National Park College (NPC) Assistant Professor of Speech, Arts and Humanities, Dr. Tamara St. Marthe, was named president of the Arkansas Community Colleges Conference Advisory Board (ACC) earlier this month.
St. Marthe holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Midwestern State University, a master’s degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, and a doctor of education degree in Higher Education Leadership and Administration from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Her experience includes teaching Public Speaking at various institutions, maintaining accreditation, recruitment, research, and policy development.
St. Marthe has been actively involved with the ACC since 2014, presenting her research on soft skills at the 2017 ACC Conference and serving as a master presenter at the 2019 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development conference. She has also been a member of NPC’s first Leadership Academy and served as Faculty Senate president from 2015 to 2018. St. Marthe has served as a board member of the ACC since December 2022 and has recently chaired the ACC board’s program committee.
Outgoing ACC president, Michael Smith, Coordinator and Placement Specialist at Arkansas Northeastern College said, “It has been an honor to serve as ACC Conference Board President over the past year. Working alongside remarkable colleagues and friends has been a true privilege. Now, it’s time to pass the torch to our newly elected Conference Board President, and my friend, Dr. Tamara St. Marthe. I have full confidence in your ability to lead this conference to even greater heights, and I’ll be here to support you every step of the way.”
St. Marthe expressed her excitement about the new role. “A few months ago, I was elected by the Arkansas Community Colleges Conference Advisory Board to serve as the 2025 Arkansas Community College Conference Advisory Board President. The Conference Advisory Board consists of 22 higher education leaders and professionals, representing each of the 22 community colleges in the state of Arkansas. Two months ago, I was officially introduced as the new President, at the 2024 ACC Conference. I saw others fulfill that important role. I told myself I could, and so I did. I am truly honored, and I can’t thank the board members enough for their support and confidence in my ability to fulfill this leadership role.”