ASUMH Strengthens Leadership in Health Sciences, Workforce, and Technical Education

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Arkansas State University–Mountain Home (ASUMH) is strengthening its leadership in health sciences, workforce development and technical education as the college continues to expand educational opportunities and respond to the evolving needs of students, employers and the regional economy.

As Dr. Robert Shurley assumed the role of Provost in 2026, ASUMH leadership took a closer look at the administrative structure and strategic direction of the School of Technology and Health Sciences. The goal was to create a leadership structure that would support continued academic excellence while expanding the college's capacity to respond to workforce needs throughout north central Arkansas.

"Community colleges play an important role in shaping the economic future of the communities they serve," said ASUMH Chancellor Dr. Bentley Wallace. "At ASUMH, we recognize our responsibility to help businesses grow, develop the skilled workforce our region needs, and create pathways for individuals to advance their careers. We've assembled an outstanding team with complementary experience in higher education, technical education, workforce development, and economic development. Together, they position us to make an even greater impact on the future of north central Arkansas."

The appointment of Dr. Jess Camp as Dean of Technology and Health Sciences and Director of Nursing established a stronger emphasis on excellence, innovation and capacity building within the college's nursing and allied health programs. Camp brings a combination of clinical experience, healthcare leadership, workforce development and higher education experience, with a career dedicated to serving the people of northeast Arkansas.

Camp holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and is a Registered Nurse (RN) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), board-certified as both a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Executive. Her professional background includes healthcare practice, leadership, workforce development, and nursing education. She previously served in nursing faculty and leadership roles at Arkansas State University, including as coordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and held the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Endowed Nursing Professorship in Rural Health.

In her role at ASUMH, Camp oversees all nursing programs while providing leadership for the college's broader academic, technical, and workforce programs. Her areas of focus include Nursing and Allied Health, Inclusive Post-secondary Education (IPSE), technical education, and workforce training initiatives. She is committed to supporting student success, strengthening partnerships, maintaining program quality, and aligning educational opportunities with regional workforce needs.

"Students need both technical expertise and professional skills such as communication, critical thinking, adaptability and teamwork," Camp said. "I hope students leave ASUMH knowing we care about them. I also hope they leave with confidence, practical skills, and a clear pathway to a meaningful career. More importantly, I hope they recognize their ability to continue growing, learning, and making a positive impact in the community."

To complement the dean's academic leadership, ASUMH created a Senior Workforce Development Officer position to bring additional experience in economic and workforce development to the institution. Vicki Pratt was selected for the position, bringing more than three decades of experience in economic development and a career that has taken her across the country.

Originally from upstate New York, Pratt has lived in nine states and spent much of her career working in economic development throughout the Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, Michigan and New York. Her educational background includes studies at Onondaga Community College, Bryant & Stratton College, the University at Buffalo and Cornell University, along with graduate coursework in adult education at the University of Wisconsin. She became a Certified Economic Developer in 2004 and earned her Master Economic Development Practitioner credentials in 2021. She was recently named to North America's Top 50 Economic Developers list by Consultant Connect.

In her new role, Pratt will focus on expanding the services available through the ASUMH Technical Center, helping area employers upskill their existing workforce and increasing awareness among high school students and their parents about career opportunities that do not require a four-year degree.

"Having worked in economic development across the country for more than 30 years, I have learned that it ultimately comes down to talent," Pratt said. "Businesses need people with the skills to get the product or service out the door. A skilled workforce is one of the most important factors in attracting and retaining industry, and that's where we can make a difference. I believe the greatest force for change is a job that allows someone to care for themselves and their family. Our job is to make sure education at every level helps people move toward meaningful employment."

The opportunity to reimagine the Workforce Director position also emerged during the search for the Senior Workforce Development Officer. With the addition of Jeff Bookout, ASUMH completed a leadership team that brings together experience in workforce development, technical education, economic development, and higher education.

A native of Violet Hill, Arkansas, Bookout brings more than 30 years of higher education experience, including work in financial aid, workforce development, and administrative leadership at Arkansas State University–Newport. During his career, he served in roles supporting multiple ASU-Newport campuses and worked closely with business and industry partners throughout northeast Arkansas. His experience includes developing workforce training opportunities in areas such as programmable logic controllers and data analysis to meet the needs of regional industries.

Bookout holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Arkansas State University, along with technical certificates in machining from Ozarka College and geospatial information systems from Southeast Community College. He also holds an FAA Part 107 certification for unmanned aircraft systems.

His interest in technical education and industry partnerships began long before his arrival at ASUMH. In 2008, Bookout was selected to travel to Germany and Austria to study how the Siemens Group and vocational schools incorporated mechatronics training into their educational systems. The experience provided an opportunity to see firsthand how education and industry could work together to develop a pipeline of skilled workers.

At ASUMH, Bookout will focus on building relationships with area employers and community partners, identifying opportunities for customized training and supporting the growth of existing technical programs. He will also work closely with the college's Plumbing Apprenticeship program to strengthen partnerships, support instructors and students, and explore opportunities to expand participation. His responsibilities will include identifying emerging workforce needs and working across academic departments to explore new programs and training opportunities.

"I'm looking forward to meeting local leaders, developing partnerships with our existing industries, and finding ways ASUMH can help businesses grow through strategic training opportunities," Bookout said. "Workforce development should be continually evolving as the needs of our employers and communities change."

The leadership team also works in collaboration with Nathan Lueck, Director of the Secondary Center, bringing additional opportunities to connect secondary education, post-secondary education and workforce preparation. Camp is particularly excited about working alongside Bookout, Pratt, Lueck and ASUMH faculty and staff to strengthen and expand services for students, employers and communities.

Together, these leaders bring complementary experience and perspectives to an area of the college that is increasingly important to the region's future. Their combined efforts will help connect academic programs, technical training, customized workforce development and economic development partnerships in a more coordinated way.

"These leadership additions reflect our commitment to looking at education through a broader lens," said Dr. Robert Shurley, Provost. "We want to make sure we are providing excellent academic programs while also being responsive to the needs of employers and the economic development priorities of our region. This structure allows us to bring those efforts together in a more intentional way."

With this combined leadership experience, ASUMH is positioned to be an even stronger partner in regional economic expansion. The college will continue working with existing and prospective employers, the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce, economic development organizations, and municipalities to identify workforce needs and develop educational and training opportunities that support business growth and career advancement.

That commitment is reflected in the college's growth over the past 15 years. ASUMH has purposefully expanded access to education and employment opportunities in technical and health-related fields. In 2011, health sciences and technical campus programs accounted for approximately 27% of college-level enrollment. By 2026, that share had grown to 40%, demonstrating the increasing importance of these programs to the college and the communities it serves.

The college's facilities and programs have evolved alongside that growth. Gotaas Hall, home to nursing and allied health education, is undergoing expansion to increase capacity and enhance learning opportunities for future healthcare professionals. At the ASUMH Technical Center, continued investment in facilities, equipment, and programs is helping prepare students for careers in high-demand technical fields.

"Education and workforce development are closely connected, and our responsibility is to make sure students have access to opportunities that lead to meaningful careers while helping our employers find the skilled workforce they need," said Shurley. "We have made significant progress in these areas, and this leadership team will help us build on that momentum."

Founded in 1995, Arkansas State University–Mountain Home serves north central Arkansas through academic programs, workforce education, technical training and community enrichment opportunities. ASUMH is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education that strengthens individuals, businesses, and communities.