National Park College (NPC) named Outstanding Faculty and Staff award recipients during the annual Employee Recognition Day last month. Dr. Chuck Burke was named Outstanding Faculty Member and Rose Milnes was named Outstanding Staff Member. Recipients of the awards are nominated and selected by their peers.
Milnes, an accountant in the business office, began her journey at NPC as a nontraditional student in fall 2019. She earned her Associate of Science in Business in May 2021 and later completed a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2023.
Her career at NPC began as an intern in February 2021, eventually transitioning into part-time roles supporting the purchasing department and filling in for the accounts payable specialist. She later served as an aide in the business division, assisting faculty and students, before accepting a part-time accountant position that became full-time after graduation.
Milnes has remained active in campus life, organizing the business division food drive challenge and participating in the Christmas 4 Kids program. She also serves as a mentor to students in the 2+2 business degree program and hosts the KEYS Collaboration Lab in an online accounting course.
“I approach my role with an open mind, understanding and a positive attitude,” Milnes said. “My goal is to ensure compliance while understanding that the campus has infinite dreams on finite resources.”
She added, “Receiving the Outstanding Staff award is truly an honor. This is the first time I have been recognized by an employer, and the fact that it comes from my peers makes it even more special.”
Burke, an assistant professor of anatomy and physiology, joined NPC in 2012 as program
director for the Respiratory Therapy Program. He later served as Health Sciences Division
Chair before transitioning to the Math and Sciences Division in 2018.
“The couple of positions I have held at NPC have helped me become a committed faculty member,” Burke said. “I am always trying to improve the students' experience, whether that is in the classroom or through service.”
His approach centers on three pillars: excellence in teaching, service to NPC beyond classroom duties and professional engagement with the respiratory care community.
Burke’s dedication to student success extends well beyond instruction. He was instrumental in launching and sustaining the Helping Hawks Food Pantry, which provides free, nutritious food and personal care essentials to ensure that everyone at NPC has the resources they need to stay focused on their education and personal growth. He also sponsors the Pre-Professional Students Committee and serves as a delegate for the Arkansas Society for Respiratory Care, which named him the 2024 Respiratory Care Practitioner of the Year.
“I am very grateful for the recognition,” Burke said. “At this point in my career, I view this award as the pinnacle of my achievements. But it is also humbling, because so many faculty members are equally deserving.”