NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on April 1, 2026, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Joel Newburn, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, and Raymond Wright.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Alexandra Barnard, Sheena Burrow,
Blake Butler, Victoria Caraway, Zoe Chung, Wila Davis, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Daisy
Dollar, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Jaylin Finley, Kathy Flournoy, Khayla Garrett,
Khyra Garrett, Jessica Gilbert, Jay Hardage, Nicole Herndon, Cody Hobby, Aaliya Hollins,
Brad Hopper, Janice Ivers, Ying Jiang, Brian Kroening, Jennifer Lyons, Rose Milnes,
Ka’Mille Moore, Tyler Mosby, Mark Oliver, Kandle Pasquith, Scott Post, Emily Pyland,
Kristin Quintanilla, Landrey Richardson, Bill Ritter, Rebekah Robinette, Mekaila Robinson,
Layla Tell, Darla Thurber, Gary Troutman, John Tucker, Dasia Turner, Tim Webb, Megan
Wheeler, Ta’Keyla Williamson, and Jeremy Winzer.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith with the Sentinel Record was
in attendance.
Chair Jim Hale opened the meeting with a welcome at 3:30 PM.
Sarah Day took roll call. A quorum was present.
Trustee Raymond Wright provided the invocation.
Sarah Day introduced the NPC PTK leaders who would be providing a report at the end
of the meeting. Day also introduced Dasia Turner, NPC Assistant Women’s Basketball
Coach, who introduced the 2025-2026 Women’s Basketball Team.
Items for Action
- Trustee Bush motioned to approve the February 25, 2026, regular meeting minutes as presented. Trustee Joe seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the February 2026 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the March Personnel Ratifications as presented by Kathy Flournoy, NPC Director of Human Resources. Trustee Wright seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Trustee Wright asked Brad Hopper, NPC Associate Vice President of Campus Operations, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. Mr. Hopper provided a PowerPoint presentation with photographs of the continued construction on the Welding facility. Hopper also provided information on current projects for Groundskeeping and Maintenance as they prepare for summer.
- NPC Phi Theta Kappa Advisor (PTK), Dr. Rebekah Robinette, and Supporting Advisor, Dr. Alexandra Barnard, provided a report on the NPC Alpha Beta Psi chapter of PTK. Outgoing and incoming student officers were introduced. Barnard provided a PowerPoint presentation, and Robinette congratulated Dr. Wade Derden on receiving the PTK Paragon Award for New Presidents.
- President’s Report – President Derden congratulated the NPC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa for its diligent work on campus and encouraged support of the Night of Art event scheduled for April 14, 2026. He acknowledged the collective efforts across campus to develop a balanced budget and complete performance evaluations. President Derden also recognized Mark Oliver, NPC Sports Information Director, on his 500th NPC broadcast. He reported that NPC had been nominated for the Economic Leadership Award, to be presented at the Hot Springs Metro Partnership Annual Meeting and Economic Development Awards on April 7, 2026, to be hosted on the NPC campus. President Derden noted the excitement across campus as preparations continue for graduation and concluded his remarks by congratulating the women’s basketball team on its historic season.
- New Business – Chair Hale shared the following:
- Trustees’ evaluations of President Derden’s performance were due and should be turned into Sarah Day for tabulation.
- NPC Executive Officers will meet in executive session to prepare President Derden’s evaluation paperwork on April 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
- There will be an executive session at 2:30 PM prior to the regular April board meeting on April 29, 2026. This meeting will be to discuss the Board’s performance evaluation with President Derden.
- Chair Hale asked Jessica Ellis for an update on the successful NPC Job Fair.
Trustee Joel Newburn asked Darla Thurber to introduce the new NPC Athletic Director,
Jeremy Winzer, and the new NPC Director of Housing, Tyler Mosby. Newburn also encouraged
fellow trustees to support and attend the upcoming Night of Art sponsored by the NPC
Foundation.
Trustee Spicher commented on the success of the recent NPC Job Fair.
Trustee Harrington motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:01 PM.
Jim Hale, Chair
Raymond Wright, Secretary/Treasurer