Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County names Delia Anderson Farmer new executive director

Delia Anderson Farmer is the new executive director of the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County (EOA), a $7 million private nonprofit community action agency based in Springdale. Farmer was selected by the EOA board of directors following a national search. She was most recently chief operating officer of East Central Illinois Community Action Agency in Danville, Ill.

Farmer has more than 25 years of administrative experience in nonprofit organizations, higher education and state government. She previously held several leadership positions at the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), and served as vice president of institutional advancement, director of donor relations and director of alumni affairs at her alma mater, Philander Smith College in Little Rock, where she was responsible for fundraising, public relations and marketing.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County,” Farmer said in a statement. “EOA is making a tremendous impact in the lives of children and families, and I am committed to continuing the great work of empowering families and breaking the cycle of poverty.”

EOA was incorporated in 1965 with the mission of reducing poverty in Washington County. The agency is funded with federal, state, local and privately donated funds.

Delia fills the role vacated by Michael Lanier, who retired at the end of August after 25 years of the service, including seven as executive director.