Bringing to the table years of experience in higher education finance and human resources, Rita Fleming, of Little Rock, has joined Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) as its vice chancellor for finance and administration. Fleming replaces James Brasel, who retired from the position in June.
Fleming came to PCCUA from the University of Central Arkansas where she had served as associate vice president/associate general counsel for human resources and risk management since 2004. In that capacity, she was responsible for the day-to-day operations related to human resources and risk management including payroll for 2,800 positions, retirement, employee training, and insurance. From 2002-2004, Fleming worked as the senior associate director of finance for the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) where she was responsible for developing funding policies for all public higher education institutions’ operating (state support exceeded $500 million annually), personnel (20,000+ positions), and capital (building values exceeded $2 billion in replacement costs) needs and the development of strategies for funding implementation.
From 1992-2002, Fleming served as ADHE’s coordinator for finance where she initiated policy development in conjunction with the senior associate director for finance and developed funding strategies for policy implementation. She recommended operating, personnel and capital needs for UAMS and five research/public service entities (University of Arkansas (UA)-System Office, UA-Division of Agriculture, UA-Archeological Survey, Criminal Justice Institute and Clinton School of Public Service).
Fleming received a B.S. in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1988, CPA licensure in 1989, a juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) Bowen School of Law in 2003 and license to practice law in Arkansas in 2004. She is married to Robert Fleming, who is director of non-academic services at the UALR Bowen School of Law. They have three children and two grandchildren with another grandchild due in August.
