William and Margaret Harrison
A laboratory in the Bell Engineering Center has been transformed into the Bill and Margaret Harrison Family Video Conferencing Facility thanks to a contribution from William and Margaret Harrison of Little Rock.
The gift allowed the department of industrial engineering to renovate and upgrade the space. The paramount feature in the facility is the state-of-the-art software and equipment, including the LifeSize 220 Express, described as the most fullfeatured video conferencing system available.
The system allows remote video and audio communication between up to eight parties concurrently, and users can share content, control cameras, change layouts and add participants with ease. It includes mobile and computer apps and can record and stream meetings. Thanks to this new technology, the department will be able to enhance students’ learning experiences and expand research collaborations while reducing travel expenses.
Bill Harrison, a 1966 IE graduate, is chairman and CEO of Harrison Energy Partners. He was elected to the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering in 1991 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the College of Engineering in 2011. His wife, Margaret, is a 1966 U of A graduate and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education. The Harrisons are life members of the Arkansas Alumni Association and have been inducted into the Towers of Old Main, a recognition society for the university’s most generous benefactors.