Whiteside Elected Board Chairman for 2012

Leigh Whiteside of Russellville was elected by the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees to serve as its chairman for the 2012 calendar year during a meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center on Thursday, Jan. 19.  Whiteside is a 1974 Tech graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. She and her husband, 1973 Tech graduate John Whiteside, reside in Russellville. Both of the Whitesides’ children — Ashley Whiteside Rabun and Casey Whiteside Brock — graduated from Arkansas Tech. Mrs. Whiteside taught in the Russellville School District for 21 years. She formerly served on the Board of Trustees for the First United Methodist Church in Russellville and she volunteers at Manna House, an outreach program for families that is overseen by the First United Methodist Church. Mrs. Whiteside is a past member and president of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for women in education.

Other officers on the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees for 2012 are Charles Blanchard of Russellville, who will serve as vice chairman; and Tom Kennedy of Little Rock, who will serve as secretary.