The President's Office

Dr. Rebecca ("Becky") Paneitz - Bio

Dr. Becky Paneitz began August 1, 2003, as President of NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) in Bentonville, Arkansas. During her first year as president, NWACC adopted and implemented a strategic plan to guide the College through 2009. In addition, the College adopted a two-phase facilities master plan that responds to learning needs through the year 2015.

Under her leadership, NWACC has entered into several exciting partnerships and programs, such as reaching out to our Washington County students with a learning center in Springdale, establishing a non-credit center in Bella Vista that focuses on lifelong learning for seniors and converting the former West Campus at Fayetteville to the Regional Technology Center..

NWACC and the University of Arkansas have partnered to offer upper-division courses on the NWACC campus that lead to Bachelor of Science degrees in Elementary Education and Vocational Education/Human Resources Development.

Additionally, NWACC partnered with several other Arkansas two-year colleges and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to offer a complete on-line transfer program for Wal-Mart Stores Inc. associates through their My Education Connection access. Not only are all classes offered on line, but all of the student services are available on line.

“Becky,” as she prefers to be called, came to NWACC from Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., where she was a key administrator at CPCC and its Vice President for Instruction.

She was with CPCC for four-and-a-half years and as chief academic officer she was responsible for more than 6,000 credit and noncredit classes. The instructional faculty and staff of approximately 1,000 employees served 70,000 students each year.

Her new position returned her to familiar territory.

Dr. Paneitz received her bachelor’s degree in office administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and her master’s in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She served as personnel administrator for the Arkansas Department of Corrections before becoming Dean of Technology and Trades and then Dean of Arts, Business and Communication at Pueblo Community College in Colorado. She then became Dean of Instruction at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where she was instrumental in the planning and development of their advanced technology center – a feat she had also accomplished at Pueblo.

She completed her doctorate in vocational education from Colorado State University in 1997 and joined Central Piedmont Community College in 1999.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a comprehensive, public two-year college that serves and strengthens the community through learning for living. As a learning-centered institution, NWACC seeks to promote positive change in the individuals, families, and communities that it serves. NWACC is the second largest community college in Arkansas with more than 6,400 credit students and as many non-credit students.

NWACC is located in northwest Arkansas, home of Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt. According to a recent Milken Institute report, the northwest Arkansas area is the top performing area of the country for job growth. In addition, northwest Arkansas enjoys a very low unemployment rate, excellent school districts, and many wonderful recreational opportunities.

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