20 Jan 2025 ASU-Beebe CFO Roger Moore Retires after 26 years of service
BEEBE — After more than 26 years at Arkansas State University-Beebe, Roger Moore, chief financial officer and vice chancellor for finance and administration, announced his retirement last fall, officially retiring Jan. 15.
Dr. Jennifer Methvin, ASU-Beebe chancellor, said, “Roger Moore is truly one of the most talented professionals I have known. Throughout his career, he innately taught, served and led with a heart for student success and a gift for financial stewardship. The ways in which he strengthened ASU-Beebe and guided us to better serve students, and our communities are too numerous to name. We are all better for having been Roger’s colleague.”
Moore began his career at ASU-Beebe in 1998, teaching business courses in accounting and economics. Fourteen years later, he transitioned from assistant professor of business and information systems to director of the Student Success Center. Moore served as the director from 2012 to 2016, before moving into the role of CFO.
Moore received an Associate in Applied Science degree at New Mexico Junior College, a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of the Southwest, and a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Central Arkansas.
A native of Pine Bluff, Moore served six years in the Navy in personnel management. Afterward, he worked at New Mexico Junior College in student accounts and financial aid. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he moved back to Arkansas and worked in the accounting office at UCA, where he was first approached to fill an adjunct position teaching an accounting class at night.
“It had never occurred to me to teach, but I really enjoyed it,” Moore said. “When a position teaching business courses became available at ASU-Beebe, I applied and got the job.”
Moore has served as the CFO and vice chancellor for finance and administration since 2016, with the exception of 2017 when he served as interim chancellor, resuming the CFO position in 2018.
As vice chancellor for finance and administration, Moore oversaw the financial and administrative operations for all campuses, which included the functions for the departments of purchasing, cashiers and business offices, campus police, human resources, controller and payroll.
Under his direction, he is credited with transitioning ASU-Beebe to the zero-based budgeting process, explaining this process is essentially covering the non-discretionary, or necessary, expenses first in the budget, before considering the discretionary expenses.
“When I came into the finance role, ASU-Beebe’s finances had either been flat or declining for the previous ten years. With this zero-based budget model, I am proud to say that we have steadily gained financial strength each year.”
Moore also oversaw all areas of several major renovation projects over the years, such as the State Hall offices and interior, Vanguard One-Stop, Centennial Bank gymnasium, e-sports gaming lounge, the Owen Center theater and recently the Blue Eats Café and the Beulah Bloodworth nursing building on the Searcy campus.
Moore said, “Whether renovating our program spaces, updating equipment through grants, or even the daily maintenance and repairs on each of our campuses, we have used our own physical plant, wherever possible. We have really achieved a lot with very little expense.”
In addition, Moore has served in several professional organizations over the years, such as Arkansas Federal Credit Union on the supervisory committee over the audit and controls, the White County Single Parent Scholarship Board, the White County Literacy Council, the Cleburne County Economic Development and the Arkansas Association of College and Business Officers.
Moore also became known for his quick wit, often defusing a stressful situation with his phrase “This time next year things will be different.”
“When I came here years ago, I was only going to stay a few years, but ASU-Beebe quickly became like family and felt like home,” Moore said. “Everyone shares the common mission of ‘transforming lives’ and ultimately student success.”
Moore plans to spend more time with family and friends and looks forward to doing some fishing, traveling, home projects and leisure interests.
