Arron DeGracia is the new director for Arkansas Tech Career Center.
DeGracia has served as executive director of career institute and technical sciences at the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College south campus, assistant principal at Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (Calif.) and coach, teacher and athletic director at Paradise Unified School District (Calif.).
“Mr. DeGracia brings a wealth of experience and a diverse background in education, administration and workforce development,” said Dr. Sheila Jacobs, Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus chancellor. “We are thrilled to welcome him and we are confident that his extensive experience and dedication to education and workforce development will be invaluable in driving our mission forward.”
DeGracia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation administration and a Master of Arts degree in kinesiology from California State University-Chico. He holds a teaching license, building level administrator license and district level administrator license from the Arkansas Department of Education.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to join Arkansas Tech University as the director of the Arkansas Tech Career Center,” said DeGracia. “ATCC has long history of success. I look forward to the challenge of continuing that great work as we respond to the education, training and workforce needs of today, answer the demands of tomorrow and evolve into the future.”
In 2022-23, out of 27 secondary career centers in Arkansas, ATCC was No. 2 in the state for both the number of certificates of proficiency (335) earned in one year and the number of college credit hours earned (4,489).
ATCC serves more than 800 high school students per school year. It is headquartered in Russellville with satellite locations throughout the Arkansas River Valley.
According to the ATCC website, Arkansas Tech Career Center programs lead to “high skill, high demand jobs, striving to help build a well-prepared workforce that supports economic development across the (Arkansas) River Valley Region.”
For more information about ATCC, call (479) 968-5422 or visit www.atu.edu/careercenter.
