Experienced Educator Lewis Villines Joins Northark Leadership Team

HARRISON, AR. - A former teacher in Mountain Home and past principal of Flippin Elementary School, has been appointed to a significant leadership role at North Arkansas College (Northark) in Harrison. Lewis Villines will now serve as the vice president for technical education and workforce development.

Villines, who is currently the assistant superintendent for the Harrison School District, is set to begin his new position on April 6th. This past October, Northark recognized Villines as its 2025-26 Distinguished Alumnus during a special dinner event, unaware at the time that he would soon be joining the college in a leadership capacity.

Villines first attended Northark during the 1989-90 school year before continuing his studies at the University of Arkansas, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1993. He later pursued advanced degrees, earning a master's from the University of Central Arkansas in 2006 and a doctorate from Harding University in 2017.

His career in education began as a high school agriculture teacher, a role he held for 14 years. After his time in the classroom, he moved into school administration, serving as principal at Flippin Elementary, Huntsville High School, and Rogers High School.

In his new role, Villines will be responsible for overseeing both college credit programs focused on technical skills and training programs designed to prepare people for jobs. He will also be a key member of Northark's executive leadership team.

Northark President Dr. Rick Massengale expressed his enthusiasm for Villines joining the team, highlighting his strong connections with school superintendents across Northwest Arkansas. Massengale believes these relationships will help the college form new partnerships and extend workforce education opportunities to more communities that need them.

Villines shared his excitement about expanding educational and career opportunities. He stated that North Arkansas College plays a crucial role in helping students achieve fulfilling careers, and he looks forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, industry partners, and the community to strengthen the regional workforce.