and Jason’s leadership has been instrumental. His new title also reflects the additional responsibilities he’s assumed during his tenure.”

These include overseeing Ouachita’s budget and coordinating budget audits, stewarding the university’s endowment and supervising several administrative areas including business services, …

Hardage Named Ouachita's Support Staff Member Of The Year, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Jana Hardage, gifts processor in the Office of Development at Ouachita Baptist University, has been named the university’s 2021-22 Support Staff Member of the Year. Hardage was recognized in March by the university’s staff development committee and Dr. Ben R. Sells, Ouachita’s president.

She was selected from a group of nominees who demonstrated outstanding performance in their work responsibilities; in relating positively to students, coworkers and members of the public; and in supporting the mission of the university.

Six Things Freshmen Should Know Before Starting College, Angela Webb, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Hello friends! I thought I would shed some light on what I’ve learned since being a freshman in college ...

Ouachita Sophomore Sydney Motl Wins Alpha Chi Scholarship, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Sydney Motl, a sophomore English major from Arkadelphia, Ark., won the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society Alfred H. Nolle scholarship at the 2022 National Scholarship Competition, held in March in Austin, Texas.

Upon being nominated for the scholarship by Ouachita’s Alpha Chi sponsor, Dr. Myra Houser, associate professor of history, Motl submitted her winning essay titled “Women among the Ruins: Sexuality in the Female Gothic.” She chose the topic of her paper in an English literature course taught by Dr. Amy Sonheim, professor emerita of English.

Ouachita's Kaneil Purifoy Joins Panel Of Speakers During Ncaa Convention, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

KaNeil Purifoy, university counselor and resident director at Ouachita Baptist University, was a panelist at the 2022 NCAA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. in January. Purifoy was one of four speakers during a panel discussion titled, “Coping With Pandemics: The Effects of Racism and COVID-19 on Student-Athlete Mental Health.” The conversation was hosted by Dr. Brian Hainline, the NCAA’s chief medical officer.

Purifoy spoke to the mental wellness needs of student-athletes as a representative of Division II colleges and universities. His fellow panelists were moderator Dr. Stephany Coakley, senior associate athletics director for mental health, wellness and performance at Temple University; …

What Not To Buy: A Common-Sense Guide To Dorm-Room Purchases, Katie Kemp, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

When I was about to move in as a freshman at Ouachita, I was over-prepared and overwhelmed. I got sucked into buying all the things I thought I would need and wound up with more clutter than space.

Ouachita's Hickingbotham School Of Business Extends Global Aacsb Accreditation, Julie Shands, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

The Hickingbotham School of Business at Ouachita Baptist University has extended its global accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The accreditation was ratified by the AACSB international board of directors in February after a peer-review process that took place during the fall semester.

The Hickingbotham School was originally accredited by AACSB in 2002. The program requires accredited universities to undergo a continuous improvement review every five years.

Ouachita's Dr. Jason Doroga Gives Presentation At University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Dr. Jason Doroga, assistant professor of Spanish at Ouachita Baptist University, presented his paper “Negative Analogy: A New Direction for Analogical Change” as part of the Linguistics Friday Seminar Series at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in April. The paper analyzes the cycles of analogy and changing patterns of language use in the speech community, exploring the role of analogy in explaining changes in the form of Spanish-language past participles.

Dr. Kevin C. "Casey" Motl Named Dean Of Ouachita's Sutton School Of Social Sciences, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Dr. Kevin C. “Casey” Motl has been named dean of the William H. Sutton School of Social Sciences at Ouachita Baptist University. The Sutton School houses Ouachita’s departments of History, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.

Ouachita Announces Students Named To Spring 2022 President's List, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University has named more than 375 students to its Spring 2022 President’s List.

To be named to the President’s List, a student must compile a 4.0 grade point average and be classified as a full-time student, with a minimum of 12 academic hours and have no incomplete or failing grade for the semester.

Ouachita Announces Students Named To Spring 2022 Dean's List, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Ouachita Baptist University has named more than 350 students to its Spring 2022 Dean's List.

To be named to the Dean's List, a student must compile a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.9 and be classified as a full-time student, with a minimum of 12 academic hours and have no incomplete or failing grade for the semester.

Thirty Students At Ouachita Named Who's Who, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Thirty students at Ouachita Baptist University have been named to the latest edition of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.

The students were chosen by Ouachita’s faculty, staff and 2022 senior class based on their academic performance, leadership in extracurricular activities, community service and potential for success.

Grant Remembered For Dedication To Integrating Academic And Christian Excellence, Felley Lawson, Ouachita News Bureau

Press Releases

Dr. Daniel R. Grant, president emeritus of Ouachita Baptist University, died Wednesday, May 25. He was 98.

Grant was Ouachita’s 12th president and held the office longer than anyone in the university’s history apart from Dr. J.W. Conger, founding president. Grant’s service to Ouachita was distinguished by his dedication to building a thriving, financially stable learning community in the liberal arts tradition, based on a commitment to rigorous academics and Christian excellence.

Momentum Appreciation, Brooke Zimny, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

When I think of momentum, my first thought is the idiom “on a roll” and related examples. I think of physically rolling objects, like a ball rolling down a hill, the cheesy inspirational poster of a rollerblader that was in my childhood bedroom, the infamous Indiana Jones boulder chase. But you also can be metaphorically “on a roll” with various successes in life, big or small. Is there a better feeling than hitting every shot on the basketball court?

Two of our resident experts, Drs. Angela and Matt Douglass, helped me reach a deeper understanding of this common concept in …

New Master Of Education Degree In Curriculum And Instruction Emphasizes "Teaching As A Calling", Kiki Schleiff Cherry

Press Releases

Ouachita's new Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction program launched this semester as the latest post-baccalaureate offering in the university’s growing graduate studies menu. The 12-month program, designed to help teachers enhance skills and increase earning potential, prepares educators to become curriculum specialists and instructional coordinators as well as grow their skills in the classroom.

“This program is for every teacher with a heart for students and a heart for Christ,” explained Dr. Gail Hughes, director of graduate studies in education. “In addition to designing effective curriculum for diverse students, we’ll look at current issues in culture, discuss …

Dr. Jeremy Greer Returns To Ouachita As The Next Dean Of The Pruet School Of Christian Studies, Brooke Zimny, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Dr. Jeremy Greer, a 1998 Ouachita graduate and second generation pastor, has completed his first semester as the new dean of Ouachita’s Pruet School of Christian Studies. Greer has long ties to the university as well as Arkansas Baptists in addition to higher education experience through teaching and administrative roles.

“My overarching feeling is gratitude,” Greer said. “I am grateful to once again be an Arkansas Baptist. I am grateful to serve an institution for which I have such deep affections and appreciation. I am grateful to serve alongside faithful men and women whom God has used to transform me …

Jason Tolbert ('97) (Chief Financial Officer), Jon Merryman, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

As soon as Jason Tolbert started his college search as a high school student in Wynne, Ark., he knew if he could afford to go to Ouachita, he would. It’s not hard to believe that, even then, making the numbers work was a top priority for Tolbert, who now serves as Ouachita’s chief financial officer (CFO).

Tolbert grew up visiting Ouachita each summer for Arkansas Baptist camps like Super Summer and Music Arkansas (now Praise Works). He’d continue visiting campus more as his sister, Jennifer (Tolbert ’97) Byrd became a student; soon, Ouachita felt like home.

Robert S. Moore Jr. Given Distinguished Alumni Award, Felley Lawson, Office Of Communications & Marketing

Press Releases

Arkansas Highway Commission Chairman Robert S. Moore Jr. received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service to the State of Arkansas from Ouachita during an August luncheon held on campus in his honor.

The award was presented to Moore by Dr. Ben R. Sells, Ouachita president, and Taylor King, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees.