WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — After a decade of leadership at Arkansas State University Mid-South, Chancellor Dr. Debra West announced she will retire at the end of the calendar year.
Dr. West has served as chancellor since 2015, guiding ASU Mid-South through a period of significant growth and transformation. Under her leadership, the college strengthened its role as a vital community partner, expanded academic and workforce programs and achieved record levels of student success.
“Leadership is not only about knowing how to move forward but also knowing when it is time to step aside,” Dr. West said. “It has been my privilege to work with such talented faculty and staff to build on the foundation laid by my predecessor, Dr. Glen Fenter, and to help position ASU Mid-South for continued success. The time has now come to pass the baton to the next leader who will bring fresh ideas, renewed energy and bold vision for the future.”
During Dr. West’s tenure, ASU Mid-South:
- Increased its graduation rate from 11 percent to 58 percent, with an overall student success rate of 70 percent.
- Expanded programs in information technology, automation/robotics, health sciences, commercial driving and aviation maintenance technology, equipping students for high-demand regional careers.
- Partnered with major employers such as Hino Motors Manufacturing and the West Memphis Fire Department to provide customized workforce training.
- Strengthened concurrent enrollment opportunities, enabling more high school students to earn college credit or complete associate degrees before graduation.
- Partnered with the Department of Community Corrections to provide critical job skills, technical training and workforce certifications to residents prior to their release.
- Expanded its athletics offerings to include Division II baseball and softball.
- Invested in state-of-the-art training equipment, including collaborative robots, truck driving simulators, ambulance simulators and an Anatomage table, modernizing hands-on training while saving the college hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Increased scholarships and donor support through initiatives such as the Crittenden County Promise Program and the Tommy Goldsby Memorial Wild Game Dinner and Auction.
- Earned recognition as a great or promising place to work by the Chronicle of Higher Education and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) six of the last eight years, including three years as an honor roll institution.
“We are grateful for Dr. West’s decade of leadership and her many contributions to student success and the advancement of ASU Mid-South,” said ASU System President Dr. Brendan Kelly. “Her work has strengthened the college’s academic and workforce programs and reinforced its commitment to the community. We look forward to building on this progress as we prepare for the next chapter.”
In addition to serving as chancellor, Dr. West has been active in the community. She is a member of the West Memphis Rotary Club and serves on the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, having served as president in 2020. She also serves on the Technical Committee of the West Memphis Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, as secretary of the West Memphis Public Facilities Board, on the board of the Southland Casino Hotel and on the executive board of Girl Scouts Heart of the South.
In 2020, West was named Member of the Year by the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, she received a Northeast Arkansas Women in Business Award from Northeast Arkansas Talk Business & Politics, and in 2024 she was recognized by the Memphis Business Journal in its annual list of Women Who Lead.
Although Dr. West will step down as chancellor, she plans to remain engaged with the college and community. “I will always be a supporter of ASU Mid-South and the people who make this institution so extraordinary,” she said.
A search for the next chancellor will be announced in the coming weeks.
About Arkansas State University Mid-South
Arkansas State University Mid-South is a public two-year institution serving Crittenden County, Ark., and surrounding areas. The college is committed to enriching lives through high-quality educational programming, workforce development and lifelong learning. For more information, visit https://www.asumidsouth.edu.
