RSIC Staff
Jim Hogan
Biosafety Compliance Coordinator | 479-575-2671 | ibc@uark.edu
I spent 5+ years in Environmental Health and Safety as the Biological Safety Officer before coming to Research Integrity and Compliance to be the Biological Safety Coordinator. Prior to that I ran my own tutoring company, and before that, I worked for 4 years at the Indiana State Department of Health Labs. I have my Bachelor’s degrees from Villanova University and my Ph.D. in Biology from The University of Notre Dame. I am involved with mentoring and working with students in various roles and including International Students and Scholars iFriend program and University Housings Adopt-a-Prof program. As an Adopt-a-Prof mentor I yearly try to educate the residents at the Casino Nights in Housing, not only how to play Blackjack, but also to remind them that Casinos are profitable because in the long run, the House always wins. “The Odds are NEVER in you Favor, Katniss”
Rebecca Kavanaugh
IACUC Program Manager | 479-575-6367 | iacuc@uark.edu
I completed my Ph.D. in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program here at the University of Arkansas in 2019 and joined the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance as the IACUC Program Manager in the Spring of 2020. With my background in veterinary medicine, this position seemed like the perfect opportunity to continue to support the research community here in Arkansas. In my free time, I like to be outside gardening, hiking with my three dogs, on the water kayaking and fishing with my husband, or creating enriching vivaria for my reptiles.
Benjamin Purvis
Chief Administration Officer | 479-575-2765 | rsicadmn@uark.edu
An Arkansas native and graduate of the University of Arkansas, I joined the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance in 2021. I earned my Ph.D. in History from the University of Mississippi. There I worked at the Graduate School in admissions, where I assisted international and domestic students. I also worked with international scholars and international students as a History instructor. In my free time, I enjoy keeping up with my young daughter and wife.
Melvin Torres
Export Control Officer | 479-575-6725| exports@uark.edu
My journey at the University of Arkansas started at the beginning of 2016. My area of expertise has been working in the International and compliance industry for over 30 years. I am married to a wonderful wife with two kind and loving children. My favorite things to do are reading about history, watching movies, playing cards and board games with my wife and kids, and meeting new people. I have a graduate MBA degree from American University in Washington, DC on International Business and Global Emerging Markets.
Ro Windwalker
IRB Coordinator | 479-575-2208 | irb@uark.edu
I fell into the IRB field through a temp assignment 20 years ago, and it was the first job I’d ever had where I wasn’t bored within six months. After a few months, I was permanently hired as the receptionist/file clerk for a large IRB department in Dallas for five years, and whenever someone would call with a question that I didn’t know the answer to, I would write the question down before I forwarded the caller to the appropriate person, so that later I could go and ask the question myself and find out what the answer was. After four years, I studied for and passed the Certified IRB Professional (CIP) exam, which gave me the qualifications to apply for and get hired for the IRB Coordinator position here at UA in 2007.
I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and my family spent a lot of weekends at my uncle’s cabin on Lake of the Ozarks, so moving back up here to the Ozark mountains after spending 18 years in D/FW (where there are no *trees*, only *landscaping*) was a wonderful move for me. I’ve had seven children over the course of two marriages (5 with my first husband, the first two of which passed on in a car accident in 2000, and 2 with my husband since October of 2000), the oldest of whom is a pharmacist in Kentucky, and the youngest was born just before we moved here, in 2007. In my free time, I do a lot of crafting, primarily needlework of one kind or another (knitting and crochet, mostly, but if it involves any type of needle or thread, I can do it, except freehand embroidery for some reason), and I read voraciously. I almost always have an ebook of some kind open, fanfic if nothing else!
Jarrett W. Sweeley
CLAF Manager | 479-575-2994 | jsweeley@uark.edu
I joined the University of Arkansas in 2019 as the CLAF Manager. Prior to the University of Arkansas, I worked as the BioResources Manager at the University of Georgia’s Animal Health Research Center. During my tenure at UGA, I was in charge of the facility’s decontamination program, managing the vivarium staff, and assisting research staff with their study planning. I am a graduate of Coastal Carolina University, where I majored in Biology and Marine Science. I currently live in Holiday Island, Arkansas, with my beautiful wife and pets. When I am not working, you can find me enjoying the NWA outdoors, fishing, kayaking, hiking, camping, or relaxing with a good video game.
Nicole Noga
Animal Care Technician | nnnoga@uark.edu
I joined the University of Arkansas in 2019 and I am currently a Master's student in Animal Science at the University of Arkansas. My main research interest centers on bovine reproductive physiology. While in my graduate program, I served as a Teaching Assistant, President for both the Animal Science Graduate Student Association (ASGSA) and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and related Sciences (MANRRS), the Animal Science Department representative, and 2021 Elections Chair for the Graduate and Professional Student Congress (GPSC) while working as a Research Assistant under Dr. Charles Looney. I am originally from California and relocated to Arkansas 7 years ago. In my spare time I enjoy camping, crafting, painting, and spending time with my husband.
Madison Earnheart
Animal Care Technician | madisone@uark.edu
I joined the University of Arkansas in October of 2020, and I have been a student here since 2021. I am currently studying Animal Science and dream of one day becoming a Marine biologist/rehabilitation specialist. A fun fact about me is that I gained a fractured knee while working at a vet clinic in 2020; I still have problems with it to this day! I have grown up in Arkansas my entire life but have only lived in Fayetteville for six years. I played basketball and attended Farmington High School, and we were declared Basketball State Champions in 2020 due to Covid-19. You can find me outdoors when I am not working on the weekends. I like to spend my free time reading books, watching crime documentaries, playing video games, or spending time with friends and family. I am a mom to 2 fur babies; a Jack Russell Terrier named Buttons and a Rottweiler named Bear.
Dr. Robb Jones
Attending Veterinarian | robbj@uark.edu
I started my journey as the Attending Veterinarian at the University of Arkansas in August of 2022. I graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in the fall of 1993. I worked for the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology as an Air Permit Engineer before attending Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine where I earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. I then completed a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship at the University of Florida at Gainesville. I have worked as a small animal veterinarian for the past 23 years, owning my own practice for the past 8 years. I enjoy the outdoors (camping and fishing) and spending time with my wife and 2 children.
Breanna Hiegert
Veterinary Technician | bhiegert@uark.edu
As a veterinary professional I began my newest journey at the University of Arkansas by becoming a part of the Animal Care Staff Team as a Veterinary Technician in July of 2022. My past experiences consist of a mix between shelter medicine, general practice, emergency medicine (all with canines and felines) and now research!
After a long-awaited reverse transfer process, I graduated Carl Albert State College with an Associate of Arts degree December 2019. Then I graduated from Northwest Arkansas Community College with two Associate of Science Degrees along with a Certificate in General Studies all in December of 2020. One of those degrees being in Liberal Arts and Sciences while the other in Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences. My next goal is to achieve a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science here at the UofA.
My home life includes a Springdale Animal Shelter Alumni named “Zeke” who had a high level of difficulty being adopted due to his breed. During the start of my career at SAS he had multiple failed foster homes and adoption events within the community. 8 months later I realized I needed him as much as he needed me and adopted him in 2018. He prefers to join me on my outdoor adventures hiking, kayaking, and camping while exploring the different national parks in Arkansas. My other hobbies are cruising to car and truck shows with my close friends and attending music concerts.
In the last decade I have made countless moves and transfers between colleges all over Southeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. I now let my background reflect my determination to thrive through life’s challenges. My ultimate passion is to become a veterinarian and so the next steps to pursue that dream are working towards completing the prerequisites for vet school in 2023!
Dr. Kate Williams
Attending Veterinarian | ciwilson@uark.edu
I joined the University of Arkansas in 2017 as the Attending Veterinarian. I graduated from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1991 and then a Master of Science degree in 1993, both in animal science. I was also commissioned into the U. S. Army Reserves in 1991 after completion of the Army R.O.T.C. program on campus. I served on active duty in the Army for several years before attending Tuskegee College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama where I earned my doctoral degree (D.V.M.). After graduating from veterinary school in 1999, I returned to NW Arkansas to begin my career and family. I have 23 years of experience as a veterinarian. My career has included work with biomedical research and laboratory animal medicine, military preventative veterinary medicine with an emphasis on international animal health, farm herd health, and comprehensive small animal medicine to include surgery and clinical medicine. I own and operate a small animal veterinary hospital in NW AR. In my free time, I am at my farm with my husband and son, pets, cattle and enjoy the great outdoors of NW Arkansas.