Matthew Lemaster teaches a trade where every lesson has to hold up on the job site.
An assistant teaching professor of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) at the University of Arkansas–Pulaski Technical College, Lemaster was recently named one of the top 25 HVACR educators in the country for 2026, national recognition of the work he puts into readying students for the field.
Lemaster is also pursuing a master's degree in community college leadership at the University of Arkansas, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA and is slated to graduate in 2027. In just a few years in the classroom, he has built his teaching around a single aim: getting students prepared for immediate success in the workforce.
Motivate, Don't Micromanage
What sets Lemaster's classroom apart? He points to his enthusiasm, motivation, and a willingness to go above and beyond for his students, the qualities he leans on most as an educator.
That outlook shapes how he thinks about leadership itself.
"Leadership means wanting to improve your team and not managing them in every aspect," he says.
In practice, that means keeping the focus on practical skills and real-world readiness without micromanaging, so students leave his program able to step onto a job site with confidence rather than catching up once they get there.
Leadership as Mentorship
When Lemaster names the leader who has shaped him most, one person stands out: his mentor Dr. Angela Kremers.
"She is my dean over my program and she has been a fantastic mentor and teacher in helping me develop as a leader and educator and has always been supportive on all my endeavors of wanting to improve the quality of education for my students," he says.
That same grounding comes through in a piece of advice he carries with him, one that keeps him connected to the students sitting where he once sat.
"Always remember where you came from and remember you were in their shoes at one point," he says.
Aiming for the Chancellor's Office
Lemaster's ambitions reach well beyond his current classroom.
"I want to become a chancellor of a college one day," he says.
Getting there starts with the degrees in front of him. He plans to finish his master's and then move on to a doctorate, building on the academic track he's already excelling in. The NSLS leadership programming has been part of that preparation.
"I have learned how to be an effective leader from the classes and cohorts," he says.
RELATED: THE NSLS EXPERIENCE
Matthew's Advice for Future Leaders
For Lemaster, how one leads is all about how one works with other people.
"Always remember to stay people-focused in your decision making," he says.
It's the same principle that guides how he shows up for his students every day, and the reason his classroom keeps turning out students who are ready to succeed.
Lemaster's classroom is built on real-world readiness. See why feeling prepared and being prepared for a career aren't always the same, and what actually closes the gap.
