Stephanie Arlene Kepner Ferguson

Vice President for Instruction @New Mexico Junior College

Hobbs, NM, US

As the Chief Academic Officer at New Mexico Junior College, the Vice President for Instruction (VPI) provides strategic leadership and innovation in academic affairs, fostering a culture of student success, and ensuring alignment with the institution\'s mission, vision, and values. This executive role requires a blend of academic leadership, operational oversight, and cross-departmental collaboration to drive institutional excellence with a specialized focus on the college’s unique, rural demographics. The VPI exemplifies strategic academic leadership, operational excellence, and a commitment to fostering a collaborative, student-centered learning environment.Key Responsibilities:• Student Success Advocacy: Lead initiatives to promote student engagement, persistence, and completion, ensuring measurable outcomes in course completion and degree attainment.• Strategic Leadership in Academic Affairs: Oversee faculty recruitment, development, and committee assignments while addressing faculty and instructional concerns in collaboration with academic deans.• Program Development & Innovation: Advance program assessment to drive curricular innovation, develop new programs, and evaluate potential discontinuation of underperforming programs.• Workforce Development Synergy: Foster collaboration between credit-bearing instructional areas and workforce development to meet industry demands and community needs.• Accreditation & Compliance Oversight: Ensure compliance with accreditation requirements from the Higher Learning Commission and act as a liaison with the NM Higher Education Department (NM HED).• Budget & Resource Management: Develop and manage the Academic Unit budget to optimize resources effectively.• Stakeholder Engagement: Present reports to the NMJC Board of Trustees and collaborate across departments and community partners to support institutional goals and initiatives.

University of the Southwest

Master of Science - MS, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The University of Southern Mississippi

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Special Education 2002

Southeastern Louisiana University

Master of Education (M.Ed.), Curriculum and Instruction

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor's Degree, English Secondary Education