University of Texas Arlington

Conference question draws attention

Several television stations and newspapers including the The Dallas Morning News, The Washington Post and the Cleveland Plain Dealer carried an Associated Press report crediting “a person familiar with the decision” with news that The University of Texas at Arlington has accepted an invitation to become a non-football playing member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2013. The person told the AP that UT Arlington’s decision to join the Sun Belt still must be approved by the University of Texas Board of Regents.

New dean of libraries noted

Rebecca Bichel, UT Arlington’s new dean of libraries, was featured in the Dallas Business Journal’s Executive People on the Move section. Rebecca Bichel has served as Florida State University’s associate dean for public services since 2005. She joins UT Arlington on July 16.

Faculty honored

The Fort Worth Business Press People section reported that Ya’Ke Smith, a University of Texas at Arlington assistant professor of art and art history whose work was eligible to be nominated for an Academy Award and recognized by numerous film festivals, has been named the Morgan Woodward Distinguished Professor in the College of Liberal Arts. The appointment takes effect Sept. 1. The People section also noted Alusine Jalloh, associate professor of history and director of The Africa Program at UT Arlington, along with Ritu Khanduri, assistant professor of anthropology, have been named Fulbright Scholars.

Downtown defines itself

A KXAS/NBC 5 report on a new advertising campaign to brand Downtown Arlington and promote economic development mentioned this fall’s opening of UT Arlington’s College Park District and the recent opening of College Park Center. The campaign will include billboards, banners, print ads and social media. It is partially funded by downtown area businesses through a city tax assessment, as well as some hotel tax revenues.