BENTONVILLE — Ricky Tompkins of Rogers has been appointed vice president for learning by Evelyn E. Jorgenson, president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
The appointment is effective Sunday.
Tompkins filled the position in April on an interim basis following the resignation of Ted Phillips, who left NWACC for a position in Texas.
“Dr. Tompkins has proven to be an effective leader in each of his positions at NWACC,” said Steven M. Gates, senior vice president for learning and provost. “He listens critically to all, values collaboration and is committed to serving people. I look forward to working with him in this role.”
Tompkins joined NWACC in 2006 as director for the Institute for Corporate and Public Safety. He became executive director for grants and institutional research in 2007 and was named associate vice president for research and planning in 2011.
That same year, he assumed the added responsibilities of chief diversity officer and began serving on the President’s Cabinet.
He holds a doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a master’s from Henderson State University, and a bachelor’s from East Texas Baptist University.
As interim vice president, Tompkins continued to have oversight of several key areas, such as grants, research, planning, effectiveness and diversity. Additional areas that began reporting to Tompkins in April included communication and arts, social and behavioral sciences, science and mathematics, library resources and oversight of distance learning.
Tompkins also will now supervise the college’s High School Relations Department and the Honors Program.
To accommodate the change, a few minor changes also are occurring that affect the duties of Gates and Tim Cornelius.
Gates will supervise distance learning and will continue providing leadership to two areas for which he assumed responsibility upon Phillips’ departure in the spring, assessment of general education and faculty development.
Cornelius serves as vice president for learning: health professions, corporate learning, extended business programs and business/computer information systems. He also will supervise adult education and service learning programs, additional responsibilities he assumed after the departure of Phillips.