Dr. Derek Moore is a student-centered leader who was appointed as the 7th President of New Mexico Junior College in July 2022. Dr. Moore previously served as Vice President for Student Services at South Arkansas Community College. He provided vision and leadership of enrollment management, student success, student support services, athletics, along with several state and federal grant programs. Prior to SouthArk, Dr. Moore was Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at Arkansas State University Mid-South, where he led student retention and engagement efforts of the college. He was Director of Academic Advising and Career Services at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, where he also served as chair of the college’s student retention committee, along with chairing the college’s diversity committee. Dr. Moore has served as an advisory board member of HERDI Innovate (Higher Education Research and Development Institute), and Innovative Educators. He was a founding board member of TYFY, Two-Year First Year. Dr. Moore’s commitment to the community includes being a member of the Hobbs Rotary Club, board members of the New Mexico Independent Community Colleges Association, and public partner with the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County. He also served as a board member of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, El Dorado Boys and Girls Club, and Hope Landing, Inc. Dr. Moore has also spent time volunteering at elementary schools assisting second graders with improving their literacy skills. Dr. Moore earned a Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD; a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR; and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, AR. Dr. Moore is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute, which is conducted by the League for Innovation in the Community College. Dr. Moore has been married to his wife, Pinkie, for 29 years. They have two adult sons and two daughters-in-law, along with one granddaughter.