Mr. Dan Barrington is a Senior Clinical Instructor in the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education (ELSE). Upon his retirement this semester, Dr. Janet Filer, Chair of ELSE, had the following to share about Dan.

Dan came to UCA in 1997, but he had a life before that…Dan worked as a special education teacher in El Dorado Public Schools and Millcreek Behavioral Institute. He then stepped away from education for a short time to manage a Beale Ladyman store in Little Rock where he also did some modeling. Dan returned to education as a special education resource and fifth grade teacher at Mayflower Elementary. As a respected teacher and colleague, Dan was honored at Mayflower as Teacher of the Year.

Dan brought his experience and knowledge to the University of Central Arkansas in 1997 where he quickly earned the respect of his colleagues and students. He initially wore two hats: field services and instructor of elementary math and science classes. Eventually he moved full time to the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education where again, he wore two hats: instructor for teaching methods in math and science classes for elementary teacher candidates and director of the UCA Summer Clinic, which provided extended school year for students with disabilities.

Dan was the recipient of the 2012-2013 College of Education Teacher of the Year Award. Dan ended his time with UCA but not before becoming the program coordinator for our elementary K-6 program, making sure our program prepares the best future teachers.

As a teacher dedicated to the success of his students, there is no better way of summing up his impact than what Dan’s students have to say about him:

· Mr. Barrington is the perfect example of what a good educator is. He is organized, caring, and devoted to helping his students.

· You make the COE GREAT!

· Mr. Barrington is FANTASTIC! His class literally couldn’t be laid out any better. He is well organized, his assignments all taught me something valuable, and his class was engaging and fun. Don’t change the class at all and FOR SURE DON’T change the instructor. He is the strength of this class.

· Math and Science have never been my strong suit. Mr. Barrington presented it in a way that I wish I would have had in elementary school. I cannot wait to apply some of the methods he taught us in my own classroom.

Mr. Barrington, your colleagues and students HATE TO SEE YOU GO, but we wish you the best in your future endeavors in retirement!

Dr. Nancy Gallavan is a Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning (T&L). Upon her retirement this semester, Dr. Michael Mills, Chair of T&L, had the following to share about Nancy.

During Dr. Nancy Gallavan’s 45-year career, she has served in a variety of roles and has received numerous awards in teaching, scholarship, and service at every institution she has served, including the University of Denver, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Central Arkansas.

At UCA, Dr. Gallavan has received the university faculty excellence award for scholarship, the institutional diversity award, and was a finalist multiple times for the UCA faculty excellence awards in teaching and service. Over the course of Dr. Gallavan’s career, she has authored or edited approximately 200 peer-reviewed publications (including 20 books) and has given hundreds of presentations. Additionally, Dr. Gallavan initiated the Lighthouse Beacons initiative, served as Kappa Delta Pi advisor, and dedicated enormous time and energy as president of the Association of Teacher Educators and as president, board member, and leader of many other organizations, such as SRATE and ArATE.

Mrs. Carolyn Ishee, is the Director of Planned Giving and Senior Director of Development for the College of Education (COE). Upon her retirement, Dr. Victoria Groves-Scott, Dean of the COE, had the following to share about Carolyn.

Carolyn Ishee has been a cheerleader for the University of Central Arkansas for over forty years. An undergraduate English major, English education, journalism minor, and head cheerleader graduating in 1975, Carolyn came to UCA from California. She immediately fell in love with UCA and Conway. Her deep and abiding desire to promote UCA and it's values can be seen in the numerous positions she's held at UCA.

Over the past 34 years, Carolyn has served as Project Coordinator, Director of Alumni and Special Programs, Associate Director of Development, Special Assistant to the President, Director of Development, Major Gifts Officer, Director of Planned Giving and Senior Director of Development-College of Education/Director of Planned Giving. Her long history with UCA and commitment to the College of Education enhanced her ability to build the college friend base and establish the COE Student Emergency Fund. Her retirement will be deeply felt in the College of Education, but I'm sure we will continue to see her cheering on the Bears. Nothing can sideline her enthusiasm for UCA!

Congratulations, Carolyn! We thank you for all you've done for UCA and wish you the best!

Maddie is a 2018 graduate of the College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA) program at UCA. She currently works for the University of Arkansas as a Coordinator for Residence Education. Maddie says, "I get the pleasure of serving an all-women's hall on campus and a staff of students in the hall. I also get to work with those involved in the No Woman Left Behind internship program and our on-campus student government."

She added, "My proudest and most fulfilling moments in my position is working with these students to develop professional skills that will make them successful for their post-graduation goals. Seeing them succeed is the best part even if my small role was working on the perfect spreadsheet with them or challenging and supporting them through scenarios and their own self-advocacy development. It’s very rare you find a job that makes you laugh each day while also giving you new challenges."

He earned his B.A. in Business Administration (Management) from Doane University. Currently, Andrew serves as the Director of the Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development at the University of Miami and is also pursuing his Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies with specialization in Higher Education Administration from Colorado State University.

In addition to serving as an administrator in higher education, Andrew is an adjunct faculty member at Miami Dade College - Kendall Campus in the Social Sciences Department teaching Student Life Skills courses. He currently serves as the chair of the Athletic Coast Conference (ACC) Leadership Symposium, serves as co-chair of the LGBTQ Faculty & Staff Network, serves as a member on the UM President’s Campus Coalition on Sexual Violence Prevention and Education and serves as a UDialogue Facilitator for the Intergroup Dialogue program within the UM Office of Institutional Culture. Previously, Andrew provided oversight and co-chaired the UM LGBTQ Task Force and Implementation Committee to help foster diversity and inclusion for all students. Through this work, he has been instrumental in collaborating closely with students, faculty and community partners to develop and implement effective civic engagement, diversity and leadership programming.

Relius volunteers with 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Upward Bound at LSU and many other organizations. In his free time he is a motivational speaker and student leadership facilitator.