University of the Ozarks President Richard Dunsworth, J.D., has been elected vice chair of the Board of Trustees for the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) in Fort Smith, Ark. His two-year term began Jan. 1, 2026.
ACHE is a private, not-for-profit institution situated on more than 500 acres in Fort Smith. Since opening in 2017, the campus has experienced significant growth and now offers eight academic programs: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Medical Science, Doctor of Executive Leadership, Doctor of Public Health, Master of Science in Biomedicine, and Master of Public Health.
The ACHE Board of Trustees provides oversight of the institution’s management and operations, ensuring that the organization remains aligned with its mission and strategic objectives. Board members are nominated and elected at the annual meeting and serve staggered multi-year terms.
“I am deeply honored to serve as vice chair of the ACHE Board of Trustees,” Dunsworth said. “Arkansas Colleges of Health Education plays a transformational role in strengthening healthcare access, professional leadership, and economic development throughout our region. The institution has quickly become a cornerstone for advancing health education in western Arkansas and beyond. We are especially proud that many University of the Ozarks graduates have continued their academic and professional journeys at ACHE, and I look forward to strengthening the partnership between our institutions as we work together to serve our communities.”
In addition to its academic programs, ACHE is home to the Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC), a 317,000-square-foot facility offering health and wellness initiatives such as exercise classes, ceramics, a teaching kitchen, and art galleries. The center also features a 90,000-square-foot biomedical research laboratory that supports innovation and discovery in the health sciences.
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