UCA’s Amy Whitehead has been elected vice chair of the Community Development Council (CDC).

Amy Whitehead, assistant vice president for community and workforce development for the Division of Outreach and Community Engagement at the University of Central Arkansas, has been elected vice chair of the Community Development Council (CDC).

The CDC, headquartered in Atlanta, is the governing body for the Community Development Institute (CDI) national network, a three-year community and economic development training program consisting of one week of training per year. In 1995, the CDC was founded to promote the advancement of standards of competence for community development professionals through accreditation of community development educational programs, professional certification and development of community leaders.

The CDC oversees the Professional Community and Economic Developer certification process through its board of trustees and works collaboratively with Community Development Institutes across the nation to deliver a full range of services leading to certification.

Whitehead is part of the 16-member board comprised of representatives from private industry, government, educational institutions and nonprofits.

“I am excited to work with the Community Development Council as we oversee programs in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Illinois and Texas. UCA has been a leader in community and economic development for over 30 years, and this leadership role allows me to continue that legacy,” said Whitehead.

Additional information on the Community Development Council can be found at cdcouncil.com. 

The Community Development Institute, established in 1987 at UCA, trains community and economic development professionals in Arkansas and surrounding states. The complete CDI experience is a three-year training program, with four days of intensive training per year. Participants move through the program curriculum in cohorts, and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development. More information can be found at uca.edu/cdi.