Monthly Newsletter

                                                                Friday, February 27, 2026

Are you or someone you know an individual with intellectual or developmental disabilities and/or autism who wants to attend college or did you think college is out of your reach?

The H.O.W.L. Transition Program may be just what you are looking for!

The H.O.W.L. Transition Program gives students with intellectual or developmental disabilities and/or autism the full college experience while supporting students in areas they personally need.

Students get support with things like making friends, planning careers, learning independent living skills, and academics. Each students experience is tailored completely to their needs in a person-centered approach. The program helps students grow, reach their goals, and feel confident in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Join the H.O.W.L. Transition Program for Arkansas State University's Pack Preview at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 6th!!

Register today @ Pack Preview Sign Up

Check-in will be held on the third floor of the Carl R. Reng Student Union in Centennial Hall. Guests can park in the North Parking Deck attached to the Student Union.

This is an opportunity to learn about the Admissions process, speak with Financial Aid & Scholarships, and hear from faculty and staff about what it means to be a student at A-State. Attendees will have the chance to sit in mock lectures and view some of our first-year housing options!

In celebration of World Autism Acceptance Month, formerly known as Autism Awareness Month, Arkansas State University’s (A-State) Theta Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. fraternity, in conjunction with the A-State A.T.L.A.S. (Autonomy through Leadership, Advocacy and Service) Transition Program will host its second “Alphas & A.T.L.A.S. 5K Run & Walk for Autism” beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. The race will begin and end on the Heritage Plaza Lawn of the Carl R. Reng Student Union in the center of the beautiful A-State campus.

Runners, walkers, ghost run/walkers, or virtual run/walkers can register ahead of time here, for $25. Participants can also register the day of the event between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for $35. Those who wish to sponsor the event or donate monetarily can do so at this link.

Vendors will be on location to either increase autism awareness or promote their businesses. Leashed dogs are also welcome at the event.

This year there will also be a Greek Life competition. The sorority or fraternity who gets the most people to sign up for the 5K and register that they are running, walking or ghost/virtual walking for their sorority or fraternity will win a trophy and social media recognition after the event. To sign up for your fraternity, sorority, or favorite Greek organization, you simply fill out which organization you would like to support in the participant details portion of the registration form.

Autism Acceptance Month is an opportunity for everyone to come together and raise awareness, foster acceptance, and create a society where people with autism are supported, understood, and empowered. The month is meant to highlight the issues affecting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, educate the public on support services, and celebrate people with ASD.

ASD is a neurodevelopmental disability that affects how the brain develops. For many years, autism was misunderstood, and individuals with autism faced discrimination in schools, workplaces, and communities. This month is the perfect time for us to not only raise awareness about autism but, more importantly, to promote inclusivity, according to transitionabilities.com.

According to the CDC, one in 36 children in the United States had been identified as having ASD as of April 2023.

The 5K run/walk, which began in 2025, was the brainchild of A-State A.T.L.A.S. Transition Program student and Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. fraternity brother Kelby Mack. Kelby's dream is to help other students in A.T.L.A.S. to be as successful as he has been, while also trying to offset some of the costs associated with accomplishing the goals and aspirations of each individual student.

The A.T.L.A.S. Transition Program is a program on the A-State campus that provides students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or autism the full college experience while also providing necessary support such as financial literacy, independent living, mentoring, tutoring, and making accessible the necessary accommodations each student needs based on their individual goals and aspirations.

The Alpha Phi Alpha Theta Upsilon chapter at A-State was established on May 19, 1973, by a group of students coined the “Tenacious Ten,” and the fraternity’s first supervisor was Dr. Herman Strickland. The Alpha’s motto, “First of all, Servants of all, We shall transcend all,” embodies their history as the first intercollegiate fraternity founded by African American men. Their mission is to provide service to their communities, and their areas of focus are manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all. A-State’s Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.  Theta Upsilon chapter is currently led by President Matthew McMullen.

The Theta Upsilon chapter is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a collaborative umbrella council composed of historically African American fraternities and sororities, commonly called the Divine Nine.

"The 5K is important to us because it represents more than a race. It represents brotherhood, compassion, and service. One of our closest friends, Kelby Mack, is also our frat brother, and he is on the autism spectrum. Walking alongside him has shown us the importance of understanding, patience, and advocacy," said Alpha Phi Alpha. Inc. President Matthew McMullen. "As members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., we are called to uplift our communities, and supporting this cause reflects our commitment to standing with our brothers and sisters in every walk of life."

For more information, please contact the RESTORE Hub at A-State's Marketing and Public Relations Officer Jessica Rainwater at (870) 972-3911 or jrainwater@AState.edu.

By the University of AR at Pine Bluff 

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) will play a central role in a new statewide initiative to expand Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) opportunities for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, following the award of approximately $2 million in federal funding to Arkansas State University over the next five years. The initiative will help campuses strengthen transition pathways and practical skill-building programs across the state. As part of this work, UAPB is introducing a new program within the School of Education and welcomes Robbin Hudson Huntley, Program Coordinator, who will oversee campus activities and serve as the primary contact for students, families, and community partners seeking additional information.

Funded by the Office of Postsecondary Education within the U.S. Department of Education, the grant establishes the Consortium for Inclusive Postsecondary Education and Transition (CIPET), a statewide coordinating center designed to expand access to Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs across Arkansas. A cornerstone of this initiative is the launch of a new IPSE program within the UAPB School of Education, which will strengthen access to transformative educational opportunities for students and families throughout the Delta and Pine Bluff region.

Dr. Kimberley Davis-Hunt, Dean of the UAPB School of Education, highlighted the program’s significance and future impact.  She also discussed the work that went on behind the scenes that led to an effective partnership.

“Launching an IPSE program in the School of Education at UAPB is both deeply personal and profoundly meaningful,” said Dr. Davis-Hunt. “It reflects our unwavering promise to the Delta and the Pine Bluff community to ensure that every individual, regardless of ability, has access to transformative educational opportunities close to home. This milestone is the result of more than two years of intentional collaboration with Arkansas State University, whose successful program served as both a model and an inspiration. Together, we have turned vision into reality, creating a pathway that affirms dignity, expands opportunity, and reimagines what’s possible for students and families in our region.”

Robbin Hudson Huntley serves as the Program Coordinator for the new UAPB IPSE Program in the UAPB School of Education

Robbin Hudson Huntley has joined UAPB as the new IPSE Program Coordinator, according to Dr. Davis-Hunt.  A native of Dumas, Arkansas, she brings a strong background in student support services, administration, and disability-focused programming.

Hudson Huntley expressed excitement about her transition to UAPB, noting that it is an honor to help lead a program that expands access to higher education and meaningful career pathways for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She looks forward to building an innovative, student-centered IPSE program that aligns with UAPB’s mission on academic engagement, workforce readiness, and independent living skills.

Hudson Huntley is deeply committed to community engagement, student success, rehabilitation services, and post-secondary transition programming. She earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and her graduate degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling with an emphasis in Addiction Studies, both from her alma mater, UAPB. Her academic and professional experiences have shaped her passion for student success.

“As IPSE Coordinator, I am eager to collaborate with campus partners, community stakeholders, and families to ensure the program’s success and long-term impact at UAPB,” Hudson Huntley says. Huntley can be reached by email at hudsonr@uapb.edu for more information.

Through this initiative, UAPB joins Arkansas State University–Jonesboro and Arkansas State University, Mountain Home in a three-campus consortium uniquely positioned to serve urban, rural, and historically underrepresented communities. Each institution contributes distinct strengths – academic programs, faculty expertise, facilities, personnel, and deep community partnerships – that together create a sustainable, scalable model for inclusive education statewide.

The consortium will be led by the RESTORE (Research, Education, Service, Transition, and Outreach through Reflective Engagement) Hub at Arkansas State University, under the direction of Dr. Kristin N. Johnson, executive director and principal investigator. RESTORE will serve as the technical assistance and data evaluation hub, drawing on its experience operating A-State’s existing H.O.W.L. Transition Program.

According to Dr. Johnson, the consortium will meet a critical need in an extremely underserved population in Arkansas.

“This initiative represents a timely and transformative response to one of the most significant gaps in services,” Johnson said. “Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities remain among the most underserved populations. By partnering with UAPB and ASU–Mountain Home, we are breaking barriers and building futures. Inclusion isn’t optional, it’s essential.”

At UAPB, the new IPSE program will expand institutional capacity, align academic programming with workforce development, and strengthen student support services, ensuring meaningful postsecondary pathways that lead to employment, independence, and community engagement.

CIPET is grounded in the belief that every student, regardless of ability, deserves access to high-quality postsecondary experiences that are both meaningful and measurable. The consortium will provide technical assistance to IPSE programs statewide, lead data collection and evaluation efforts, and disseminate best practices to strengthen the sustainability of transition and postsecondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities.

“These resources will not only support program implementation but will also transform the educational and employment landscape for young adults with disabilities across Arkansas,” Johnson added.

ASU–Mountain Home Chancellor Bentley Wallace emphasized the regional impact of the partnership, noting that the initiative will enhance life skills training, credential attainment, and employment opportunities for adults with learning differences in the communities his campus serves.

University leadership also highlighted the significance of the award at the state level.

Dr. Travis Marsico, Vice Provost for Research, Innovation, and Discovery at Arkansas State University and Executive Director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, called the grant “a very competitive win” and praised the collaborative vision that made the statewide model possible.

The RESTORE Hub at Arkansas State University is a social and behavioral sciences research institute focused on research, problem-solving, and implementation science, with a mission to improve quality of life through education, service, innovation, and collaboration. Through CIPET, that mission now extends more deeply into communities across Arkansas, most notably through UAPB’s role as a beacon of excellence for the Delta and beyond.

The Wolf Pack Team before the polar plunge.

A-State HOWL Transition Program students Gianni, Seth, and Bobby & A-State ATLAS Transition Program students Johnathan, Mary and Abby brought home medals last week in the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 7 basketball skills event!

Bobby received a silver medal, Johnathan, Seth, and Abby received bronze medals, Gianni received a fourth-place ribbon, and Mary received a fifth-place ribbon! Congratulations!!! 

Photo credits: Kelby Mack, Jessica Rainwater, and Myketa Hicks

Events

Alphas & A.T.L.A.S. 5K Run & Walk

April 11, 2026

Day of Registration 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. 

Race starts @ 9:00 a.m. on the Heritage Plaza Lawn

Register here 

H.O.W.L. & A.T.L.A.S.

Graduation 

May 9, 2026

Time: TBA

How to Give

To make monetary donations to the H.O.W.L. Transition Program, the A.T.L.A.S, Transition Program, the Lupine Wellness Center or the RESTORE Hub, please visit: https://www.astate.edu/a/advancement/give-now/index.dot and fill out the giving form.

Please MAKE SURE that under the line "I would like to give to" that you mark 'other' and type in manually which program you would like to donate to.

For example, H.O.W.L. Transition Program, A.T.L.A.S. Transition Program, RESTORE Hub, or Lupine Wellness Center

Donations made in this manner will be tax deductible.

The A-State giving form can also be reached by using the QR code below: 

The RESTORE (Research, Education, Service, Transition and Outreach through Reflective Engagement) Hub at A-State strives to improve the quality of life for all communities through research, education, services, innovation and collaboration.

The RESTORE Hub at A-State is a social and behavioral sciences research institute specializing in research, problem-solving, and implementation science.