TULLY-DARTEZ TABBED AS INTERIM PRESIDENT

Tully-Dartez tabbed as interim president

With the impending departure of South Arkansas College president Dr. Bentley Wallace, the South Arkansas College Board of Trustees has named current vice president for academic affairs Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez as the institution’s president on an interim basis until Wallace’s permanent successor is selected.

The decision was made in a special called meeting by the board on Wednesday afternoon.

Tully-Dartez has been employed at the college since 2009 in a multitude of different roles. She has held her academic affairs position since 2021, but recently also wore the hat of vice president for student services on an interim basis for 10 months during the search for a person to hold that position permanently.

Prior to that, she was at different times the associate vice president for institutional planning and academic support, the associate vice president for planning and career education, the associate vice president for workforce and career education, the chief institutional effectiveness and advancement officer and the director of institutional research and effectiveness.

The wide range of experiences that Tully-Dartez has had during her time at SouthArk made her a natural pick, according to Wallace.

“I was very happy to learn that the Board of Trustees chose Dr. Tully-Dartez,” said Wallace, who is leaving SouthArk next month to take over as chancellor at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. “Her long tenure at the college, excellent leadership skills and passion for student success make her the perfect fit to lead the institution during this time of transition.”

Tully-Dartez has a doctor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a master’s degree in molecular science and nanotechnology, both from Louisiana Tech University; and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the College of Charleston (South Carolina). She has held committee memberships and performed volunteer service in a variety of capacities both at the college and in the El Dorado community.

“I’m honored to have been appointed by the board to lead our team at South Arkansas College as we search for a new president,” she said. “We have made tremendous progress under Dr. Wallace’s term and we will continue our bold initiatives and innovations in the coming year.”

No timeline has been set for the hiring of SouthArk’s next president, who will be the college’s sixth in its 31-year history.

Tully Dartez Stephanie

SouthArk releases honor list for spring 2023

EL DORADO—South Arkansas Community College has released its President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List for the spring 2023 semester.

To be eligible for the President’s Honor Roll, a student must have at least a 3.75 grade-point average for the spring semester, and be classified as full-time. The students are:

From Banks, Cassidy L. Hollingsworth.

From Bryant, Ryan Carter Riggs.

From Calion, Omillio I. Walker.

From Camden, Markeisha L. Neal, Chantry Alease Ross.

From Conway, Aly Skyy Dixon.

From El Dorado, Jesse Sterling Ables, Connie Nicole Barrette, Yolonda Benton, Jaden Alise Boydstun, James Russell Cain, Abigail Chavez, John William Demcher, Braedon Jamar Edison, Christin Ka'saan English, D'Arbonee Jhauntiq Forte, Kasheaca Monec Gill, Gretchen Hope Goodwin, Avery Nicole Hall, Ariana Nicole Hardiman, David Marcus Huitt, Raytisha Destiny Marie Jackson, Brennan Jones, Joseph Chase King, Robert M. Kuttenkuler, Kristina Camilosa Lacy, Parker Allen Lacy, Daniel Kade Lively, Ma'Kalia Sha'Rell Massey, Donald Gene Miller, Erica Denise Moore, Elijah Talon Nichols, Logan J. Rice, Kaitlyn Brooke Scott, Trace Allen Shoup, Jesus Domingo Sierra, James Dawson Sinclair, Carla D. Smith, Jadelyn Brooke Snider, Lindi Nicole Sutton, Joseph A. Thompson, John Leighton Turbeville, Sydney Laine Wallingsford.

From Fordyce, Haley Johnson.

From Fouke, Jaxson Riley Dastillon.

From Hamburg, Maria Neli Barron, Callie Nicole Martin.

From Heber Springs, Maddison Nichole Graham.

From Huttig, Evan William Smith, Isabella Jordan Tucker.

From Jacksonville, Clayton Gehrig Burrows.

From Jonesboro, Kyle Charles Tolley.

From Junction City, Curtis Andrew Hicks, Pamela Renee Willis.

From Louann, Savanah Shae Belt.

From Magnolia, Sidney Nicole Gunnels, Sydney E. Lamb.

From Smackover, Gabriel Kincade Davis, Ashton Brooke McCrary.

From Strong, Kalin Arlana Benjamin.

From Warren, Jendy Martinez, Abigail Emily Merales, Leslie Yaquelin Vega.

From Bernice, Louisiana, Jason Rex Thomas, Demani Ty'shae Wafer.

From Farmerville, Louisiana, Haley Nicole Burton, Sarah Mae Dean Montes.

From Minden, Louisiana, Amber Johnston.

From Monroe, Louisiana, Jennifer Lea McDaniel.

From Saline, Louisiana, Crystal Scallion Sauce.

From Spearsville, Louisiana, Kelly Nichole Charles, Nealey Brooke Elkins.

From Hurst, Texas, Alex Michael Showalter.

From Longview, Texas, Gage Charles Bellatti.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must have a grade-point average of between 3.0 and 3.75 for the spring semester, and be classified as full-time. The students are:

From Bradley, Ainsley Katherine Gurley.

From Camden, Lexi McKay Belt, Courtney Madison Pell, Kaylee Noelle Smith, Tiauna MarJa’ Wilkins.

From Carthage, Joshua Titus Golden.

From Central City, Steffan Andrew Fak.

From Clinton, Wesley Barker Honeycutt.

From Crossett, Jade Huntsman, Allison Nichole Price.

From El Dorado, Jacob Michael Ambriz, Isabella Rhiannon Armstrong, Leah Keeuna Armstrong, Trenton Wade Bailey, Sarah Elizabeth Beeman, Alice Faye Benton, Tiffany Noel Boykin, Nia Shamaya Cook, Taylor Andrew Cook, Brayden Tyler Cotterman, Alyssa Faith Cragan, Crystal Faye Curley, Makenna Sierra Denofrio, Max Harrison Gathright, Laura Holly Gibson, Jasmine Nycole Glaspie, Ryekeyisz Tyquan Hawthorne, Kameel Hempstead, Fisher Grady Hill, James Christopher Howe, Nikolas Ioannou, Olivia Alexander Joyner, Alissia Porshiana King, Trinity Grace Kussmaul, Anastasia T. Lamijan, Casey D. Langford, Antwonette Kiante Laster, Lillie Raye Levingston, Austin Jared Looney, Ashli Elizabeth McCathern, Christopher Tramane Miller, Elijah Ross Miller, ShaTierra Tionna Miller, Elisha Moore, India Kandeli Norful, Jasmin E. Olvera, Landry Price, Anslee Brooke Smith, Ana Mariell Tapia, Jillian Tissue, Makayla Lynn Toney, Nike N. White, Slade Logan Wilson, Nolan James Winchell, Zachary Tyler Wood.

From Emerson, Donnie R. Hanson, Aiden Reeder Mayfield, Addison Grace McNiel.

From Fordyce, Laney Raelyn King, Madyson Kay Williams.

From Hamburg, Courtney Paige Adams, Blair Lisabeth Gulledge.

From Hampton, Christel Michelle Heath, Whitney Leigh Howard, Courtney Strickland.

From Hensley, Fletcher Alan Williams.

From Hermitage, Maria Teresa Gonzalez, Joseph Gavin Myers, Kaylee Hope Roberts.

From Hot Springs, Jack Evan Wurz.

From Huttig, Keeten Paige Thompson.

From Jersey, Diana M. Sullivan.

From Junction City, Zakaryah Brown, SaKiya Nicole Gill.

From Kingsland, Teri Leann Noblett.

From Lawson, Cameron Thomas Davis.

From Louann, Caleb Mckenzie Thornton.

From Magnolia, Mackenzie Lane Caldwell, Garrett Cheatham, Laura Elizabeth Ebey, Cadeidre Denise Hill, Holly N. Hulet, Cameron Joseph Lavergne, Lexi A. Pyle, Sandra Kay Shanks, Kristie Jane Wood.

From Monticello, Kaysha Odett Coronado, Carly Alyssa Coston, Keyaira D. Williams, Marshae Deshaun Wilson.

From New Edinburg, Clara Elizabeth Matkin.

From Portland, Tarah Marie Martin.

From Prescott, Alicia Christine Harper.

From Rosston, JaVontae Pearson.

From Smackover, Breanne M. Boyce, Jacob Walker Eubanks, Joshua Gavin Maroney.

From Stamps, Jordan JA'Shaun Nelson, Samuel James Rayburn.

From Stephens, Parker Grace Stinnett.

From Strong, Petrinia Syrell Bankston, Derrion Lafredrick Davis, Chrishunda Nicole Williams.

From Warren, Zoey Nicole Carroll, Ashley Joyce Cravey, Leticia Resendiz Escamilla, Shana Huddleston Henderson, Carisa Salinas, Nicole Latrice Simmons.

From Bernice, Louisiana, Yessica Lopez, Jessica Ramsey.

From Castor, Louisiana, Lacosta Temple Norman.

From Epps, Louisiana, Teresa Lesha Francis.

From Farmerville, Louisiana, Tamarion Braggs, Ashley Marie Rodgers.

From Homer, Louisiana, April Marie Hartwell.

From Jonesboro, Louisiana, Alexis Sharnae Johnson, Megan Amanda Moffett.

Monroe, Louisiana, Matthew Ryan Albritton, Alisha Shantreal Davis.

From Quitman, Louisiana, Allye Elizabeth Woods.

From Ruston, Louisiana, Melissia Allen, Amanda Island, Kylee Portilloz.

From Sarepta, Louisiana, Liundra J. Neal.

From Shreveport, Louisiana, Sydney  Harrington, Connor Lennon Pierce.

From Spearsville, Louisiana, Olivia Katherine Creager.

From Starks, Louisiana, Kadyn Gage Howard.

From West Monroe, Louisiana, Jack Edward Moody.

From Winnfield, Louisiana, Marzella Denise Banks, Carla Lisette Coleman-Atkins, Mekel Sherrice Holden-Craft.

From Haltom City, Texas, Jacob Martinez.

From Texarkana, Texas, Nathan Howard Miers.

Wallace selected as ASU-Mountain Home chancellor

South Arkansas College president Dr. Bentley Wallace was announced today as the next chancellor of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a position that he will assume on Aug. 1.

Wallace has been the president of SouthArk since February of 2020. His prior experience in higher education included positions in the Arkansas State system at ASU-Newport, in addition to administrative roles at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech.

SouthArk Board of Trustees Chair Steve Cousins lauded Wallace’s work during his time at the college.

“Dr. Bentley Wallace holds an important place in the history of this college,” Cousins said. “He presided over very challenging times through the pandemic—a period that redefined how higher education served our students. He also expanded our technical education programs, including medium and heavy truck and forestry technology. He added new indoor and outdoor student activity space and started a student success fund to assist students close to graduation facing financial burdens that might otherwise derail their completion.

“He has a great heart for students and staff. It has been an absolute pleasure serving with Dr. Wallace and we are much better off for his leadership and contributions. We wish him only the best as he embarks on this new opportunity.”

Wallace said that departing El Dorado for the new position is bittersweet.

“I have been honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve students, faculty and staff at SouthArk,” he said. “Even through the pandemic, the college moved forward on many important initiatives, always focused on improving the lives of people in our region. Leaving El Dorado was not on our radar, but the chance to return to the ASU System, where my career in higher education began, was a powerful draw.

“I am forever grateful for having the good fortune to work alongside such dedicated and compassionate team members at SouthArk.”

A 12-member search committee—with members representing faculty, staff, students and the community—reviewed 47 applications for the chancellor position at ASU-Mountain Home before the ultimate decision was made.

In his remaining time at SouthArk, Wallace—SouthArk’s fifth president—and the college’s board of trustees will work determine short-term and long-term transition strategies.

wallace dr bentley

Lester, Ambriz receive postseason honors

EL DORADO—The JUCO World Series-bound South Arkansas College Stars keep piling up accolades, as they learned this week of two regional postseason honors.

Head coach Cannon Lester was selected as Division II Region 2 Coach of the Year, and freshman catcher Jacob Ambriz was selected for the DII All-Region 2 Team.

Ambriz, of Denton, Texas, separated himself throughout the season as a difference-maker behind the plate, finishing in the region’s top 10 in both put outs (265) and fielding percentage (.995). As a batter, he was in the top 10 in home runs (nine).

Lester, in his second season as skipper of the Stars (45-16), led his squad to the Region 2 regular-season title with a 30-7 record in region play. En route, his Stars knocked off top-ranked and previously-undefeated Louisiana State-Eunice, on the road, snapping a win streak of nearly 40 games.

On Monday, SouthArk beat Western Oklahoma State 6-4 in the championship game of the Plains District Tournament, claiming that title and earning a place in the JUCO World Series next week in Enid, Oklahoma.

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Shoup named player of Week for third time

Shoup named player of Week for third time

For the third time this season, South Arkansas College sophomore second baseman Trace Shoup has been named a NJCAA D-II Region 2 Player of the Week.

Shoup, of El Dorado, averaged .438 at the plate with 10 RBIs and six runs scored, including two homers, in games over the week ending on May 7 in which the 17th-ranked Stars (41-15) went 5-2 and captured the Region 2 regular-season title.

The Stars now move into postseason play, and are the top seed in the Plains District Tournament which begins today [[Thursday May 11]] in Enid, Oklahoma. SouthArk will play eighth-seeded Redlands Community College (13-23) in its first-round game. All district tournament games will be available on a free livestream video broadcast on the Region 2 website, region2athletics.com

Shoup has separated himself as one of the best players in Division II juco baseball this year. He sits at third nationally in total RBIs (80) and is in the top 10 in total hits (83). As a fielder he is in the top 10 in double plays (26). He leads Region 2 in RBIs and is in the top five in stolen bases (24).

He also was named a Region 2 Player of the Week for the weeks ending March 26 and April 16.