A Williams Baptist University alumna with more than two decades of experience on the school’s faculty has been named vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Ruth Provost was recently appointed to the job.
Provost is a 1998 graduate of Williams and holds a doctorate of psychology and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College. She has been on the WBU faculty since 2004, most recently as chair of the Department of Psychology and associate professor. Her leadership as accreditation coordinator helped maintain the university’s standing with the Higher Learning Commission, and she represented WBU at academic and professional conferences nationwide.
Provost will oversee all aspects of academic life at WBU, including faculty development and curriculum oversight.
Cairer Awarded Accounting Scholarship
An Arkansas State University student has been awarded a 2025-26 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) scholarship, totaling $15,000. Junior accounting major Jordan Cairer, a native of St. James, Mo., is one of 685 students nationwide to receive the award.
Cairer is part of the accelerated master’s program for accounting. She plans to graduate with her undergraduate degree in spring 2027, followed by a master’s in accountancy that fall.
PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee audits of public companies to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate and independent audit reports. PCAOB also oversees audits of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws.
Thomisee Wins Academic Accolades
Taylor Thomisee, a graduate student in the master’s in biological science program at Arkansas State University, recently earned academic accolades for her research.
A native of West Monroe, La., Thomisee presented a poster at two scientific conferences. The poster title was “Amphibians on the MAP: Differences in community composition within wetland reserve easements.”
In May, at the Ozark-Mid-South regional meeting of the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at St. Louis, she won best student poster in the Mid-South section. As a result, she was invited to present her research at the national SETAC meeting in Portland, Ore., in November.
This was followed by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists meeting in St. Paul, Minn., where Thomisee won the Victor Hutchison Student Poster Award for best poster in the conservation and management category. The award was presented by the Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles.
Thomisee finished her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in wildlife habitat management at Louisiana Tech University before coming to A-State. Dr. Stephen Mullin, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is her major professor.
First National Bank Of Commerce Makes Donation
First National Bank of Commerce (FNBC) recently donated $5,000 to the Black River Technical College (BRTC) Foundation as part of its quarterly pledge. FNBC’s Amy Fitzgerald presented the check to BRTC President Martin Eggensperger, and Dr. Karen Liebhaber, BRTC Foundation executive director and BRTC vice president of institutional advancement.
The BRTC Foundation exists to provide resources to further the academic programs and activities of BRTC. The Foundation’s mission is to assist with the development and enhancement of programs and facilities; to assist in providing broader educational opportunities and services to students, staff, and alumni; and to receive, hold, and administer gifts or grants.
Lyon College Launches Microcredentials Program
Lyon College has announced the launch of a new microcredentials program designed to help individuals acquire targeted leadership and workplace skills through short, self-paced learning modules.
Offered through the new Lyon College Skills Library, the microcredentials program includes a wide variety of non-credit, self-paced modules. The first three learning tracks focus on leadership development, with courses organized into three main categories: developing self to lead, understanding others to lead and communicating with others to lead.
Participants can choose from modules such as “Resilience in the Face of Setbacks,” “Inclusive Decision-Making” and “Having Difficult Conversations.” Each completed module results in a digital badge that can be added to resumes, LinkedIn profiles and digital portfolios, as well as a Lyon College branded certificate upon completion of a full learning track.
Each module was developed by Lyon College faculty with expertise in leadership, education and professional development. The courses are interactive and user-friendly, providing practical strategies that participants can apply immediately in their personal and professional lives.
First Community Bank Hires Damron As Mortgage Originator
First Community Bank has hired Mike Damron as a mortgage originator. He joined the bank as a secondary mortgage originator and will work with customers from the Greensborough Village branch in Jonesboro.
In his new role, Damron will assist customers seeking home loans through the secondary market, guiding them through the mortgage process with personalized service and local decision-making.
Damron brings 13 years of experience in banking and related industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Arkansas State University and recently moved back to the area with his family.
Williams Works Program Receives Donation
The Williams Works program at Williams Baptist University has received a financial boost from First National Bank of Commerce. Amy Fitzgerald, chief financial officer at First National, presented a $7,500 check to WBU President Dr. Stan Norman.
Students in the Williams Works program work 16 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. In return, their tuition and student service fees are fully covered for each semester they participate. Students have the opportunity to work full-time during the summer, with their room and board expenses also covered, providing students a pathway to graduate debt-free.
Garner Promoted To Head Teller At First Community Bank
First Community Bank has promoted Ladonna Garner to head teller at the bank’s Jonesboro Southwest Drive location.
With 15 years of banking experience, Garner will supervise tellers at her location, train and mentor staff, handle complex transactions, and ensure compliance with bank policies and regulations. Garner holds an associate degree in business and is a member of First Community Bank’s women’s mentoring program.
A-State Names New College Leaders
Arkansas State University has announced new leadership appointments in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.
Dr. Deborah Popham, an administrator, educator, and vocal artist, has been appointed chair of the Department of Music. She joins Arkansas State from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where she recently was director of the Sharon J. Resch Institute of Music.
Dr. Ed Salo, professor of history and associate director of the heritage studies program, has been named chair of the Department of History. A scholar of public history with expertise in preservation and memory studies, Salo joined the Arkansas State faculty in 2014.