Tour Historic Peabody Hall
Tours & Day Trips | Registration opens Tuesday, February 4, 2025 10:00 AM
Peabody Hall has enjoyed an interesting history as one of the oldest buildings at the University of Arkansas. Peabody Hall was the first campus building constructed through fundraising rather than state funds—a $40,000 gift from the Peabody Education Fund, named after George Peabody, a merchant banker who donated $2,000,000 to support public education in 1867. From its inception, Peabody Hall has been home to the university’s teacher education programs. For over 50 years, it also housed the Peabody Elementary School and University High School, educating Fayetteville youth while training generations of student teachers. In 2010, Peabody Hall underwent a nearly $10 million renovation to become a cutting-edge facility—with historic charm—to prepare future teachers. The restoration earned an award from the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.
The class consists of a tour of Peabody Hall that details the building’s history and highlights its contemporary features that facilitate today’s teacher education. Former students of Peabody Elementary and University High—or teachers trained in Peabody Hall— are encouraged to attend and share their experiences of learning in this historic building.
Parking and meeting information will be sent to participants in the class reminder.
(Current members only.
This class will meet in person at Peabody Hall (on U of A campus), located at763 W Maple St, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Please read your class reminder email for the exact room location.
Class changes occasionally happen, please watch for (and read) announcements or emails from OLLI regarding your class.
Click on the link below for a Google map shot of our location:
Peabody Hall-U of AR
Michael Hevel
Michael Hevel has been associate dean for research, strategy, and outreach since 2022. He served as head of the Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources, and Communication Disorders from 2017 to 2022. He came to the University of Arkansas as an assistant professor of higher education in 2012. He earned a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa, where he also served as a visiting assistant professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Program. Before beginning his doctorate, he worked for several years in student affairs at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He received his master’s degree in college student personnel from Bowling Green State University in 2003. Today, Michael is active in the American Educational Research Association, the Association for the Study of Higher Education, and the History of Education Society and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of College Student Development.
Suzanne Kucharczyk
Dr. Suzanne Kucharczyk is the Interim Head of the Curriculum and Instruction Department (CIED). She is an Associate Professor of Special Education. Prior to becoming the Interim head of CIED she served as the coordinator for Inclusive Educational and Clinical Programs. She is a principal investigator of the U of A Teaming for Transition Grant. She holds the Chilton Foundation/Patti Bell Brown/Bonnie Bell Harding Endowed Faculty Fellowship.