Last week, the Vice President for Academic Affairs Search Committee conducted interviews (via Zoom) with five semi-finalist candidates. Following that process, the candidate pool has been narrowed to two finalists: Dr. Cliff Jones and Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez. A brief bio for each candidate is at the bottom of this email.

On-campus interviews for the two finalists will be conducted next week on Wednesday, March 10th (Jones) and Thursday, March 11th (Tully-Dartez). We encourage everyone to participate in the interview process by engaging the candidates at one of the forums.

The itinerary will be the same for both days:

• 9:00 a.m. Interview with Search Committee (Murphy Hall III)
• 10:00 a.m. Faculty, Staff, and Community Forum (Murphy Hall III)
• 11:00 a.m. Student Forum (Murphy Hall III)
• 12:00 p.m. Lunch with President
• 12:30 p.m. Meeting with Cabinet (Murphy Hall III)
• 1:30 p.m. Tour of Campuses with President

Dr. Cliff Jones:

Dr. Jones is currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Prior to that position, Dr. Jones served as Senior Vice Chancellor for Learning and Instruction at ASU Mid-South, Vice-Chancellor of Academics at University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Dean of Arts and Technology at Lone Star College. Dr. Jones’ Ph.D. in Educational Administration is from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez:

Dr. Tully-Dartez is currently serving as the Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs at South Arkansas Community College. Prior to that position, Dr. Tully-Dartez served as Associate Vice President for Institutional Planning and Academic Support, Associate Vice President for Planning and Career Education, Associate Vice President for Workforce and Career Education, and Chief Institutional Effectiveness and Advancement Officer at SouthArk. Dr. Tully-Dartez’s Ph.D. in Biomedical engineering is from Louisiana Tech University.

South Arkansas Community College Library director Philip Shackelford has assumed the presidency of the Arkansas Library Association.
The president serves as the chief executive officer of the association; presides over the executive board meetings; and supervises, directs and manages association business and officers.
Presidential service is spread across three one-year terms: a term as president-elect, a term as president and a term as past president.
ArLA’s stated mission is to further the professional development of all library staff, foster communication and cooperation among librarians and stakeholders, increase the visibility of libraries among the general public and funding agencies, and serve as an advocate for Arkansas libraries and library staff.
“Professional service is something I have valued ever since joining the Arkansas library community—advocating for and supporting the work of each library worker in Arkansas, whether public, academic, school, or special library,” Shackelford said. “It provides opportunity for learning and sharing, but importantly, service. Working with colleagues around the state allows for a valuable exchange of information, ideas, strategies that we can then bring back to enhance activities within our own institutions.”
In addition to Shackelford’s position at the college and his new responsibilities as ArLA president, he also holds voluntary posts as secretary of ARKLink (a statewide consortium of academic libraries), associate editor of the Arkansas Libraries journal and member of the Association of College and Research Libraries Value of Academic Libraries Committee.
He is a graduate of Kent State University with master’s degrees in history and library and information Science. His academic research focuses on the Cold War history of the U.S. Air Force and on the Air Force Security Service, a Cold War-era communications intelligence agency designed to provide the Air Force with reliable intelligence information to support its missions and decisions.
Shackelford participated in the American Library Association Class of 2019 Emerging Leaders, and completed the Arkansas State Library ALL-In Leadership Institute. He recently completed a certificate in open educational resources librarianship through the Open Education Network at the University of Minnesota, and is a pre-publication book reviewer for Library Journal.
“Despite the difficult challenges related to COVID-19, I believe that the future of the Arkansas Library Association is a bright one,” he said. “Over the past couple of years we have charted new waters with unprecedented challenges but also worked hard to lay a solid foundation for future success. Presidential initiatives for this year are focused on fostering reinvigorated membership; maintaining organizational health; and cultivating positive visibility, responsible innovation and a strategic future.”

Representatives of the automotive service program at South Arkansas Community College accept a vehicle from representatives of Trotter Nissan Dodge Jeep Chrysler Ram on Thursday. It will be utilized as an instructional tool, and is seven years newer than any other vehicle currently being used in the program. From left are Nissan senior fixed operations manager Chelsea Stevens, Trotter service manager Jeremy Newsome, Trotter general manager Kirk Crisalli, SouthArk instructor Karsten Tidwell and SouthArk instructor Frank Echavarria.

South Arkansas Community College has released its Dean’s List for the fall 2020 semester. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the semester, and be classified as full-time. The students are:
From Banks, Cassidy Hollingsworth, Heather Michelle Hoskins.
From Bearden, Latreese Wright.
From Camden, Kyle Travis Bradley, Lakin Brianne Haynes, Kitzie Adria Jackson, Skyler Lee Kinley, Lacie Ann Landon, Austin Jace Nixon, Breana Machael Poindexter, Macy Catherine Turner.
From Crossett, Jaylon Darnell Brown, Caitlan Suzanne Cotton, Blake Austin Finney, Rebekah Ann Frisby, Sunni Elizabeth Lee, Alaina Kate Rice, Valerie Smith, Cassidy Madison Tyler, Kacy Lynn Wells.
From Dermott, Kurt Alan Tate.
From Dumas, Cierra Nichole Lenderman.
From El Dorado, Kennia Aguirre, James Franklin Andrews, Alexya Nicole Bailey, Tiyonna Raechelle Baker, Adnan Bharwani, Asia Armani Brown, Belaion Deloi Crew, La Trontika Davis, Brooklynn Michelle Dees, Kayla Dumas, Richard Dunlap, Raven Dane Dunn, Jayden Elaine Erickson, Priscila Abigail Espinosa, Patricia Renee Evans, Tyler Jerence Everette, Devyn Faithe Francy, Catherine Gallipeaux, Felix Garcia, Lakyra Gaskin, Imperial Ka'naya Gill, Allison Paige Goodwin, Regina Hartley, Kameel Hempstead, Sierra Grace Hill, Shania Hoof, James Christopher Howe, Austin Tyler Hutchins, Jalil Lathan Iverson, Ethan Michael Jackson, Vida Lisa Jackson, Kearra Charlacia James, Steven Bryce Jerry, Daniel Gene Johnston, Jacqueline Lee, James David Lee, Jennifer LaDawn Love, David Russell Martin, Kieonna Kierria McClain, Miranda Michelle Mitchell, Tanisha Nicole Morris, Elise Moses, Gemma Guadalupe Navarro, Cesilia Ortiz, Radiance Kionna Peterson, Jacob Todd Phillips, Scott August Pieroni, Madeline Mae Pope, Gracie Lynn Ragan, Wendy Raley, BriAnne Jennine Ruiz, Natalie Nabih Salameh, Michael Schlipp, Juana Melody Sierra, James Dawson Sinclair, Savannah Corrinne Slaughter, Allison Layne Snider, Tamara La Faye Stevens, Amber Michelle Sweeney, Casey Marie Thurlkill, Precious Dasheona Tykiea Tubbs, Kennedy Webb, Roger Edward Whitcher, Alivia Bain Zartuche.
From Emerson, Donnie Ray Hanson, Taylor Alexis Young.
From Fordyce Chad Edward Adams, Marigrace Sisson.
From Glenwood, Ryan Tyler Franks.
From Gurdon, Michaelynn Denise Rogers.
From Hamburg, Blair Lisabeth Gulledge, Shelby Ann Moffatt, Jada McKenzie Wilkins.
From Hampton, Shelby Susie Belin, Carmen Paige Bryant, Taylor Breanne Clemons, Kayla Lauren Faulkner, Mackenzie Grace Ivy, Latoya Sharp, Tanner James Virden, Anna Wilson.
From Hermitage, Morgan Leigh Burson, Joseph Gavin Myers.
From Huttig, Ariel Loyd.
From Jersey, Erin Lindsey Watkins.
From Junction City, Tiara Monae Hill, Dalton Ryan Smith, Pamela Renee Willis.
From Lawson, Miesha Reed, Jordan Faith Vonneumann.
From Louann, Carrie Elizabeth Beevers, Kennedy Blair Briggs, Abigail Elizabeth Crawford, Tristian Nycole Eiland.
From Magnolia, Charlotte Armstrong, Ashley Sharlene Braswell, Tanya Marie Dean, Madison Hope Hall, Haley Renee Miller, Brent Alan Mixon, Erin Grace Owens, Mary Virginia Russell, Brandi LeeAnn Samples, Mar’Keveon Javarious Strickland, Parker Ellen Tinnell.
From McGehee, Priscilla LouAnn Cessor, Samantha Marie Gannaway.
From Monticello, Jennifer Santos Andrade, Karley Madison Berryman, LaJada Clary, Brandy Nicole Ferrell, D'Arbonee Jhauntiq Forte, Laura Leigh Handly, Lynda Allison Hawkins, Anna Hortensia Miller, Jessica Marie Russell.
From Norphlet, Destiny Renee Bearden, Brandon Alan Young.
From Rison, Wendy Faye DeLaCruz.
From Smackover, Tishona Campbell, Hannah Renea Davis, Brittney Holland Ferguson, Megan Hedges, Kenlee Faith Hill, Madison Renee Taunton.
From Stamps, Lindsey Leigh Downs.
From Stephens, Austin Eugene Jones.
From Strong, Petrinia Syrell Bankston, Kristerica Janesha Scott.
From Taylor, Preslie Jo Morgan.
From Vilonia, Dylan Ware.
From Waldo, Victoria Shea Bright, Latesha Monique Lambert.
From Warren, Rosie Alonzo, Lakin Michelle Barber, Julia Anna Blankinship, Charlotte Louise Fuel, Airiece Shabrice Leaverson, Christian Nykole Marshall, Deszarai Mitchell, Mathew Keenan Nelson, Tarra Paige Peek, Diego Roman, Catera Nakole Thomas, Nicole Pauline Tinoco, Jose Luis Torres, Victor Manuel Xharicata Roque.
From Wilmar, Megan Nichole Davis, Monica Shuntia Lyles.
From Athens, Louisiana, Tania Guadalupe De Leon Rodriguez.
From Bastrop, Louisiana, Brittney Simone Archie, Jacquelyn Lashae Beeman, Keyontrelle Chimere Davis, Krystal Logan Jackson.
From Bernice, Louisiana, Jennifer Kay Jeselink, Courtney Killgore.
From Choudrant, Louisiana, Yheley Yhanet Borjas, Colton Perritt, Jenna Marie Perritt.
From Downsville, Louisiana, Heather Nicole Hancock, Sonya Lynn Hancock, Brandi Nicole LaCroix.
From Farmerville, Louisiana, Amber Francis, Melanie Renee Manning, Benjamin Nolan Monk.
From Haynesville, Louisiana, Whitney Beunka Henderson.
From Homer, Louisiana, Saradean Lucy Harris, Tameshia Renee Williams.
From Junction City, Louisiana, Rickey Glynn Maxwell.
From Minden, Louisiana, LaShavion Bonner.
From Monroe, Louisiana, Chasity Jenkins, Amanda Stewart, Kimbrely Arniese Young.
From Rayville, Louisiana, Karla Brianne Green.
From Ruston, Louisiana, Jasmine Burks, Andrea Dionne Martin, Taylor Marie Zachry.
From Sarepta, Louisiana, Mindy Baker.
From Shreveport, Louisiana, James Duke Ducas.
From Sicily Island, Louisiana, Jennifer Daniels.
From Spearsville, Louisiana, Bhrett Winston Farrar, Karren Lakole Williams.
From West Monroe, Louisiana, Elizabeth Gayle Givens.