UTA In The News — Friday, March 26, 2021
Autonomous public transportation
The city of Arlington, in partnership with The University of Texas at Arlington, Via and May Mobility, launched the Arlington RAPID pilot program, an on-demand ride-share service that utilizes self-driving vehicles, Fox 4 News and Roads and Bridges reported. The program, funded by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, will provide free transportation to UTA students.
Expanded vaccine eligibility
Erin Carlson, associate clinical professor and director of graduate public health programs in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, spoke to Dallas Observer about how Texas’ expansion of COVID-19 vaccination eligibility increases vaccine distribution and access through government partnerships with local pharmacies.
Vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion announced
Bryan Samuel, chief diversity and inclusion officer at Kansas State University, will join The University of Texas at Arlington as its inaugural vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, Yahoo! News and The Manhattan Mercury reported. Samuel has served as a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion at universities across the United States for nearly 20 years.
Digital storytelling
Bart Weiss, associate professor of art and art history, spoke to KERA about his collaboration with Greg Brownderville, associate professor of English at SMU, on the digital anthology Fire Bones, which documents contemporary life in the Mississippi Delta.
Russian diplomacy
Brian Whitmore, adjunct assistant professor in the McDowell Center for Global Studies, questioned the intentions of Russia’s newest ambassador to Belarus in a column for The Atlantic Council.