Dr. Susan Wood
Vice President for Academics and Student Affairs
Dr. Susan Wood has an impressive 30-year career in higher education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Russian and her Master of Arts in Linguistics with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University of Utah. Later, she obtained her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Professional Communication from New Mexico State University.
Throughout her career, Dr. Wood has held various roles, including program administrator, professor, executive leader, and accreditation officer. She directed English as a Second Language programs at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts, and at the University of Texas at El Paso. From 1996 to 2020, she worked at Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces, New Mexico, first as a faculty member and later as an administrator. Currently, she serves as the Vice President for Academics and Student Affairs at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Arizona.
Dr. Wood’s expertise extends to assessment and accreditation. She actively contributes to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as both a mentor in the Student Success Academy and a peer reviewer. She has participated in several HLC teams for both the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and Pathway reviews. Additionally, she served as the conference director of the New Mexico Higher Education Assessment and Retention Conference from 2014 to 2020 and was a board member of the New Mexico Education Assessment Association. She also contributed to the Association for the Assessment of Learning in Higher Education from 2010 to 2013.
Dr. Wood is passionate about a variety of activities. Biking and swimming invigorate her, allowing her to explore the outdoors and stay active. When she’s not in the water or on her bike, you’ll find her engrossed in a good book or spending time in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors and creating delicious meals. Family and friends hold a special place in her heart. Whether it’s a lively dinner gathering or a quiet afternoon chat, these connections enrich her life.
Heston Welker
Vice President of Operations
As vice president of operations for Eastern Arizona College, Welker is a member of the president’s executive management team. He oversees the financial, administrative, and capital planning functions in relation to risk management. He works alongside colleagues to identify areas where greater coordination and collaboration can affect cost-saving practices and processes in operations, services, and administrative support.
Welker began his career at EA in 2008 as the associate director and assistant controller for Fiscal Control, and in 2015, was appointed the department’s director and controller. In these capacities, he administered all fiscal operations, prepared annual reports and audit packages, and was the primary contact for the State of Arizona’s Office of the Auditor General. In addition, he ensured compliance with applicable accounting standards, oversaw grant accounting, coordinated financial aid reconciliations, and served on various internal review committees to ensure continuous improvement.
Prior to working for EA, Welker had a distinguished career in the private financial services industry. In 2005, he served as a financial analyst and assistant controller at Empire Companies, where he directly assisted in managing a budget exceeding $200 million. As a tax accountant at Ernst & Young, LLP, Welker prepared returns for several corporate clients and researched tax laws to minimize tax exposure.
Originally from Thatcher, Welker attended EA and then transferred to Arizona State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and a Master of Accountancy in taxation. He is a Certified Government Financial Manager with the Association of Government Accountants and a member of the IMA Accounting Honor Society.
Welker is active in community affairs and currently serves on the Thatcher Town Council. He is a coach for the American Youth Soccer Organization and for youth baseball and basketball teams. In addition, he is a self-admitted “bench warmer” for a championship team on the City of Safford and Town of Thatcher Adult Basketball Leagues.
Welker is passionate about the College’s and the Gila Valley’s success. He lives in Thatcher with his supportive wife, Melissa, and their five children. His hobbies include hiking — especially the Rocky Mountains, basketball, and barbecuing. He is often teased about his fastidious appearance, owns more shoes than his wife, and personally irons his entire family’s Sunday attire.
Thomas Thompson
Chief Information Officer
As Chief Information Officer for Eastern Arizona College, Thompson brings new ideas to life and enhances how we teach, learn, and communicate.
In this role, he oversees the continued development of an innovative and secure information technology environment and implements a wide variety of strategies, including: governance and policy, delivery of IT infrastructure services, information security services, and sustainable IT resource management.
Prior to his selection as chief information officer, Thompson served as director of information resources for EA where he provided strategic leadership for IT services and worked closely with his teams in various areas including help desk, desktop/classroom support, application development, information security, servers and system support, virtualization, storage, backups, disaster recovery, database administration, and wired & wireless networking.
Thompson has 25 years of experience providing large-scale computing, networking, and application development services. He has been a member of EA’s information technology staff since 1997, also serving as associate director of information resources and applications analyst with duties that included network administration, server administration, and programming. Beyond his work at EA, he was a computer programmer for Health Services Corporation of America and a computer operator for Union Planters Bank.
Thompson recognizes that successful innovation requires an all-encompassing approach that includes people, technology, and collaboration. He has held several leadership roles in the information technology and education fields, most recently serving as president of the Arizona Community College Technology Officers Council. Thompson also organized and hosted the 2017 Community Colleges of Arizona Information Technology Symposium.
Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University in computer science. He is a semi-reformed introvert,and likes to have the fact that he is an avid reader included in any biographies about him – although avid is probably pushing things a bit adjectively wise.
Keith Alexander
Chief Government Relations Officer
Keith Alexander is a nationally recognized public affairs and government relations specialist, bringing extensive expertise and dedication to Eastern Arizona College as its chief government relations officer.
Keith’s roots run deep in Arizona, with his family history spanning six generations. Raised in Gila County, he started his career working at a copper mine, embodying the region’s hardworking spirit from an early age.
After graduating from high school, Keith pursued higher education at Eastern Arizona College, where his father taught evening classes. With a degree in hand, he ventured into retail management in Navajo County before returning to the Gila Valley to serve as a sales manager at a home sales center.
Keith’s passion for public service led him to serve on the staff of Congressman Rick Renzi for six years, culminating in his role as legislative director in Arizona. Now residing in Safford, Arizona, with his wife Charlotte, Keith serves as an elected precinct committeeman and is first vice-chairman of the Graham County Republican Party.
In 2021, Keith joined Eastern Arizona College as the chief government affairs officer, becoming a key member of the District Executive Team. His career reflects a profound commitment to his roots, community, and advancing educational opportunities across the region.
Keith is also an active member of the Lions Club, where he has contributed significantly to community service projects, recently serving as district governor for the southern part of the state. His involvement underscores his dedication to service and leadership, further exemplifying his commitment to enhancing the lives of those in his community.
Keith and Charlotte are avid travelers, always ready for their next adventure. They have two daughters and one son, and they are eagerly awaiting their first grandchild. Keith’s love for history often leads him down rabbit holes of quirky facts and unique stories, much to the amusement — and occasional bemusement — of his family, friends, and co-workers.