Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Winter 2026 Newsletter
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With the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the hard work and accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students. From the many wins and recognitions at the ASABE Annual International Meeting in Toronto (way to go inaugural Fountain Wars team!) to having one of our own (Harvey Williams) recognized by the University with its highest alumni award, it has been a special six months. Moving ahead, we are adding three new incredible faculty in January- gamechangers in their fields (read about them below). Our graduate student recruiting is gaining momentum, and we are adding some talented new students in January. Our unit is working hard to execute our strategic plan to reach our goals for 2030. We will have lots of good news to share in the Spring.
We regret that we are saying farewell to Julian Abram, our longtime facilities manager (retirement), and Jeff Ledbetter, our fiscal manager (promotion within UADA), but they have served us so well. Please share your congratulations with them as you can.
The newsletter contains just a few of our 2025 highlights; follow us on social media to stay fully connected. Those feeds will always have timely excerpts from the department.
Last, alumni, please take a peek at the "Giving Back" section at the end of the newsletter. We have some exciting opportunities to impact the next generation coming this spring. We invite you to join us as we host the 2026 ASABE Southeastern Student Rally in March. We are hoping to have a strong turnout of alums at the networking dinner on 3/14/2026 (students love meeting people in industry!). If your company is interested in sponsoring the event, please contact me ASAP.
Wooo Pig Sooie!
Terry
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Congratulations Seniors
Congratulations to our Fall 2025 graduating seniors! We are incredibly proud of each of you and wish you all the best in the next phase of your lives.
B.S.
- Cassidy Brown
- Allison Landis
- Madison Leckbee
- Daniel Pruitt
- Ally Sutherland
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Senior Design Team Places 2nd at ASABE 2025 Meeting
Congratulations to the Rice Irrigation Automated Gate Senior Design Team, Alexandra Anthony, and Daniel Pruitt, for presenting their innovative project at the 2025 ASABE International Meeting and earning second place!
Their project, modeling hydraulic and hydrologic impacts of automated levee gates in rice irrigation, showcases cutting-edge engineering and economic analysis.
Great work!
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Inaugural Fountain Wars Team Competed at ASABE 2025 Meeting
For the first time in our department's history, we competed in the Fountain Wars competition at the 2025 ASABE International Meeting!
Congratulations to our team—Maci Brouillette, Holli Jenkins, Autumn Jones, and Ella Martini—for making history and excelling in the ASABE Fountain Wars competition.
Their creativity, dedication, and outstanding performance made our first appearance in the competition unforgettable.
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U of A Hosting ASABE Southeastern Student Rally 2026
The University of Arkansas will host the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Southeastern Student Rally, March 13-15, 2026. This event offers a unique opportunity for your business to connect with approximately 200 aspiring biological and agricultural engineers from across the region.
Flexible sponsorship levels are offered, plus add-ons and opportunities for local companies to host industry tours. Learn more here.
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New Faculty Additions
We are excited to welcome three new faculty members to our department who will start in January.
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Dr. Kendrick Hardaway
Assistant Professor for the Circular Bioeconomy
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Dr. Eric McLamore
Professor in Biosensing Engineering
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Dr. Diana Vanegas
Associate Professor in Bioprocess Engineering
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3-D Printing: The Future of Food
Dr. Ubeyitogullari has dedicated himself to pushing food science into a novel new direction: 3-D printing. These efforts could revolutionize access to food, especially in food deserts, and also reduce overproduction, surplus, and waste.
Learn more here.
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Refining Control-Release Systems for Drug Delivery
Dr. Kim's team is revolutionizing controlled-release systems for probiotics, cancer-targeting drugs, and more—boosting gut health and advancing human and animal wellness.
Learn more here.
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Faculty Leading COE Working Group to Advance Smart AG
Dr. Wang and Dr. Koparan are leading the working group, Smart Agriculture: Engaging Faculty to Vision and Modernize Agro-Food Systems With Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. This group looks to improve ag efficiency and modernize the traditional agro-food system from farm to fork.
Learn more here.
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Reducing the Risk of Arsenic in Rice
New research by Dr. Runkle reveals the top methods for reducing arsenic in rice. Including cultivar selection, optimizing irrigation, cooking methods, and using selenium or silicon soil amendments for safer, healthier rice.
Learn more here.
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Alum Honored at 2025 Arkansas Alumni Awards
Congratulations to Harvey Williams (B.S.B.E. '92) on receiving a Citation of Distinguished Alumni Award from the Arkansas Alumni Association at the 2025 Arkansas Alumni Awards!
This prestigious recognition celebrates Harvey's outstanding professional achievements and the remarkable contributions he has made to his field.
We are incredibly proud to see our graduates making such a significant impact and representing the best of biological engineering.
| | Pictured: Greg Baltz (B.S.B.E. '80), Indrajeet Chaubey, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (M.S.B.E. '94), Harvey Williams (B.S.B.E. '92), and Terry Howell Jr., University of Arkansas Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department Head. | | |
Passing the Torch: Alumna Continues Sophomore Design Studio Tradition
For more than 20 years, the Sophomore Design Studio has been one of our most cherished courses, and we're excited to see this tradition continue to thrive under new leadership. Leslie Massey (B.S.B.E. '06) has stepped into the role following the retirement of Dr. Osborn, who inspired countless students over two decades with this class.
During the Fall 2025 semester, students explored sustainable systems and responsible design through hands-on, meaningful learning experiences. Congratulations, Leslie, on an outstanding semester!
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Recent Grad Testing Air Force Technology
Aiden Nyhus, a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force and May 2025 graduate, is putting his biological engineering degree to work by testing the Air Force's newest technologies, such as weapons and aircraft, before pilots or operators can use them.
We're proud to see our alums making an impact in such critical roles.
Learn more here.
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Building Futures: Billy B. and Mildred V. Scholarship Transforms Student Lives
The Billy B. and Mildred V. Scholarship, established in 1992 to honor former department head Billy Bryan, has become a cornerstone of student support. Over the past 34 years, this scholarship has empowered more than 70 biological engineering students to pursue their academic and professional dreams, providing more than $56,000 in financial support.
However, this scholarship's impact extends far beyond financial support, as 2025 recipient Luke Ahlemeier shares:
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Luke's words capture the confidence and validation that scholarship support provides. That same confidence has propelled past recipients to pursue remarkable paths across biological engineering. Today, these individuals are working for industry-leading companies, launching their own businesses to create positive change, teaching the next generation of biological engineers, and so much more. Their varied successes demonstrate how the Bryan family's investment does more than ease financial burden, it empowers students to dream bigger and work harder, knowing their efforts are recognized and valued.
We're deeply grateful to the Bryan family not only for their financial commitment to the department but also for their ongoing engagement with our students and their academic journeys. Their dedication continues to open doors and create opportunities for the next generation of biological engineers.
Inspired to make a difference? Learn more about giving and make your gift by clicking the button below.
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The department email newsletter is published after the fall and spring semesters and features stories about student, faculty, staff, and alumni news.
After publication, newsletters can be found in the online archives.
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