Arkansas Community Colleges (ACC) has announced the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Member and Outstanding Staff Member for Black River Technical College (BRTC).
Bridgette Kasinger, Nursing Simulation Lab Facilitator, was named BRTC’s Outstanding Faculty Member of 2025. Kasinger received her Practical Nursing (LPN) Certificate from BRTC in 2008 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arkansas State University in 2011. She has been in her current position since 2021. She is married to Jake Kasinger and they have a daughter named Rylee.
Darenda Kersey, Dean of General Education, was named BRTC’s Outstanding Staff Member of 2025. Kersey is an alumna of BRTC and Arkansas State University. She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in Business Education and a Masters of Science in Education in Business Technology. She began at BRTC in 2007 as a full-time faculty member and transitioned to the Director of Career, Technical, and Concurrent Education in 2020. In May of 2025, Kersey accepted her current position as Dean of General Education. Darenda is married to Jacob Kersey and they have two children, Katie and Bo.
Kasinger and Kersey were recognized and celebrated for their achievement at the ACC Award Luncheon in Hot Springs. They were selected for the awards by their peers at BRTC.
For more information about Arkansas Community Colleges visit https://www.arkansascc.org/.