The former chancellor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville (UACCB) has been appointed to the board of a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Arkansas students prepare for college and the workforce.
Deborah Frazier (pictured), who recently retired from a more than 30-year career in Arkansas higher education during which she served as chancellor of UACCB, has been appointed to the board of Forward Arkansas, according to a release from the organization last week.
Forward Arkansas was established in 2014 with grants from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Walton Family Foundation with the goal of improving outcomes for all students. It works with districts, schools, educational partners, and state leaders to transform learning, build educator capacity, and provide equitable resources to ensure every student has access to, and is prepared for, opportunities in life and career.
Frazier also provided leadership as co-chair of IMPACT Independence County to increase opportunities to improve the region’s economic prosperity leading to sustainable family wages. The process fostered a five-year strategic plan that led to many improvements within the area.
Frazier readily joined community leaders and champions for education to volunteer her time and energy in advocating to provide Arkansas high school students access to the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, an accomplishment that changed secondary education in Arkansas for generations to come, the release said.
As the first female to serve as a member of the consolidated Midland Public School District, Frazier also learned the importance of collaboration and compromise. She utilized these same skills while serving within a variety of organizations, Forward Arkansas noted in its release.
Frazier earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lyon College in Batesville and a master’s in business education from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
With community service as a chief priority throughout her career, Frazier has been recognized by multiple organizations for her commitment to public service, leadership, and dedication to excellence in education.
As a first-generation college graduate, Forward Arkansas says Frazier recognizes the power education has to enhance individuals’ life, which is why she has invested her career in ensuring Arkansans have the educational opportunities they deserve.
To learn more about Forward Arkansas, click here.
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