 Ouachita President Ben Sells announced the appointment to the campus yesterday. “After careful consideration of the vice president for student development position, I concluded that the best person for this role is already serving at Ouachita,” Sells said. “I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nicole Porchia effective January 1, 2025.”
 Porchia currently serves as associate vice president for student success and retention and will succeed Dr. Rickey Rogers, who was recently named vice chancellor of student services for Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, Ark.
 “Ouachita has been a transformative influence in my life, shaping me into the professional I am today,” said Porchia. “I’m excited to collaborate with gifted colleagues and dedicated students to foster a vibrant campus community where students can thrive academically, socially and spiritually.”
 A native of Prescott, Ark., Porchia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications from Ouachita, a Master of Education in higher education leadership from the University of Arkansas and a Doctor of Education in higher education administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.
 Her career has been dedicated to the success of college students, including doctoral research on student success strategies for marginalized student populations.
 Porchia’s experience in student development began as an undergraduate resident assistant and resident director at Ouachita, where she also worked as a student for TRIO’s Upward Bound program. While at the U of A, she held roles in university housing, student services and TRIO programs. Porchia returned to Ouachita in 2012 to help found the university’s Academic Success Center.
 In addition to her leadership of the ASC, Porchia was the director of Multicultural Student Programs from 2016 to 2021, and has served on the administrative council, which provides leadership for the wider university community.
 “I’m committed to creating a student-focused environment that provides the resources and support needed for students to flourish,” said Porchia.
 She and her husband, Reggie, have two children and are members of Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.
 Ouachita Baptist University, a private liberal arts university in Arkadelphia, Ark., is in its 139th year as a Christ-centered learning community. Learn more about the university’s highly personal approach, reflected in a student/faculty ratio of 12:1, at www.obu.edu.