My name is Jo Keegan.  Please feel free to call me Jo.  If you do hear someone reference to me as Pat, know it’s my first name which is Patricia.  I started going by my middle name when I joined the Air Force in 1986, so my family here in Arkansas still calls me Pat.

I was born a military brat in Massachusetts.  My dad is a retired Marine.  We moved to Arkansas in 1976 when my dad retired and I attended school in Rison and graduated there.  I then moved on to Camden, where I attended the Southern Arkansas University Tech.  After graduating, I attempted working at Simmons in Pine Bluff, in the credit over limit department.  Didn’t take long before I took another position at the air port in Pine Bluff, which shortly afterward closed its doors and I was laid off.  I then took a part time job until I was able to get on with General Dynamics in Camden, which is where I got my first taste of Human Resources.  I worked there 3 years before joining the Air Force as an Aircraft Mechanic (yeah, F-15’s, F-16’s and F-4’s).  While in the Air Force I obtained my Bachelors Degree at Park College.  At the end of my 4 years, I met and married and traveled to California, Hawaii, and then Texas.  While working in California, I went to school and completed my Masters Degree in Human Resources from Golden Gate University. 

Upon my spouse’s retirement from the military, we moved to South Dakota where I took a position at Southeast Job Link – a Career Learning Center (much like the Arkansas Workforce offices).   When I left I was the Director of the WIA Program there with SJL.  I was an instructor at the University of South Dakota and Mount Marty College for over 10 years.  In December of 2006, I managed to land a position with the State of Arkansas at the Department of Finance and Administration in Classification and Compensation.  I changed positions in October of 2007 and am now working full time as the Career Pathways Director at Pulaski Technical College.  I love working in higher education as it keeps my mind fresh.  I am currently a profession with one other university in Little Rock.

I am currently a member of the Central Chapter of the Association for Human Resource Managers in Little Rock.  I participate in the Arkansas Association of Women in Two Year Colleges program at Pulaski Technical College. 

I have 2 children ages 14 and 16 who reside with me in Arkansas.  They visit their dad over the summer and holidays in South Dakota.  I spend most of my free time hiking, kayaking, camping or canoeing.  I like the outdoors and enjoy the heat of Arkansas.  Our state is very beautiful and I plan to see as much of it as possible.  It’s good to be home.