Paneitz Takes Over as NWACC President

Becky Paneitz began her new job as president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College on Aug. 1. She replaced Bob Burns, who retired a year ago. Jane Guyton, who served as interim president for a year, has returned to her previous job as vice president for student services.r

A native of McGeehee, Paneitz earned a bachelor’s degree in office administration in 1974 from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, a master’s degree in criminal justice in 1982 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a doctorate in vocational education in 1997 from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.r

For the past four and a half years, she served as vice president for instruction at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C. She began her career 18 years ago as a criminal justice instructor at Pueblo Community College in Colorado.r

NWACC’s Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technology was officially dedicated on Aug. 29. Paneitz said NWACC plans to lease a 3,000-SF building in Springdale to better serve students in that city.r

Paneitz said she doesn’t have plans for any dramatic changes at NWACC, which is based in Bentonville and serves Washington and Benton counties.r

“This college has been so innovative and pro-community,” Paneitz said. “I think we’ll just try to make it more accessible to our students.”r

NWACC grants associate’s degrees and one-year certificates.