Public Relations

College President announces hiring of VP for Finance and Administration/CFO

            BENTONVILLE (Monday, July 28, 2008) – President Dr. Becky Paneitz is pleased to announce the hiring of Dr. Rodney Showalter as Vice President for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.

            Dr. Showalter begins his duties here October 1.

            “We’re excited to have Rodney with us as we continue to create access to higher education and serve the learning needs of our community,” Dr. Paneitz said. “Rodney is very qualified and will provide great leadership at NWACC.”

            Dr. Showalter has 35 years direct involvement with the Arkansas community college and higher education networks, a Doctor of Education degree emphasizing leadership in higher and adult education and strong communication, interpersonal and analytical skills.

            He will retire from Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) at Blytheville on Aug. 31 after a 31-year career there that began in 1977.

            “Dr. Showalter has a true passion and commitment to education,” Dr. Paneitz said. “He is proud to be a part of an organization and a movement that equips students to better their lives and the ones surrounding them.”

            He has served as Vice President for Administration and CFO at ANC since 1996. He was Vice President and Dean for Administrative Affairs from 1990-1996. He was Dean of Administrative Affairs from 1984-1990 and Dean of Business Affairs from 1983-1984.

            “I believe that I am best known for my high professional and personal ethical values, integrity and honest open communication,” Dr. Showalter said.

            ANC is a comprehensive community college created by the 2003 merger of the former Mississippi County Community College and Cotton Boll Technical Institute. Its main campus is in Blytheville and has centers located in Burdette, Osceola, Leachville and Paragould.

            Dr. Showalter also has worked at Phillips County Community College in the mid-1970s and at the Arkansas Department of Higher Education in Little Rock in the early 1970s, when Arkansas community colleges were gaining a toe-hold.

            “I was employed by Dr. Tom Spencer and Dr. Olin Cook, who led the community college movement at ADHE during the early 1970s petition drives held across the state,” Dr. Showalter said.

            He said he is excited about joining and collaborating with faculty, staff and constituents of NWACC.

            “I make my best decisions by talking to employees directly affected by issues under consideration for change by seeking their thoughts, ideas and suggestions,” he said. “I enjoy explaining to external groups the current issues facing community colleges and its students.”

            Dr. Showalter earned his Ed.D. in Higher and Adult Education at the University of Memphis and his M.S. in Operations Management at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (Department of Engineering). He has a B.A. degree in Economics and Business from Hendrix College in Conway.

            His current professional activities include memberships in Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, and the National, Southern and Arkansas Associations of College and University Business Officers.

            He also has served his community through Rotary International, the Blytheville/Gosnell Area Chamber of Commerce, Blytheville High School Band Parents Club, and as an elder, chairman of the Board of Deacons and organist at First Presbyterian Church, Blytheville.

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This page was last updated on:  December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am