Dr. Jianfeng (Jay) Xu, research professor in agriculture and Arkansas Biosciences Institute, is lead author of an article recently published in Biotechnology Advances. Xu, an Arkansas Research Alliance Fellow, and his co-authors address the critical challenges for plant cell-based bioproduction systems. They also propose innovative strategies to unlock the full potential of this production platform, along with forward-thinking solutions emphasizing cellular engineering. The article is online.

Dr. Ryan Sullivan (left), associate professor of music, and Dr. Marques Ruff (right), assistant professor of music, directed a performance of the A-State Concert Choir at the Music by Women Festival, with collaborative pianist and instructor Dr. Alison Hsieh. The festival is an international juried event hosted by Mississippi University for Women; all of the music on the program was written by women composers, including pieces from other countries. This is believed to be the first juried appearance by an A-State choir in more than 30 years.

Congratulations to Coach Destinee Rogers, who led the Red Wolves to a 86-79 overtime victory Monday in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament finals over regular season conference champion James Madison University. Rogers is in her third full season as head coach of the women’s program after three years on staff. With bachelor’s and master’s degree in health sciences, she came to A-State after coaching at El Dorado High and Central Arkansas.

Dr. Lucy Barnhouse, assistant professor of history, has been appointed to a three-year term to the executive committee of CARA, a standing committee of the Medieval Academy of America with a special focus on teaching. CARA strives to assist institutions and individual medievalists in meeting the challenges facing medieval studies locally and nationally, across multiple institutional settings. It also supports those developing special projects and instructional programs.

Eric West, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics, has been selected by the Commission on Dietetics Registration to serve a three-year term on the Joint Accreditation of Interprofessional Continuing Education Review Committee (Joint ARC). As a member of the Joint ARC, West will represent the dietetics profession and how it plays an integral role in interprofessional education pertaining to patient care and outcomes. The Joint ARC reviews Jointly Accredited Provider applications.