Feb. 15, 2011 | The last day of his 28 years as a UAMS dean held several surprises for Ronald Winters, Ph.D.

At a Feb. 14 reception for the outgoing dean, he was appointed dean emeritus of the UAMS College of Health Related Professions. In addition, the CHRP conference room was named for him and a scholarship was endowed in his name.

Douglas L. Murphy, Ph.D., became the college’s new dean Feb. 15. He had been interim dean of the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., noted that Winters was the second longest serving dean of an allied health school in the United States.

“Your principal legacy is in the careers of those who passed through this college during your tenure,” Rahn said, praising the positive impact of Winters’ work on health, health care, higher education and Arkansas.

The chancellor said that donations to the scholarship would be matched two-to-one by the chancellor’s office and the college, making the $20,000 raised to date actually $60,000.

Rahn also read a proclamation from the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees honoring Winters’ career and leadership of the college. The board named him a dean emeritus and the chancellor presented Winters with a chair to symbolize the appointment.

The third-floor conference room in the recently renovated Administration West building is now the Ronald H. Winters Conference Room. The building is one of several formerly owned by the Arkansas State Hospital that were renovated to become home to most of the college’s programs in 2009.

Winters oversaw the renovations of the 72,000-square-feet of much-needed space for the growing college that was previously spread over multiple locations in Little Rock and North Little Rock. The college’s enrollment during his time has nearly tripled to 665 students in the 2010-2011 school year.

“I can’t express how grateful I am for this,” Winters said following the presentations. “All of you contributed to make the college what it is today. I am proud to have been dean but if I were the only one here, nothing would get done.”

Winters said he was “bowled over” by the student scholarship in his name. By the college’s estimation, he said, around 5,000 students graduated from its programs during his tenure “and most are working in those professions. That is rewarding to me.”

College of Pharmacy Dean Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., hailed Winters as a friend who mentored her after she was named dean. “He was a sounding board for me when I was just starting out,” she said, presenting him with a gift of artwork on behalf of the other UAMS deans.

Don Simpson, Ph.D., chairman of the allied health college’s Department of Laboratory Sciences, pointed to Winters’ wisdom, attention to detail and love of interesting facts – such as Reno, Nev., being farther west than San Diego, Calif. He presented Winters with a ceremonial gavel from the college’s executive committee.

Bill Woodell, the college’s associate dean for administrative affairs, presented Winters a piece of the slate roof that had come from the Administration West building during the renovations. The slate had been engraved and turned into a plaque from the college’s faculty and staff.