AAR announces personnel changes for the new fiscal year The Office of Academic Affairs and Research is pleased to announce the following personnel moves effective July 1, 2008.  Dr. Kathryn Jones' role to include university assessment Dr. Kathryn Jones, director, Institutional Research and Planning, is now responsible for university assessment activities. Her new title is director, Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment. This expanded role will allow more fluid relationships between assessment and institutional research and planning. Barbara Doyle, University College, has served in the assessment capacity for the past two years and is credited for moving the assessment agenda forward during this time. Doyle will return to her former position as an instructor in University College. Torres promoted to director, CLT Henry Torres, interim director, Center for Learning Technologies, has been promoted to the position of director for the Center for Learning Technologies. As interim director of the center for the past 8 ½ months, Torres has advanced the activities of the center in significant ways, including the development of a strategic plan and working with ITS to secure upgrades for the faculty computer lab. Torres brings significant work experience in the technology industry and university instructional experience to the position. Dr. Hood to serve as P. I. for $1.845 million grant Dr. Beth Hood, associate vice chancellor, Research and Technology Transfer, has relinquished her duties as associate vice chancellor to work as the full-time principal investigator (P. I.) of a $1.845 million grant from the Department of Energy and private sources. The grant, "Ethanol from agriculture for Arkansas and America" was awarded for developing technologies to enable ethanol production from plant material. Dr. Hood has played a critical role in laying the foundation for future success in the Office of Research and Technology Transfer. A national search is currently underway to find a replacement for Dr. Hood, who will remain involved in the activities of the Office of Research and Technology Transfer through the end of the calendar year. Back to the top