Rogers-Lowell Area News

Economic Opportunity Agency Announces New Executive Director

Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County (EOA) is pleased to announce the selection of Delia Anderson Farmer as the new Executive Director. She was selected for the position by the Board of Directors after a national search process.

Delia previously served as the Chief Operating Officer at East Central Illinois Community Action Agency in Danville, Illinois, where she provided oversight for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Customer Service, and Human Resources.

Delia has over 25 years of administrative experience in nonprofit organizations, higher education, and state government. Prior to working with Community Action in Illinois, Delia held several leadership positions at the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) in Little Rock. While at DHS, she was responsible for administering and providing oversight for the CSBG and LIHEAP funding and allocations process for 16 Community Action Agencies in the state, including EOA of Washington County.

Previously, Delia served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Director of Donor Relations, and Director of Alumni Affairs at Philander Smith College, where she was responsible for fundraising, public relations, and marketing. Her nonprofit experience includes serving as Vice President for Allocations at the United Way of Pulaski County, and as Director of Programs and Finance for Rape Crisis, Inc.

Delia has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Philander Smith College and a Master's Degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is also a Nationally Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP).

She is excited to be back in Arkansas and continuing her work in the Community Action network, which is near and dear to her heart. Her passion for Community Action began at an early age, when her father served as Executive Director of a Community Action Agency for several years. Delia is also a wife, mother, and grandmother of four children who reside in Northwest Arkansas.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County,” Delia said. “EOA is making a tremendous impact in the lives of children and families, and I am committed to continuing the great work of empowering families and breaking the cycle of poverty.”

Delia fills the role vacated by Michael Lanier who retired at the end of August 2017 after 25 years of the service, including seven as executive director.

EOA is a community action agency dedicated to helping low-income households in the region succeed. By administering a range of programs designed to address the roots of poverty through a strategic two-generation approach, EOA connects low-income families with the tools to achieve financial stability and break the cycle of poverty.

To learn more visit: www.eoawc.org, www.eoaheadstart.org, or www.childrenshousenwa.org.