Our Team
Lia Uribe, director
Lia Uribe is Associate Chair and Associate Professor of music at the University of Arkansas, principal bassoonist of SoNA, APO, and member of the Lyrique Quintette. She maintains an active career as a chamber musician, orchestral player and artist-teacher. Her work includes concerts and festivals in Argentina, Canada, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Finland, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Japan, Peru, England, Spain, Colombia, and the USA. Lia was a recipient of the Artist 3 60 in 2019, and is working on new commissions and recordings of music for bassoon by underrepresented composers. As part of her work for creative justice, Dr. Uribe co-chairs the DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) committee as member of the Walton Arts Center board of directors, and is part of the International Double Reed Society DEI committee. She is the director of RefleXions Music Series.
Rogelio Garcia-Contreras
Rogelio is a Clinical Faculty member in social innovation and social entrepreneurship at Sam M. Walton College of Business of the University of Arkansas. He holds a doctorate degree from the University of Denver. His teaching experience includes institutions of higher education in Mexico, China, Spain, and the United States. Rogelio has extensive experience as a consultant, in the design and implementation of social and economic development initiatives. He is a member of the Catedra UNESCO Program at Universidad Abat Oliba in Barcelona. In collaboration with Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he has contributed to the development of social enterprise curriculum for young entrepreneurs at the Saharaui Refugee Camps in Northern Africa.
Antoinette Grajeda
Antoinette is a journalist who has covered diversity, education, health and the arts in Arkansas for nearly 15 years. In her free time she volunteers with organizations to raise money for scholarships and teach students about multicultural journalism. She also serves on the board of the Spark Foundation, a nonprofit that provides increased access to health and fitness education and opportunities.
Ronda Mains
Ronda Mains is Chair/Professor of Flute of the music department. Her research interests involve the music and flutes from non-western cultures. She is a founding member of the Lyrique Quintet. Dr. Mains was recognized by College and University teaching awards and is a member of the Teaching Academy.
Eric Troiano
Eric Troiano joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2016. He maintains an active teaching and performing career as a soloist and chamber musician. He has been a guest artist at numerous institutions. As a member of the Viridian Saxophone Quartet, he performs regularly across the country and has won top prizes in many competitions. As an accomplished baritone saxophonist, Eric has pioneered many solo and chamber works for the instrument. Eric is creating a pedagogical method for the baritone saxophone that utilizes the compositions of J.S. Bach to teach techniques of playing the instrument. He received a BM in music education and saxophone performance from Ithaca College, and a MM and DMA in saxophone performance from Michigan State University. His primary teachers include Joseph Lulloff and Steven Mauk. Eric is a Conn-Selmer artist.
Catalina Ortega
Catalina Ortega, a native of Colombia, teaches Flute and Experiencing Music class at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas Community Music School. She plays with the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, Fayetteville Opera, Ozark Family Opera Company and Manguaré Trio, an ensemble that explores the richness of Latin American Music. The University of Arkansas Provost’s office and the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards recognized Ms. Ortega during the 2017 Annual State and National Awards as an Outstanding Mentor.
Leigh Wood
Leigh Wood is the General Manager of KUAF 91.3, the NPR affiliate and public radio station for Northwest Arkansas. She is a graduate of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences with a M.A. and B.A. in English. She has worked as non-profit organizer and fundraiser for the past fourteen years, in Fayetteville, Little Rock and Austin, Texas.
Laurence Hare Jr.
J. Laurence Hare is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History at the University of Arkansas. He specializes in European history, with an emphasis on modern Germany and Scandinavia. He is the author of two books: Excavating Nations: Archaeology, Museums, and the German-Danish Borderlands (Toronto University Press) and Essential Skills for Historians: A Practical Guide to Researching the Past (Bloomsbury). Hare is the co-founder of the Arkansas Global Changemakers Initiative and holds the Cleveland C. Burton Professorship in International Programs.
Helen Becque
.Belgian pianist Helen Becqué gave her European début at the age of nine, performing a solo recital in a benefit concert for cancer awareness. At 11 she was a Finalist in the National Piano Competition of Liège (‘André Modeste Grétry’), Belgium, and at 15 she won first prize in the Geraardsbergen Piano Competition for Young Musicians. But since her childhood and subsequent studies, it is her consistently thoughtful, emotionally-committed and technically scintillating performances which have made her an increasingly sought-after young artist in Europe and in North America.. Helen credits growing up in a ‘polyglot’ environment as vital to her strong background in languages. This, in combination with her love of song, the human voice, and the piano has proven thus far an enormous catalyst in the success of her career. Helen is delighted to have had the opportunities she has, and looks forward to much more beautiful music-making in the future.
Erika Almenara
Dr. Erika Almenara is Assistant Professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Arkansas. She received her Ph.D. in Romance Languages & Literatures (Spanish) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2015. Her research interests include 20th and 21st century Latin American cultural production especially in the cases of subaltern/marginal subjects and communities. At the University of Arkansas, she teaches courses on masculinity, contemporary Latin American literature, the intersection between politics and aesthetics, and trauma writing
Olga Khokhryakova
Olga is a Fulbright Scholar and social entrepreneur from Moscow, Russia, currently studying MS Community Health Promotion at the University of Arkansas. She is a founder of social venture SameSport, aimed to promote inclusive sports for people with disabilities. Today she is working on launching the chapter in Arkansas.
Bailey Ross
Bailey Ross is currently a Junior Honors student majoring in Saxophone Performance and Music Education, with a thesis emphasis on “Diversity within Saxophone Repertoire”. Bailey Ross is an active member of Tau Beta Sigma, a national service organization that works to promote women musicians. Ross has recently founded the organization Allies+ at the University of Arkansas, in an effort to provide a safe atmosphere for young self-identifying women and LGBTQ+ musicians.
Tatianna Mendoza
a first year MBA student and Graduate Assistant for the SEVI department at University of Arkansas. In her role as a Graduate Assistant, she works with the Director of Outreach on all things related to the Social Innovation and Arkansas Global Changemakers initiatives.
Mendoza is currently involved with on-campus groups University of Arkansas Enactus and Beautiful Lives Boutique, helping local businesses develop sustainable business practices and strategies.
Miranda Pham
currently Miranda is pursuing her master's in music performance at the University of Arkansas. She holds a position as a graduate assistant in the music department for Flutes and has a bachelor's in K-12 Music Education. She has previously served as a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi from 2018-2020 working with university bands and local communities.
Connor Gott
Connor Gott is currently finishing a graduate degree in bassoon performance at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. While in the NWA area, Connor has had numerous opportunities for public outreach by playing with orchestras in the region such as the UA Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra, the Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a founding member of the University of Arkansas World music ensemble. Connor also maintains an active passion for engaging more people into any and all forms of art by showing art is around us all the time if you look. ”Art is anything that moves you.”
Our Collaborators
Lisa Marie Evans
RefleXions website advisor and animator, filmmaker Lisa Marie Evans’s work varies in form from feature-length documentaries to short animation and public art installation. As a selected artist for various awards and grants, Lisa has participated in artist residencies and screened her work internationally, including venues in Hungary, France, the Philippines and Canada.
Lisa has 20 years of experience as a generative artist and arts administrator committed to diversity and representation. She is the Project Manager and Editor for Ozcast.
Alejandra Rubio
RefleXions’ graphic designer Alejandra Rubio Villalobos got her BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Arkansas. Alejandra is a Mexican-American artist from Springdale, Arkansas who is very inspired to do community based work and use her skills in projects that allow her to involve the community.
Fernando Valencia
RefleXions Podcast music composer and sound designer Fernando Valencia teaches percussion at the University of Arkansas and is the director of its Latin American Ensemble. Arranger and composer of mostly Latin influenced music, Fernando has also recorded extensively in Colombia and the U.S. and has participated in Latin Grammy nominated and nationally broadcast recordings in the popular and classical arenas.
Liz Luzcando
Liz Luzcando is from Panama City, Panama. Liz has an Industrial Engineer degree and is currently an MBA student at the University of Arkansas. Currently, she serves as a graduate assistant in the office of entrepreneurship and innovation which relates with her interests in Supply Chain Management, Social Innovation and Data Analysis.