Handwork Appointed to Lead Facilities Management
JONESBORO – Facilities Management at Arkansas State University has familiar leader with a new title.
David Handwork, who has been serving as interim since last September, has been appointed assistant vice chancellor for facilities.
Previously the director of planning, design and construction, Handwork joined the A-State staff 15 years ago. He received the staff Distinguished Performance Award in 2008.
"It is a pleasure to promote David to a position of leadership with Facilities Management. Over his many years of service to Arkansas State, he has demonstrated an unwavering devotion to his alma mater and his Facilities Management team," according to Dr. Len Frey, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration. "From the contractors and external vendors to our on-campus clients and our FM staff, I get the same consistent feedback: David is one of the most competent professionals with whom they have worked."
Handwork has been closely involved with numerous major campus projects in recent years, including new student housing, the Humanities and Social Sciences Building, Red WOLF Center, expansion of Centennial Bank Stadium and renovation of Wilson Hall.
"I’m very honored and humbled to have been appointed this position. I greatly appreciate the confidence A-State administration has in my leadership and abilities," Handwork said. "The future of Facilities Management's support of campus will present exciting opportunities to integrate more technology into building design and maintenance and operations of built assets. Technological advancements are expected to improve efficiency and customer service."
In 2012 Handwork received the Pacesetter Award from APPA, the international organization for professional managers of educational facilities.
"Perhaps the greatest compliment I can give him is to say that he moved seamlessly into the interim director role last year and provided excellent leadership for high-profile projects," Frey also said. "We have made an intentional effort to raise the level of service quality provided across the Finance and Administration Division and David has been an enthusiastic leader in this regard."
Among his many professional activities, Handwork has served as junior representative to the APPA board of directors from the Central APPA Region, a member of the APPA Standards and Codes Council, and a voting member of the ASHRAE (building technology society) national model energy code standard 90.1.
APPA promotes leadership in educational facilities management with a vision of becoming a "Global Partner in Learning." APPA’s mission is to support educational excellence with quality leadership and professional management through education, research and recognition.
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