Arkansas Community Colleges November 2025 Updates

ACC UPDATES NOVEMBER 2025

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ACC

ANNUAL CONFERENCE WRAPS UP IN HOT SPRINGS

The 36th ACC Conference wrapped up in Hot Springs on October 14. More than 500 Arkansas community college faculty, staff and administrators participated in the event featuring an internationally recognized keynote speaker, more than 30 professional development breakout sessions, continuous peer networking opportunities, and even $1,600 in cash door prizes. Arkansas Northeastern College won the Spirit Award for most attendees at the Opening Ceremony, and NorthWest Arkansas Community College won the $500 Team Trivia Academic All-Star Scholarship and the Poker Run/Walk Spirit Award. View photos of the event HERE.

Thank you to all who attended, and special thanks to the ACC Conference Board who planned and staffed the event:

Ken Barton, Arkansas Northeastern College
Michael Smith, Arkansas Northeastern College, 2024 Board President
Andrea Cole, ASU-Beebe, 2026 Board President
Jack Magolio, ASU Mid-South
Laura Knox, ASU-Mountain Home
Shannon Riley, ASU-Newport
Amber Childers, ASU Three Rivers
Brittany Milligan, Black River Technical College
Dr. Tamara St. Marthe, National Park College, 2025 Board President
Jo Adams, North Arkansas College
Amber Roth, NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Kim Wilson, Ozarka College
Heather Funk, Phillips Community College of the UA
Charley Hankins, South Arkansas College
Wanda Grimmett, Southeast Arkansas College
Courtney Haygood, Southern Arkansas University Tech
Stephanie Minor, UA Community College at Batesville
Dr. Robert Keeton, UA Community College at Morrilton
Dennis Guzman, UA Cossatot
Carly Dillard, UA East Arkansas Community College
Steve Ogden, UA Hope-Texarkana
Ilana Burk, UA Rich Mountain

Save the date for the 2026 ACC Conference, October 11-13 in Hot Springs.

ACC CELEBRATES 26 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE GRADUATES

On October 13, ACC celebrated 26 new graduates of the Leadership Institute. Established in 2008, ACCLI has provided leadership training to approximately 425 emerging leaders across the state. Each year, participants engage in a series of sessions designed to enhance their leadership skills and prepare them for roles of greater responsibility within Arkansas' two-year colleges. Congratulations to:

Tachmonite Butler, Arkansas Northeastern College
KeTierra Jones, Arkansas Northeastern College
Sonia Smith, Arkansas Northeastern College
Jack Magolio, ASU Mid-South
Kim Gullahorn, ASU-Beebe
Dr. Blake Perkins, ASU-Beebe
Stacie Hay, ASU-Newport
Dr. Robert Shurley, ASU-Mountain Home
Mary Anderson, Black River Technical College
Shannon Jacobson, Black River Technical College
Eric Boardway, National Park College
Kelsea Lowery, North Arkansas College
Jessica Chronister, NorthWest Arkansas College
Catherin Doner, NorthWest Arkansas College
April Killian, Ozarka College
Kylia Neasley, Phillips Community College of the UA
Kimberly Moore, South Arkansas College
Dr. David Mason, Southern Arkansas University Tech
Dr. Becky Warren, UA Community College at Batesville
Noelle Couch, UA Cossatot
Sabrina Harner, UA Cossatot
Carly Dillard, UA East Arkansas Community College
Dr. Mikki Curtis, UA Hope-Texarkana
Ashley Henry-Saorrono, UA Pulaski Technical College
Amanda Kennedy, UA Pulaski Technical College
Dr. Kyle Carpenter, UA Rich Mountain

The next class of the ACCLI kicks off November 12-14, 2025, at ASU-Newport.

DR. CALLAWAY VISITS BRTC, SEARK AND UAPTC

Last month, Dr. Callaway made campus visits to Black River Technical College, Southeast Arkansas College, and the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College.

ACC ATTENDS NCWE AND AACUBO

Kyla Waters attended the National Council for Workforce Education Conference. Several members of the Arkansas Division of Higher Education also attended.

Dr. Callaway attended the Arkansas Association of College and University Business Officers (AACUBO) Conference where she facilitated the two-year college roundtable discussion.

ACC HOSTS CAREER PATHWAYS MEETING

ACC was pleased to host the quarterly CPI directors' meeting in October.

DR. CALLAWAY CELEBRATES 17 YEARS WITH ACC

November 1 marked Dr. Collin Callaway's 17-year anniversary with ACC. (This wasn't an anniversary gift, but we're going to pretend.) Congratulations to Dr. Callaway, and really, to all of us!

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT AR COMMUNITY COLLEGES

FIVE ACC COLLEGES ELIGIBLE FOR 2027 ASPEN PRIZE

The Aspen Institute recently named 200 community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment rates. Five Arkansas community colleges are among the 200 named. Congratulations to Arkansas State University Mid-South, Ozarka College, Southern Arkansas University Tech, University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and University of Arkansas Rich Mountain.

UPCOMING ACC EVENTS

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS & MID-LEVEL MANAGER FACILITATOR TRAINING

ACC has developed custom curriculum to help address our institutions' need for professional skills and mid-level manager training. ACC piloted the trainings at the 2025 Annual Conference and will host virtual facilitator training later this month. The training, curriculum, and resources are free to member institutions.

Professional Skills Facilitator Training

November 11, 2025

10:00 am

JOIN HERE

Mid-Level Managers Facilitator Training

November 18, 2025

10:00 am

JOIN HERE

The sessions will be recorded and provided to institutions along with all facilitator materials.

Questions? Contact ksmith@arkansascc.org

UPCOMING EVENTS