A group of Black River Technical College (BRTC) staff members recently attended the Arkansas Deans Association Annual Meeting, a professional development and networking opportunity for academic deans from higher education across the state.

This year’s meeting was held at the main campus of Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock. BRTC was represented by Dr. Brad Baine, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Phillip Dickson, Dean of Business and Technology; Darenda Kersey, Dean of General Studies; Jason Linam, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health; and Beth Davis, Director of Career, Technical, and Concurrent Education.

The meeting gives deans the chance to share ideas, discuss common challenges, and build relationships with colleagues from other institutions. This year’s theme focused on leadership, with Dr. Charles Welch, American Association of State Colleges and Universities President, serving as a featured presenter. Kersey said Dr. Welch’s presentations offered valuable insight and sparked meaningful discussion about leadership in higher education.

“My biggest takeaway was hearing from so many higher education leaders across the state who shared experiences similar to my own,” Kersey said. “It was eye-opening to hear from individuals who, like me, did not necessarily begin their careers with the goal of moving into higher education administration but eventually found themselves serving in leadership roles at their institutions.” She said hearing their stories encouraged her to continue to grow as a leader and to recognize the value of the path that brought her to her current role at BRTC.

BRTC’s participation in events like the Arkansas Deans Association Annual Meeting reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to leadership development and collaboration among Arkansas higher education institutions.