A reception was held Thursday, Dec. 12, at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus to officially welcome Bruce Sikes as the campus chancellor.
Arkansas Tech administrators, elected officials, community members, faculty, staff, friends and family gathered in the Student Services Conference Center to honor Sikes, who was named chancellor in October after previously serving as chief academic officer since 2007 and acting chancellor since June.
Along with Sikes, speakers for the event included Leigh Burns Whiteside, a member of the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees, and Richard Harris, chief student officer for Arkansas Tech-Ozark.
Sikes discussed the importance of the 2003 merger between Arkansas Tech and Arkansas Valley Technical Institute, which created Arkansas Tech-Ozark, as well as the campus’ mission.
“The Arkansas Tech University System, in combination with our professional faculty and serving staff, leads the career education charge,” he said, adding that the campus will continue to “seek out innovation in student service, educational access, program quality, program development and community outreach.”
Sikes is the third chancellor of Arkansas Tech-Ozark. He was preceded by Carl Jones, who served as chancellor from the merger to 2006, and Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, who in June was named president of Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio.
“The Ozark Campus is here to serve, and our best days are ahead,” Sikes said.
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