Several Arkansas State University-Beebe students and a faculty member recently participated in the fall 2023 colloquium of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE), a public policy research center housed at the University of Central Arkansas. The event was held Oct. 13-15 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain in Morrilton.
Participating students Kodi Jackson, Bri Staples and Allie Williams were selected to participate in the colloquium by both ASU-Beebe faculty members and ACRE staff, based on their academic excellence. Dr. Blake Perkins, associate vice chancellor for academics at ASU-Beebe, joined the students at the event. Perkins is also an associate professor of history and has authored books and articles on American history and politics.
The colloquium brought together undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty members from seven colleges and universities across the state to study and exchange ideas from a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and academic disciplines in roundtable-styled discussion seminars and numerous networking opportunities.
“The theme of the readings and discussions centered on racial and ethnic categorizations in American history and present-day culture, as well as the legal system,” said Perkins.
Jackson, from Cabot, is majoring in psychology and completing an Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences (ASLAS) degree and plans to transfer to the University of Central Arkansas for a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in foreign language or criminology. Her goal is to eventually earn a doctorate in psychology.
Staples, from Searcy, is working toward her associate’s degree in education. After graduating from ASU-Beebe, she plans to transfer to Harding University to pursue a bachelor's degree in education to achieve her goal of a career in teaching.
Williams, from Romance, is studying health sciences and is enrolled in the medical laboratory technology program. After finishing her Associate of Applied Science degree, she plans to transfer to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to pursue a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science.
