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Robert McMath, Dean
About the DeanRobert C. (Bob) McMath became Dean of the Honors College and Professor of History at the University of Arkansas in August 2005. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1972. Between then and 2005 he taught history and held a series of administrative posts at Georgia Tech, except for 1996 when he was a Fulbright Lecturer in Italy.
Dr. McMath’s responsibilities as dean of the Honors College include general oversight of operations in the College, development of new Honors initiatives (in collaboration with the faculty), coordination of activities among college-level Honors Programs, donor stewardship and cultivation, and communication with internal and external audiences about the Honors College. He will also supervise graduate and undergraduate student research and teach Honors courses and colloquia in History. In his role as dean, McMath holds an endowed chair which is funded through the Walton gift.
As Vice Provost at Georgia Tech McMath oversaw student academic services and coordinated campus-wide initiatives to improve the teaching and learning environment for undergraduates, including the design and partial funding of a $60 million undergraduate learning center. As professor of history he taught a wide range of undergraduate courses and supervised graduate students. He received the George W. Griffith Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Dean James E. Dull Administrator of the Year Award, and in 2004 was named an honorary alumnus. In 1994 he received the (Georgia) Governor’s Award for the Humanities.
McMath is the author or co-author of numerous articles and seven books on American history, including American Populism; The American People: A History; and Engineering the New South: Georgia Tech, 1885-1985.
Carol Gattis, Associate Dean
Dr. Carol Gattis holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from the University and has for several years played an important leadership role in the College of Engineering, where she was the guiding force behind the creation of the Engineering Honors program. Dr. Gattis brings to her new assignment a broad knowledge of the campus community and a track record of success in recruitment of high ability students, including minority students. She is ideally prepared to help the Honors College maintain its core strengths while moving ahead on new initiatives.
Maribeth Lynes, Assistant Dean
Maribeth Lynes has served as Director of Recruitment for the Honors College since 2002 after having worked in the admissions counseling field for over twenty years. She served as president of the Arkansas Association of College Admissions Officers and the Arkansas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. She earned her M.Ed from the University of Arkansas in the field of Higher Education Administration and a bachelor of arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
As Director of Recruitment, Maribeth facilitates collaboration between UA faculty, staff, and current students to help high school students learn about opportunities in the Honors College. She arranges customized personal visits and recruitment events, visits high school classes, and works with teachers and counselors who assist their students in applying for selective programs and scholarships.
Bryan Hembree, Director, Academic Scholarships
Academic ScholarshipsBryan C. Hembree became the Director of Academic Scholarships in May of 2005. He received his B.A. in English Literature from the University of Arkansas in 2002. While at the UofA, Bryan was a Chancellor’s Scholar, SILO/SURF grant recipient, and J. William and Elizabeth Fulbright Scholar. Under Fulbright funding, Bryan spent his junior year abroad at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University. Bryan is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration.
Hembree’s responsibilities as director include overseeing the operations of the Office of Academic Scholarships, budget officer for Chancellor’s/Distinguished Governor’s Scholars, outreach and recruitment involving scholarship opportunities, and collaboration with various academic units and departments across campus regarding scholarship.
Kelly Carter, Fellowships, Grants, & Awards Budget Officer
Kelly (Langston) Carter became the full-time Honors College and Bodenhamer Fellow Budget Officer in May 2005. She had served as the Director of the Office of Academic Scholarships from June 1998 until May 2005. Prior to that, she was a financial aid counselor on the University of Arkansas campus. Carter received her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Geology in summer 1986 and her Master’s of Education in Higher Education in May 1993.
Carter’s responsibilities as fellowship budget officer include monitoring student’s financial matters and fellowship renewals. These duties include paying tuition and housing; monitoring the rate of fellowship spending for each student; releasing funds for enhanced educational experiences such as study abroad, professional conferences, and research; and monitoring academic progress. She also works closely with Dr. Gary Standridge, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, on the Bodenhamer Fellowship program. Part of those duties includes planning a five day trip to Washington, DC, for the incoming freshmen Bodenhamer fellows each year and two faculty chaperones.
Aletha Cook, Director of Communications
Aletha Lin Cook became the Director of Communications for the Honors College in October 2009. Cook began working for the Honors College in November 2005 as the Media & Information Specialist. In May 2005, she received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Russian Studies from the University of Arkansas. While at the UofA, Cook was named a Senior Scholar and 2005 Rhodes district finalist. She received the SILO/SURF grant, Winthrop Rockefeller scholarship, and the Brandon Burlsworth Memorial scholarship.
Cook's responsibilities include directing content and print production, graphic design, web development, photography. Cook is also the Honors College liaison to University Relations.
Pak Fung, Financial Manager
Garrick Hildebrand, Program Coordinator, Academic Scholarships
Garrick D. Hildebrand joined the Academic Scholarship Office in November, 2007 after several years of service in the Dean’s Office of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Undergraduate Programs Office of the Sam M. Walton College of Business. Hildebrand graduated from the Fulbright College in May of 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Medieval & Renaissance studies. While an undergraduate, Hildebrand was very active in the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild pep-bands, and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. Additionally, Hildebrand was a member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and held an internship with the Department of History in which he worked with the Washington County Historical Society. Hildebrand is currently pursuing a Master’s of Education degree from the Higher Education Leadership Program at the University of Arkansas.
Hildebrand’s responsibilities as Program Coordinator include managing the University-Wide Current Student Scholarship Program, posting scholarships and awards from all on-campus units, and overseeing the various on-campus scholarship programs for current U of A students and all private scholarships.
Dovie Johnson, Assistant Director, Academic Scholarships
Dovie Johnson, Assistant Director in the Office of Academic Scholarships since June 2005. Johnson obtained her B.S.E. from the University of Arkansas. She has been employed with the University of Arkansas since 1990. Before joining the Office of Academic Scholarships in 2001 as Administrative Assistant, she worked in the Office of Financial Aid.
Johnson’s responsibilities as Assistant Director in the Office of Academic Scholarships are to post and manage freshmen scholarships until an undergraduate degree is obtained. The scholarships that Johnson manages are Chancellor’s, Silas Hunt Scholarship, Honors College Academy, University Scholarship, Honors College Leadership, and the Non-Resident Tuition Award. Johnson also is the contact person for posting the Alumni Legacy, Legacy Tuition Reduction Grant and for the Tuition Advantage Program and handles scholars’ with special circumstances. Additionally, she posts outside scholarships from organizations outside the university.
Michael Zachary, Computer Support Specialist
Michael J. Zachary began working for the Honors College in October 2004 as the Technical Advisor/ Support Technician for the Honors College Smart rooms project. Since that time, Mr. Zachary has also taken on the Information Technology (IT) duties for the Honors College and the Scholarship office. He is currently pursuing a Master of Education Degree in Educational Technology at the University of Arkansas.
Mr. Zachary's responsibilities include IT Support for the Honors College and Scholarship Offices, as well as support, periodical maintenance, design assistance and implementation of audio visual solutions in current and future Smart classrooms. Mr. Zachary strives for a unified campus design that would accommodate all colleges campus-wide and embrace the task of future planning, designing, and implementation.
Allison Brown, Administrative Assistant, Academic Scholarships
Allison Brown is the Academic Scholarship Office’s Administrative Assistant. She earned her B.S. in Printing Management/Graphic Communications from Arkansas State University in 2002.
Brown’s responsibilities as Administrative Assistant include processing incoming freshman scholarship applications, answering the phone, assisting students with inquiries, managing departmental email, and opening the mail. She is the contact person for questions regarding new freshman applications.
Terry Garrity, Administrative Assistant
Theresa M. (Terry) Garrity joined the University of Arkansas in September 1984 as a secretary in the History Department in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Over the years, she has worked in several other positions including fifteen years in various departments in the Walton College of Business: Management, International Studies, Minority Affairs, and Information Systems. In August 2004, she joined the Honors College as an Administrative Assistant.
Terry Garrity's duties include processing travel for all faculty, staff and students in the Honors College, handling all accounting transactions for the college, and setting up and maintaining mentor stipend accounts for approximately 335 faculty across campus. She is also the registration coordinator for the Advanced Placement Summer Institute, a summer workshop for approximately 300 middle school and high school AP teachers.
Nina Simmons, Receptionist
Nina Simmons began working for the Fulbright Honors College on October 31, 1995. She retired in August of 2002, but she continued to assist with special events for the Honors College until January of 2005 when she began working 20 hours a week in the Office of Academic Scholarships. In August of 2005 she moved to her present position as the receptionist in the Honors College Office. She graduated from the University of Eastern Michigan in 1959 and began a teaching career that spanned over 25 years in all grade levels. During her time in the Fulbright Honors Office she was named as Employee of the Quarter and during her time in the Honors College Office she was the recipient of honorary member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. The award was given in recognition of her many hours of volunteer work and service within the communities where she has lived.
Nina's responsibilities as receptionist in the Honors College Office include answering the phone, do any required clerical work, assist the students in whatever manner is needed, sort the mail, send emails upon receiving notice of the checks for the fellows, and in general assist the rest of the staff in the Honors College Office. One other important responsibility is to make sure every ones chocolate needs are met.