Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez has been selected as the new vice president for academic affairs at South Arkansas Community College.
Tully-Dartez, an 11-year employee of the school, will transition from her current position as associate vice president for institutional planning and academic support. In that role, she oversees institutional effectiveness, institutional research and strategic planning, and supervises academic support, grant administration and multiple other academic and non-academic departments. The vice president for academic affairs supervises all credit- and non-credit learning at the college.
“Dr. Tully-Dartez brings immense talent and varied leadership experience to this position. She has been an important part of SouthArk’s success over the past decade-plus,” SouthArk president Dr. Bentley Wallace said. “Her enthusiasm for this institution is contagious, and we look forward to continuing our work with her in this new capacity.”
Tully-Dartez has held multiple titles and responsibilities during her tenure at SouthArk. She began as director of institutional research and effectiveness in 2009 and was promoted to chief institutional effectiveness and advancement officer in 2013. In 2017 she became associate vice president for workforce and career education, then associate vice president for planning and career education in 2018 before assuming her current responsibilities in 2019.
Before her time at SouthArk, she was a fellow at Louisiana Tech University working on a National Science Foundation GK12 Grant.
Tully-Dartez has a doctor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Louisiana Tech, a master’s degree in molecular science and nanotechnology from Louisiana Tech and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the College of Charleston.
She is a member of the Arkansas Institutional Research Organization and the Southern Association of Institutional Researchers, in addition to the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium Governing Board and the South Arkansas Arts Center Board.
“SouthArk plays an important role in this community and this region,” she said. “I’m proud to be at SouthArk knowing that the college has exciting new plans for the future and is poised to respond to the emerging needs for education and training.”

EL DORADO—The intercollegiate athletic program at South Arkansas Community College is expanding to include men’s baseball and women’s softball teams for the 2021-2022 academic year.
As supported by a vote of the college board during its regular meeting on March 16, the Stars will pursue membership in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division II, joining the men’s and women’s basketball programs which already are members. This division allows for athletic scholarships.
“After a couple of years in basketball, we felt that there is a great opportunity in softball and baseball,” SouthArk president Dr. Bentley Wallace said. “We’ve been pleased with the community support, and look forward to presenting area students with the chance to pursue a college education while playing a sport that they love.”
A coaching search has commenced, Wallace said, and information about tryouts for the teams is forthcoming.
SouthArk is in negotiations about home playing sites for the teams. Both baseball and softball are considered spring sports, although both also play exhibition seasons during the fall semester.
Baseball programs in NJCAA Region 2—the region to which SouthArk is assigned—are Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa, National Park (Hot Springs), Rich Mountain (Mena), Murray State (Tishomingo, Oklahoma), Northern Oklahoma-Enid, Carl Albert State (Poteau, Oklahoma), Western Oklahoma State (Altus, Oklahoma) and Redlands (El Reno, Oklahoma).
Carl Albert State, Southern Arkansas University Tech (East Camden), National Park, Murray State and North Arkansas (Harrison) make up Region 2 in softball.
“We are excited to join several of our peer community colleges in Arkansas who also have expanded their athletic offerings,” athletic director Dr. Derek Moore said. “Since restarting our basketball program, several community members, along with SouthArk faculty and staff, have inquired about starting baseball and softball programs. My response has always been ‘In due time.’ Well, the time is now, and we’re excited to bring this opportunity to South Arkansas.”
The SouthArk Stars Booster Club is seeking members and athletic sponsors for the upcoming year. Those interested can contact club president John Baine at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Prospective student athletes interested in playing for either team should visit www.southark.edu/ball and fill out the contact form.

Columbia County Ambulance Service recently provided this ambulance in exchange for a scholarship to the South Arkansas Community College paramedic program for one of its employees. It will be used for student training in the college’s emergency medical services program. Owner Amanda Warren-Newton is pictured second from right along with SouthArk representatives (from left) dean Caroline Hammond, academic affairs vice president Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez, president Dr. Bentley Wallace, instructor Mike Laws and program director Justin Murphree.

President Dr. Bentley Wallace of South Arkansas Community College, seated left, and executive director Steve Biernacki of the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society, seated right, sign an agreement on Thursday that partners the two entities with goals of creating educational internships and preserving local history. Representatives of both SouthArk and SAHPS look on. Students in the college’s entertainment and media arts program will have the opportunity to assist in preserving and cataloging the SAHPS’ Fitzgerald Collection through technological means. This collection contains more than 100 complete films—some of which are among the only prints of these films known to exist—in addition to many items of classic film memorabilia. They also will record oral histories and create documentaries of local historical interest.