Bruce Sikes, chancellor at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus, received the 2021 outstanding supporter award at the Arkansas Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AACAE) annual conference on Sept. 30.
The AACAE award is in recognition of outstanding leadership, service, knowledge and practice in the field of adult education.
“I am humbled by the recognition, but I have to give the credit to our ATU-Ozark adult education team led by Ms. Regina Olson,” said Sikes. “This group is committed to service to students, our communities and our industry. It is my belief that adult education provides the people of our region with a great educational resource. Adult education has also benefited ATU-Ozark by providing access to academic and non-academic credentials. It gives our people opportunity. Adult education gives our people hope. I am proud of their good work and it is a pleasure for ATU-Ozark to work alongside the mission of adult education. I am the product of a parent who benefited from adult education and later became a teacher. Of course, I am a fan of this educational pathway. It has the power to change lives.”
A native of Waldron, Sikes holds Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science in Education degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. After beginning his career as a teacher, coach and administrator in K-12 education, Sikes joined ATU-Ozark as chief academic officer in 2007. He was promoted to chancellor in 2013.
Sikes’ advocacy on behalf of adult education includes sharing the benefits of such programs with economic development professionals, elected officials and other key influencers.
“Chancellor Sikes believes in our holistic approach, our use of career coaches and other services to address barriers,” said Regina Olson, director of adult education at ATU-Ozark. “He possesses a firm belief that adult education plays an important role for the population we serve. He does not see adult education as competition for ATU-Ozark’s Certificates of Proficiency or Technical Certificates. Instead, he sees us as a partner and a funnel through which students flow to higher education. He is a stout advocate for adult education and willing to speak up on its behalf when others are not.”
Learn more about the ATU-Ozark adult education program at www.atu.edu/ozark/adult.php.
