Congratulations to Dr. Melanie Wicinski, vice chancellor for accreditation and assessment, who has been named an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow for the 2025-26 academic year. She is one of 25 individuals selected nationally to participate in the ACE program, which for 60 years has been providing intensive learning experiences to better prepare participants for senior leadership in higher education. Details are in the news release.

Dr. Ryan Sullivan, associate professor of music and director of choral activities, is preparing members of the A-State Choirs to perform with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, during its two weekend concerts in Little Rock and at Fowler Center on April 8. The group of treble voices includes approximately 60 students and 30 singers from the community who have been working on Felix Mendelssohn’s incidental music from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Dr. Lucía Zataraín, professor of sciences and mathematics, Campus Querétaro, and her collaborators are authors of a paper recently published in the Journal of Global Oncology. The paper is titled “Somatic Landscape of Oncogenic Variants Across the Main Cancer Subtypes in Latin America: A Narrative Review.” In addition to her Ph.D. in biochemistry, Zatarain is a medical doctor, and a member of the National System of Researchers level I.

Dr. Nairam Simoes, assistant professor of trumpet, has written an article that has been published in the latest edition of the International Trumpet Guild Journal. This clinic article explores the impact of the Valsalva maneuver, a forceful attempt of exhalation against a closed airway, on trumpet playing. He also discusses techniques to overcome related issues, contributing to the broader discussion on brass pedagogy.

Craig Estes, procurement manager, Procurement Services, has passed the Purchasing Card Professional Certification (CPCP) exam administered by the Institute of Commercial Payments. The CPCP credential was developed to recognize professionals who have attained the education, skills and experience necessary to be successful purchasing card professionals. Certification ensures that the credential holder performs duties according to industry standards and implements programs successfully.