BRTC Fall Commencement Set for December 13

Black River Technical College will hold its commencement ceremony on Thursday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Randolph County Development Center at the Pocahontas location.

BRTC’s Dean of Students Neal Harwell will be the guest speaker for the ceremony.  Harwell is a native of Little Rock and received his undergraduate in Psychology from UALR.  He worked for the Arkansas State Crime Lab as an investigator prior to receiving his master\’s degree in counseling from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia.

Harwell is an Arkansas Licensed Professional Counselor and has practiced since 2002.  He worked in community mental health for 15 years as well as multiple inpatient psychiatric hospitals. He began his BRTC career as an adjunct psychology and student success strategies instructor.  He then accepted a career coach position and is now Dean of Students.

Harwell has been married to Britne for 16 years.  They have 2 children and have adopted 3.  He and his wife serve on the board of directors for Bridge of Hope Ministries in Pocahontas which runs the Hope House, a family-style group home for boy\’s in foster care.  He is an avid hiker, camper, tree- and person-hugger.

Guests of the graduates and members of the community are invited to attend the ceremony.