North Arkansas College has announced the selection of Lewis Villines as its new Vice President for Technical Education and Workforce Development, a role that will focus on serving local workforce needs while expanding training programs and strengthening partnerships with school districts and employers across the region and the state. Villines will begin his new position on April 6, 2026.
Villines was honored last October at Northark’s Evening on the Plaza dinner as the 2025-26 Distinguished Alumnus. At the time, the college celebrated his leadership in education and his commitment to student success. What Northark did not yet know was that Villines would soon be returning to campus in a leadership role focused on growing workforce and technical education opportunities.
“Lewis brings a unique combination of classroom experience, school leadership, and strong relationships with educators throughout Northwest Arkansas,” said Rick Massengale, president of North Arkansas College. “His strong ties to superintendents in the northwest portion of the state will help us build new partnerships and expand workforce education into communities that need these opportunities the most.”
A native of Jasper, Villines attended North Arkansas College during the 1989-90 academic year before transferring to the University of Arkansas, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1993. He later completed a Master of Science from the University of Central Arkansas in 2006 and a Doctor of Education from Harding University in 2017.
Villines began his career as a high school agriculture teacher, a role he held for 14 years before moving into school administration. Over the years, he has served as principal of Flippin Elementary School, Huntsville High School, and Rogers High School. He currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for the Harrison School District.
In his new role at Northark, Villines will provide leadership and strategic direction for all credit-bearing technical programs and non-credit workforce development programs at Northark. He will serve on the President’s executive leadership team and play a pivotal role in shaping the college’s strategic vision for workforce development and technical education.
“I’m honored to step into this new role,” Villines said. “North Arkansas College plays a critical role in preparing students for meaningful careers, and I’m excited to work with faculty, staff, industry partners, and the community to expand opportunities that help students succeed and strengthen our regional workforce.”