MONTICELLO -- Jay Jones, vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has been named interim chancellor of the campus, a spokesman with the University of Arkansas System office said Saturday.
Jones, 50, will fill in while the UA System continues a national search for someone to replace Jack Lassiter, 69, who has led the 3,850-student university for a decade. Lassiter announced in April his plans to retire. Lassiter's announced departure date is Jan. 5.
Jones is a native of Phillips County. He came to UA-Monticello in 2006 from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, where he was vice president for finance. At one time, he worked as vice chancellor for finance at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, a community college that is part of the UA System. Jones graduated from what was then called Phillips County Community College before earning his bachelor's degree from what was then Northeast Louisiana University.
Jones, who began his professional career as an accountant in the private sector before going to work in higher education, was elected city treasurer of what was then West Helena in 1998, serving four years in city government.
So far, 23 people have applied for the chancellor's position, according to information released by the University of Arkansas System based on an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request. The applicants include Corbet Lamkin, chancellor of Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden since 2008, and Steve Rook, vice president for academic and student affairs at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena.
Jones' salary as interim UA-Monticello chancellor was unavailable Saturday, said Nate Hinkel, interim director of communications for the UA System.
Jones earns $139,293 as a UA-Monticello vice chancellor, according to university records. Lassiter makes $196,974 as chancellor.
Metro on 12/28/2014