UAM NEWS
UAM Professor Receives Second Consecutive National Recognition for Newsletter
Dr. Kay Walter, professor of English for the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, recently received national recognition for the second consecutive year for her work as the editor of The English Pub, a professional academic association newsletter for literacy enthusiasts.
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) named The English Pub a recipient of the 2025 NCTE Affiliate Newsletter of Excellence Award. It is the only newsletter from Arkansas to receive the honor.
Published by the Arkansas Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts (ACTELA), The English Pub is a voice for K-12 ELA teachers in Arkansas and global literacy enthusiasts. It promotes scholarship, creativity and submissions to the Arkansas English Journal, while celebrating member and student achievements. The newsletter highlights global perspectives in ELA, shares professional development opportunities, advocates for literacy initiatives and recognizes leaders in service learning and multilingual outreach.
Dr. Walter encourages UAM students and alumni to contribute articles to the newsletter. Additionally, UAM students can enroll in an independent study course with Dr. Walter, where they gain hands-on experience in academic publishing as editorial assistants for the newsletter.
“Serving as editor of The English Pub offers me a chance to spotlight quality teachers and their work and also to mentor my student assistants as they develop their professional portfolios. I am proud to garner honors to ACTELA, UAM and Arkansas by promoting literacy instruction throughout a readership which spans 51 nations,” Dr. Walter said.
“It is gratifying to see Dr. Walter honored with this award,” said Dr. Steven Harper, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at UAM. “The English Pub is deserving of recognition because it is, indeed, outstanding, but also because it does so much to keep the community of teachers of English connected with one another. The English Pub illustrates how, like all great regional comprehensive universities, UAM serves as a vital, community-enriching hub of knowledge and support for our service area and beyond. We in the School of Arts and Humanities could not be prouder of Dr. Walter and her accomplishments."
Dr. Walter and the ACTELA will be honored at the 2025 NCTE Annual Convention Affiliate Roundtable Breakfast at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, November 23.