Heath Whorton is a familiar face taking on a new role at Arkansas Tech University.
After spending the last 11 years as campus emergency manager, Whorton has is now performing the duties of photojournalist in the Arkansas Tech University Office of University Relations.
“Excellent still images are an essential aspect of telling the story of a university,” said Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations. “Heath’s combination of expertise in photography and in-depth knowledge of Arkansas Tech position him perfectly for this role. We look forward to sharing the images he captures with our internal and external audiences and the many ways in which his photography will help document the people, places and events that make Arkansas Tech distinctive.”
Whorton learned the art and science of photography at an early age from his mother, Susie Whorton. His first professional photography assignment came in 2009 while he was deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps. Three years later, he founded Heath Whorton Photography.
Over the past 14 years, Whorton has invested many of his evenings and weekends providing photography for more than 300 events through his private business. He has also produced more than 200 professional video projects.
Whorton, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in emergency management from Arkansas Tech and a Master of Professional Studies degree from Georgetown University, became the emergency manager for Arkansas Tech in 2015.
Over the span of 11 years, he developed comprehensive emergency operation plans, led exercises designed to enhance readiness and provided training on emergency management topics for the Arkansas Tech community. He also developed and maintained the mass notification infrastructure necessary to communicate to the ATU community in the event of an emergency.
ATU faculty and staff members who wish to schedule a photo session with Whorton may make that inquiry at www.atu.edu/urelations/portrait.php.
Learn more about the ATU Office of University Relations at www.atu.edu/urelations.
