Fellows
The Honors Program of the College of Education and Health Professions is proud to showcase recipients of Honors College and Bodenhamer Fellowships from the University of Arkansas. The fellowships are generous, academically competitive and awarded on merit. The awards provide $80,000 in support over four years (and non-resident tuition award, if applicable). For more information or to apply, visit the Honors College Fellowships page.
Jenna Burns
Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders & Spanish
Minors: Religious Studies
Plans after graduation: I intend to work as a multilingual pediatric speech therapist, and I especially have an interest in working with kids on the autism spectrum! I intend to get my Master's in Speech Therapy and continue to get my Ph.D. either in the same field/child development, or, more likely, in Theology! I would like to pursue a career first as a speech therapist, and then as a hospital chaplain or go through seminary to do ministry work.
Thesis/Project mentor: Dr. Miguel Garcia-Salas
Thesis/Project summary: My current topic, is a phenomenological study on accessibility to school-based therapy for migrant and Medicaid-based client populations.
Hometown: Rogers, Arkansas. I'm originally an Okie at heart, though-- that's where my family's from!
Study Abroad Location/year: I'm looking at Health Teams Abroad in Sweden!
Other Interests: In my free time, I do Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, make oil paintings and digital art, lovingly annoy my friends and sorority sisters, and obsess over my cat Thor!
Sydnee Errico
Major: Exercise Science
Minors: Medical Humanities & Psychology
Plans after graduation: After graduation, I plan to attend Physician Assistant school.
Thesis/Project mentor: Dr. Erin Howie Hickey
Thesis/Project summary: Exercise is Medicine
Hometown: Denison, Texas
Study Abroad Location/year: Health Teams Abroad Sweden 2025. We spent 3 weeks in Jönköping, Sweden comparing the healthcare systems of the United States and Sweden.
Other Interests: I am a volunteer for the Passionate About Literacy Program through the Volunteer Action Center and an Honors College Ambassador. I also work on campus as a COEHP Honors Peer Mentor, where I get to share with new freshman how impactful the U of A and its many resources have been for me.
Kendall Fisher
Major: Public Health
Minors: Medical Humanities & Music
Plans after graduation: I am applying to Doctor of Pharmacy programs and specializing in clinical pharmacy or drug evaluation and research
Thesis/Project mentor: Dr. Rachel Glade
Thesis/Project summary: A Qualitative Study Exploring Barriers to Newborn Hearing Screening Follow-up in Arkansas
Hometown: Bentonville, Arkansas
Study Abroad Location/year: I studied abroad through the AIFS Study + Travel: Comparative Healthcare Program in summer 2024. We spent a week each in London, Barcelona, and Florence studying the healthcare systems in each country.
Other Interests: I am on the executive boards for the Public Health Student Association and the Flute Student Association, and I also give campus tours with the Student Ambassadors. Outside of class, I'm usually playing flute/piccolo in many ensembles across campus, from the Razorback Marching Band to the Wind Ensemble and Musical Theatre Orchestra!
Ellie Hassler
Major: Pre-Nursing
Minor: Human Development & Family Sciences
Plans after graduation: I plan to work as a nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit and eventually want to go back and get my master’s degree and become a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Thesis/Project mentor: TBD
Thesis/Project summary: I am interested in researching how being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder as a child affects their social interactions and cognitive development.
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Other Interests: I am a member of Alpha Delta Pi and volunteer with Cross Church’s Dream Team. I also love reading, listening to podcasts, and ordering sweet potato fries every chance I get.