Kays Foundation Awards Five New Grants for Faculty Research Projects
JONESBORO – Seven Arkansas State University faculty members have received Kays Foundation grants to provide support for their projects during the 2023-24 academic year. The board of directors of the Kays Foundation reviews and selects grant proposals from A-State faculty and staff.
The board approved a proposal from Dr. Cassandra Massey, assistant professor and interim assistant program director in nurse anesthesia. The program will receive $32,931 for purchasing equipment and supplies that will significantly enhance the simulation experience for nurse anesthesia students. The goal is preparing nurse anesthesia students to enter their clinical training after getting experience with the most current equipment available.
A grant proposal by Dr. Mohammad Abrar Alam, associate professor and Beck Professor in Chemistry, was approved. Titled “Synthesis antibacterial characterization of novel aminothiazole derivatives,” the $12,400 project will help support development of novel antibiotics as part of Alam’s ongoing studies. The work involves both undergraduate and graduate STEM students from underrepresented groups, working on relevant and cutting-edge supporting research.
The foundation awarded a $10,085 grant to Addie Fleming, assistant professor, and Dr. Kathryn Flannigan, associate professor, nursing, for their proposal, “Enhancing Student Learning through Realism with iSimulate.” The purpose of this project is to provide undergraduate nursing students an interactive and realistic experience in both the didactic and clinical simulation settings. The iSimulate REALTiPlus simulator provides interactive experiences that are directly related to cardiac and obstetrical monitoring.
The Kays board awarded a $7,750 grant to Dr. Shivan Haran, associate professor of mechanical engineering, in support of his proposal to organize and conduct robotics competitions. This will be a facet of the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s ongoing outreach and interaction with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students from area middle and high schools. Students participate in hands-on learning through the competitions.
Dr. Katharine Camden, assistant professor, and Kacie Altom, associate professor, nursing, have received approval of their proposal to the Kays Foundation for a $5,000 grant. The funds will be used to purchase adult and pediatric manikins, automated external defibrillators, bag valve masks and first-aid supplies for use in Basic Life Support (BLS) training. Students and faculty have to complete BLS certification and get it renewed every two years.
Terry Carty, executive vice president of the Kays Foundation, noted the grants are part of the foundation's ongoing commitment to assist the university by providing grants that help advance its academic, service and research missions.
The Arkansas State College Foundation for the Advancement of Higher Education, which operates as Kays Foundation, traces its beginnings to 1911 and the administration of V.C. Kays, the founding principal and president of the institution that evolved into Arkansas State University.
