WBC Trustees Welcome New Members, Hear Growth Plans

The Board of Trustees at Williams Baptist College met in regular session Friday, welcoming three new members and hearing about new programs that will be started at the college next year. The meeting was held on the Williams campus.

The board extended a welcome to new trustees Brenda Doty of Horseshoe Bend, Carol Belford-Lewallen of Pocahontas and Sarah Shell Teague of El Dorado. Teague is joining the board for the first time, while Doty and Belford-Lewallen have both served previously as WBC trustees.

Trustee J.R. Cox of Walnut Ridge presided in his first meeting as board chair for the coming year.

“We had a very good meeting, and it was encouraging to hear about the progress Williams is making in a number of areas. I believe our entire board is excited to be a part of what is going on these days at WBC,” said Cox.

The board heard reports on several new programs that are being implemented, both in academics and athletics. Vice President for Academic Affairs Brad Baine said the college is on track to begin its first master’s degree program, a Master of Arts in Teaching, in early 2017. WBC is also developing a bachelor’s degree program in criminal justice.

Both of the new degree programs will be offered fully online.

Athletic Director Jeff Rider briefed trustees on new sports programs that will launch next year. Coaches are in place for golf, swimming and track & field, with recruiting already underway. Williams will field men’s and women’s teams in all three of the new sports. A junior varsity men’s basketball team will also start next year.

With the new additions, the WBC Eagles will field teams in 18 varsity and three junior varsity sports.

“All of our new programs, both in academics and athletics, are being led by top-drawer staff committed to providing the highest quality Christian liberal arts education possible.” said WBC President Tom Jones. “In addition, all of these programs will integrate our vision of producing graduates that are prepared to competently engage the culture through a Christ-centered worldview.”

Williams is a liberal arts college in Walnut Ridge. It is owned and operated by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.