Meet the Neighbors: Dr. Christopher Heigle
Dr. Christopher Heigle, President, Arkansas Northeastern College
When it comes to quality of life, having good neighbors ranks right up there with access to a high-caliber education and family-friendly amenities. Fortunately, Mississippi County is home to all of that and more! In our next Meet the Neighbors, we’re happy to introduce you to Dr. Christopher Heigle, president of Arkansas Northeastern College. A native of Heber Springs, Dr. Heigle now calls Osceola home with his wife, Amber, who teaches English for the Manila School District, and their daughter, Hollyn. He enjoys all the exciting things to see and do in the area, including spending time on the golf course at Blytheville Country Club, and loves telling people about the great events within the county.
Read on to learn more about Dr. Heigle and why he loves calling Mississippi County home.
Q: You’re originally from Heber Springs. What brought you to Mississippi County?
A: Having started my career as a staff member for former Congressman Marion Berry, I've always been interested in serving the Arkansas Delta. My wife, Amber, is originally from Osceola, and she encouraged me to continue my public service in her home county. My career experience includes public policy, economic development and higher education, and there is no other college in Arkansas developing policy solutions to economic development like the work being done at Arkansas Northeastern College. Likewise, no other county is seeing substantial growth through economic development like the success we have seen here in Mississippi County. It's this particular synergy between public and private investments that convinced me that Mississippi County is simply the place to be.
Q: What do you do for fun in Mississippi County?
A: There is honestly so much to do here, so we try to do a little of everything. My wife and daughter love shopping in downtown Blytheville at local favorites like the Blytheville Book Company. We’re all very excited about the new downtown patio project as well!
Q: Where do you like to eat in Mississippi County and what’s your favorite meal?
A: Our go-to restaurant is definitely Pizza Inn in Blytheville, but we also love La Cascada in Manila and The Hog Pen in Osceola. My favorite meal is, hands-down, the braised rib gnocchi at Wilson Cafe.
Q: What are some of your favorite things about this area?
A: My favorite thing about Mississippi County is the optimism of the community. The people here are enthusiastic problem solvers. No question, this county has seen boom and bust. However, in times of adversity, the people come together and start solving problems pragmatically, and there is no greater resource to community development than having people who truly care about the long-term sustainability of a region.
Q: What does a typical Saturday look like for you?
A: A typical Saturday for us usually starts with a round of golf followed by a relaxing day at the pool at the Blytheville Country Club.
Q: What’s something that might surprise people about Mississippi County?
A: There is so much going on in the area, and when I tell my friends and family in other parts of the state about the events we have over here, they can hardly believe it. The National Cold War Center Gala is one of the best philanthropic events I've ever attended, and to be honest, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Memphis could learn a thing or two about how to throw a fundraiser from the dedicated individuals involved with that event.
Q: Anything else you want people to know about Mississippi County?
A: Mississippi County is changing the economic opportunities of the entire Arkansas Delta.
