EDUCATION

Central Baptist College has named new department chairs in education and natural sciences.

Debbie Fleming has joined the institution as professor of education and chair of the department. Fleming has more than 39 years of experience in education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Texas Christian University, a master’s in education from Henderson State University, and a doctorate in education from Arkansas State University.

Before joining CBC full time, she was director of the Arkansas Co-Teaching Project with the Arkansas Department of Education and served as an adjunct professor in CBC’s Education Department. Her experience and commitment to preparing future educators will play a key role in shaping the next generation of teachers.

Katherine Clohan Gasaway has been promoted to chair of the natural sciences and mathematics department at CBC.

Clohan Gasaway has been promoted to chair of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Department at CBC. She joined the college in 2023 as an associate professor of chemistry and quickly established herself as a respected faculty member.

Gasaway earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Troy University and a doctorate in chemistry and biochemistry from Auburn University. Her leadership and expertise are expected to strengthen the department’s academic programs.

Hendrix College Department of Music Chair and Associate Professor of Music, Gretchen Renshaw, presented at an international conference in Denmark recently. 

Renshaw shared her expertise on arts-based education at the 85^th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management. 

Renshaw has long connected her work in music to broader themes of sustainability. In fall 2023, she directed the Hendrix Wind Ensemble in a concert titled SUSTAIN, designed to introduce the campus community to sustainability mindset principles through performance. Building on that project, she authored a chapter, “The SUSTAIN Concert: Arts, Ripple Effects, and the Sustainability Mindset Principles,” slated for publication later this year in The Power of Arts-Based Pedagogies: Transforming Mindsets to Shape Our Future.

She also presented those ideas at the professional development workshop “Transforming Mindsets: The Power of Arts-Based Pedagogy in Education for Sustainability,” where she highlighted how creative work can drive cultural and educational change.

Rip Weaver, a 2006 Hendrix College graduate, has been named chair of the college’s alumni association board of governors.

Weaver studied psychology with a minor in classics and was a campus leader during his student years, chairing the Multicultural Development Committee, serving on Student Senate, and leading the Psychology Club. He also worked as a peer tutor, orientation leader, admission tour guide, and Advancement Office assistant — roles that built connections he has carried into his volunteer service. After graduation, Weaver spent nearly a decade as a class agent and has remained a dedicated supporter of Hendrix.

His path after college included a Hendrix-Lilly service trip that inspired him to move to Boston, where he earned a Master of Public Health from Northeastern University while working with the YMCA of Greater Boston and the Brighton Farmers Market. He later returned to Arkansas and today is chief of staff for programs at Healthy Flavors Arkansas. Weaver, who lives in Little Rock, also serves on the Little Rock Downtown Neighborhood Association and the planning advisory board for the West Little Rock Farmers Market.

INSURANCE

Kelley Erstine has been nominated for induction into the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame, housed at the University of Central Arkansas in the College of Business. Erstine is chief executive officer at Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas.

Erstine is one of six Arkansans to be honored at an Oct. 16 event. The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015.

UTILITIES

Conway Corp has promoted Brad Curtis to operations system coordinator in the engineering department. Curtis will oversee and coordinate the daily operations of Conway Corp’s electrical systems, ensuring reliability and efficiency. Curtis joined Conway Corp in 2024 as an electric systems engineer 2.