Arkansas governor names new state higher education leader

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduced on Monday that she’d chosen Ken Warden to function the Arkansas Division of Greater Training Commissioner.

Warden is the affiliate vice chancellor for Compliance and Legislative Affairs on the College of Arkansas – Fort Smith, the place he’s labored for 9 years. He served because the dean of the Faculty of Utilized Science and Know-how for six years and because the affiliate vice chancellor for Workforce Growth for one yr.

“I’m humbled and honored to function the commissioner of the Arkansas Division of Greater Training,” Warden mentioned in a press release. “I sit up for working intently with Governor Sanders and Secretary [Jacob] Oliva as we empower Arkansans with training — paving a path to prosperity for all Arkansans.”

Warden additionally spent 17 years at Arkansas Tech College – Ozark, the place he served because the division chair of Automotive Service Know-how, Enterprise and Trade coordinator and chief officer for Enterprise and Group Outreach.

Along with working for 2 college methods, Warden has labored in grownup training and at two-year faculties. He has expertise in program design, mission administration, group partnerships, profession pathways, grant implementation and senior stage educational management, in keeping with a press launch.

“Dr. Warden’s in depth management expertise in larger training makes him the clear option to serve on this position as we usher in a daring new chapter in Arkansas training,” Sanders mentioned in a press release.

Warden holds a doctorate in Training in Workforce Growth from the College of Arkansas, a grasp of Training in Academic Management from Arkansas Tech College, a bachelor of science in Vocational Training from the College of Arkansas and an affiliate of Utilized Science in Automotive Service from Westark Group Faculty, now the College of Arkansas – Fort Smith.

Warden replaces Maria Markham who served as ADHE’s director from 2016 to 2023. Markham’s tenure led to March when she acquired a name from Sanders’ workplace that “they have been moving into one other path,” in keeping with the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette.