WT Launches National Fellowship for Rural Educational Leaders

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Scholars from around the country have been selected for the inaugural class of West Texas A&M University’s Rural Community Leaders Fellowship.

The RCL Fellowship—a program of the educational leadership doctoral program of WT’s Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences—is an opportunity to identify and recognize particularly talented and service-oriented rural leaders after their dedication and effectiveness has been proven in the field.

“We are so fortunate to learn from these proven leaders who bring a wealth of practical experience, real-world insights, and a deep understanding of the complexities of leadership,” said Dr. Shanna Peeples, WT’s Dr. John G. O’Brien Distinguished Chair in Education and co-creator, with Dr. Brad Johnson, of the RCL Fellowship. “Rural communities offer a rich tapestry of social, economic and cultural diversity that is essential for understanding the complexities of modern society. Research in rural communities can help to address longstanding inequalities and promote cross-sector solutions, making it a crucial area of study for researchers and policymakers alike.”

An appointment gives educators the opportunity to pass on their hard-won wisdom to the next generation of rural leaders through collaboration with doctoral students and other fellows. This professional partnership will deepen the understanding of the doctoral faculty regarding rural communities, said Johnson, a clinical professor of education.

“Our doctoral students will benefit from the powerful combination of wisdom from our Fellows and cutting-edge research. We believe that this innovative synthesis is the key to unlocking the full potential of the next generation of leaders for our rural communities,” Johnson said. “The RCL Fellowship provides a means to pass the lessons learned in the field directly to the next generation of rural leaders.”

During their one-year appointment, RCL fellows are connected with the WT educational leadership program in ways that further the effectiveness of future rural leaders through research, education and practice.

They participate in a summit in which they will respond to a national rural research agenda with six focal areas of health and wellness; partnerships and community relationships; spatial and educational equity; teacher and leader preparation, recruitment and retention; college and career pathways; and policy and funding.

The summit will gather and clarify these topics as they apply to rural regions. This work will culminate in a report that will share the practical strategies, areas of research and implications for practice for implementing effective responses to the most critical needs.

The 2023 summit is set for April 25 and 26 in Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center, 720 S. Tyler St.

Fellows receive an honorarium, travel expenses to the RCL Summit, recognition in published reports and the University website, and a certificate of acknowledgment.

The inaugural cohort of fellows was selected in March.

Nominees for the next class of fellows are being accepted now. Nominees should have 10 or more years in leadership positions, including five or more years in a single, rural community, and they should be nominated by another rural leader. Rural-serving superintendents and college/university presidents are always eligible, and rural hospital CEOs and heads of rural-focused nonprofit organizations may be included when the research topic might be enhanced by their inclusion.

The inaugural class of fellows include (bios below):

• Dr. Reginald T. Eggleston, superintendent of Geary County Schools Unified School District 475 in Junction City, Kansas;
• Adán Estrada, superintendent of Cimarron Municipal Schools in New Mexico;
• Dr. Jud Hicks, retired president of Frank Phillips College in Borger;
• Joy Hofmeister, retired Oklahoma state superintendent of public instruction;
• Dr. Bill Holda, executive search consultant for Association of Community College Trustees;
• Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, president of Mojave Community College in Kingman, Arizona;
• Dr. Tanya Larkin, Region 16 Education Service Center executive director;
• Dr. Linda Lujan, president emeritus of Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado;
• Dr. Scott R. Mickelsen, owner of New Heights Consulting in Lima, Montana; and
• Dr. John Skretta, Educational Service Unit 6 administrator in Milford, Nebraska.

WT’s fully online Ed.D. degree program was launched in 2018, preparing educational leaders for rural schools and those in higher education and educational organizations.

The Rural Community Leaders Fellowship is one way in which WT excels as a Regional Research University, the primary goal of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021 — has raised more than $120 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

2023 Rural Community Leaders Fellows

Dr. Reginald T. Eggleston   

Superintendent, Geary County Schools    

Dr. Reginald Eggleston currently serves as the superintendent of Geary County Schools Unified School District 475 in Junction City, Kansas. He currently oversees 18 schools and serves over 7,000 students. Prior to this position he served as chief administrative officer over state intervention for the Alabama State Department of Education. Eggleston has been a special education teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, director of special education and student services, and assistant superintendent over federal and special programs and schools. He has over 29 years of experience in public education. Eggleston believes that providing students access to quality education and support is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Once students experience success, they develop the confidence needed to overcome barriers and experience life to a greater degree. 

Adán Estrada

Superintendent, Cimarron Municipal Schools

Adán Estrada has been a New Mexico educator for 25 years. He started his career as a bilingual teacher in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Estrada has been a school administrator since 2003, including working as an elementary and high school principal. Estrada has been the superintendent of Cimarron Municipal Schools for the last 10 years.

During his tenure at Cimarron Schools, he has led the process of remodeling and updating more than 200,000 square feet of student spaces, reintroduced metal and wood shop programs, has provided job training by remodeling spaces for teacher housing and has established processes for teacher and staff development through tuition reimbursement, while maintaining a balanced budget and removing the district from the state emergency supplemental program allowing for greater local control of district budget.

Dr. Jud Hicks

President, Frank Phillips College (retired)           

Dr. Jud Hicks is the retired president of Frank Phillips College and also served as an adjunct faculty member teaching economics. Hicks has served Frank Phillips College in an administrative capacity since 2002. Prior to coming to Frank Phillips College, Hicks was employed in the private sector serving in the manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries. He is married to Michelle and together they have five grown children and eight grandchildren.

Hicks attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he earned a doctorate in higher education administration. Additionally, he earned an MBA with a concentration in management from Wayland Baptist University in Plainview and a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in accounting from West Texas State University in Canyon. He is also a licensed certified public accountant.

Joy Hofmeister         

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction (2015-2023)      

Joy Hofmeister was first elected as Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction in November 2014 and won all 77 counties. Over the past eight years and 527,000 miles on her SUV, Hofmeister crisscrossed the state listening to communities large and small. She held leadership roles on dozens of state boards and commissions, including serving as a state regent for Oklahoma’s six regional universities and president of Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, America’s most-watched PBS network.

Now in the private sector, Hofmeister remains focused on improving schools, creating healthier and safer communities, and fighting for better opportunities for all Oklahomans with a special focus on micropolitan communities.

As a child, Hofmeister overcame the challenges of living with dyslexia and committed herself to helping students overcome their own challenges.

Hofmeister was first elected as Oklahoma’s state superintendent of public instruction in November 2014 and was reelected to begin her second term in January 2019. In office, Hofmeister led repeals of ineffective state exams; released a more meaningful and user-friendly school accountability system; raised academic standards; bolstered student safety; and brought statewide attention to the need for trauma-informed instruction. She also oversaw a $9 billion budget and a team of 400 employees at the State Department of Education. She held leadership roles on dozens of state boards and commissions, including serving as a state regent for Oklahoma’s six regional universities and president of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority.

Hofmeister and her husband, Judge Gerald Hofmeister, reside in Tulsa and have four grown children.

Dr. William Holda

Executive search consultant, Association of Community College Trustees

Dr. William Holda served as the eighth president of Kilgore College from 1996-2016. In addition to being the longest-serving president in the history of the institution, Holda served an additional 21 years as a music instructor, department chair, director of the fine arts division, and dean of admissions & registrar. Holda’s entire career has been in a rural environment, and he continues to serve that sector. Since his retirement, he has led 10 community college presidential searches for rural colleges and over a dozen board retreats and workshops for the Association of Community College Trustees.

Dr. Stacy Klippenstein        

President, Mohave Community College    

In 2019, Dr. Stacy Klippenstein became the sixth president of Mohave Community College, which serves the fifth-largest county in the U.S and a large rural section of Arizona. Prior to this appointment, Klippenstein served as president of Miles Community College in rural Montana for six years. Over the past 10 years, Klippenstein has served on the Small and Rural Community College Commission for the American Association of Community Colleges and the executive team for the Mountain States Association of Community Colleges. Prior to his time as a community college president, Klippenstein has served as a vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management at Montana State University–Billings, which also managed the City College, a two-year technical college in Billings. Other experiences include working at Texas Tech University, Central Washington University and Northern Arizona University. Klippenstein completed his doctorate of education degree at Nova Southeastern University in 2007. He has been married to Carrie Klippenstein for 33 years and has two sons, Steven and Ty.

Dr. Tanya Larkin    

Executive Director, Region 16 Education Service Center           

Dr. Tanya Larkin has served in rural schools for almost 30 years as a teacher, principal and superintendent. She was named Superintendent of the Year for Region 16 in 2019. In 2021, Larkin was named executive director of Region 16 Education Service Center where she serves and supports superintendents, school boards and teachers in the 61 districts in the Panhandle of Texas. Having attended, taught and led in rural school districts, Larkin has a passion for developing and leading systems that provide all students with access to educational opportunities regardless of where they live and learn. Larkin and her husband, Dustin, have been married for 25 years and have two children, Brody and Sydney.

Dr. Linda Lujan       

President Emeritus, Lamar Community College 

Dr. Linda Lujan, a tireless advocate for rural America, is the recently retired president of Lamar Community College in Southeast Colorado. She served 40 years at five different community colleges in Colorado and Arizona, including 6 ½ years as president at LCC and 6 ½ years as president at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. While she loved both roles, the one that most influenced her passion for rural colleges is LCC. Post-retirement, she is the project manager for the Colorado Community College System’s Rural College Consortium, working increase access to educational opportunities for rural students.

Lujan earned a Ph.D. in community college leadership from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in educational technology leadership from The George Washington University, a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Colorado Christian University, and an associate degree in management information systems from Arapahoe Community College. She also completed a certificate in executive education for sustainability leadership from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. Scott R. Mickelsen        

Owner, New Heights Consulting    

Dr. Scott Reed Mickelsen grew up on a ranch in southeast Idaho. While growing up, he gained his passion for the rural way of life through agriculture and the great outdoors. After graduating, he spent the last 25 years helping improve two-year colleges and developing national and international partnerships. Throughout his career, he has worked hard to provide enrichment for the community, employees, and students.  

Some career highlights are growing colleges, increasing budgets, enhancing employee morale, chairing accreditation site visits and enhancing cutting edge programs. Mickelsen now owns New Heights Consulting Services and uses the past 25 years of experience to help communities, schools and colleges reach their fullest potential.

Dr. John Skretta      

Administrator, Educational Service Unit 6           

Dr. John Skretta is the Educational Service Unit 6 Administrator in Milford, Nebraska. In this capacity, he oversees the provision of core services in professional development, student services/special education, and technology to 16 public school districts serving nearly 14,000 students over a five-county area in southeast Nebraska. Skretta has been a school district superintendent, assistant superintendent and high school principal in an education career spanning nearly 30 years and has been both the Nebraska Superintendent of the Year and chair of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.

Skretta obtained his doctorate in educational administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and has served as an adjunct professor in the Doane University education specialist and UNL educational administration programs.

—WT—