Marion School District Superintendent Dr. Glen Fenter has been named to the Southern Economic Development Hall of Fame, recognizing his transformative work in public education and workforce development across Arkansas and the region.
Fenter and other Hall of Fame honorees were recognized in the recent edition of Southern Business & Development magazine.
In selecting Fenter for the honor, this is what the magazine said about his accomplishments:
“If you don’t know Dr. Fenter, you should. He is the foremost expert on workforce training education and a tireless supporter of public education in Arkansas and really, much of the region. His workforce development model was cited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. Department of Labor as the best model in the United States.”
Fenter joins a distinguished list of Hall of Fame inductees, including FedEx CEO Fred Smith, Southern governors Mike Beebe, Phil Bredesen, and Haley Barbour, political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin, and more.
Fenter has served as superintendent of the Marion School District since 2017. Previously, he was the founding president of ASU-Midsouth from 1992 to 2016 and led the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce from 2015 to 2017.
In 2008, he was honored by the U.S. Department of Labor for ASU-Midsouth’s workforce development program, which later became a region-wide model and contributed to attracting companies such as Hino, Denso, and US Steel. In 2015, Southern Business & Development magazine named him co-person of the year alongside South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized alongside so many leaders from business, government, and industry,” Fenter said. “This recognition underscores the vital role public education plays in building strong communities and a competitive workforce. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work in this field, knowing that the work we do helps students and communities reach their full potential."