Staff pictured on top, Faculty pictured on bottom
Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) recognized 44 outstanding faculty and staff members Tuesday, October 13th during the annual ACC Faculty and Staff Awards Lunch in Hot Springs.
Each of Arkansas’s 22 community colleges selected one faculty member and one staff member to receive this year’s recognition. The awards celebrate individuals who make meaningful contributions to their colleges, students and communities through their dedication, leadership and service.
“Our faculty and staff are the heart of our state’s community colleges.” said Dr. Collin Callaway, Executive Director of ACC, as she presented the awards. “Every day, they go above and beyond to make sure students feel supported, challenged, and capable of more than they imagined. These awards are a well-deserved recognition of people whose impact reaches far beyond their campus.”
The honorees represent the many faculty and staff members across Arkansas who support student success both inside and outside the classroom. Their work helps community colleges provide education, workforce training and other opportunities to students throughout the state. The awards were presented as part of the 2026 ACC Conference, where more than 500 community college faculty, staff and administrators gather for professional development, collaboration and networking. Arkansas Community Colleges represents the state’s 22 community colleges, which collectively serve more than 60,000 students each year.
Here are the 2026 Faculty and Staff Award recipients and their respective colleges:
Arkansas Northeastern College - Jonathan Carmack and Tabatha Hampton
Arkansas State University - Beebe - Chad Duncheon and Cassidy Davison
Arkansas State University Mid-South - Lisa Vaughn and Lisa Haggard
Arkansas State University - Mountain Home - Jessica Clanton andNancee Sherick
Arkansas State University - Newport - Kathryn Warren and Debbie Jewell
Arkansas State University Three Rivers - Jennifer Harrington, MSN, RN and Matthew Cummings
Black River Technical College - Dr. Derek Clements and Erin Mathews
National Park College - Jason Armitage and Tylor Clark
NorthWest Arkansas Community College - Ray Taylor and Jorge Amaral
Ozarka College - Caroline Smith and Kim Lovelace
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas - Scott Gunem and Wesley Barringer
South Arkansas College - Amanda Rhodes and Chelsey Turner
Southeast Arkansas College - Michelle Pullman and LaWanda Smith
Southern Arkansas University Tech - Phillip Allison and Shelley Young
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville - Drew Davidson and Rhonda Loper
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton - Ray Trower and Tracy Kendrick
University of Arkansas Cossatot - Justin Ellison and Kaytlynn Franklin
University of Arkansas East Arkansas Community College - Carol Rodgers and Lisa Siler
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana - Agnes Tirrito and Jennifer Cunningham
University of Arkansas Northark - Annette Robinson and Jo Adams
University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College - Shannon Burchfield and Shaylee Backus
University of Arkansas Rich Mountain - Stephen Moody and Lindsey Drewry