The former dean of Ouachita Baptist University's School of Fine Arts will become the school's interim leader.
Charles Wright, a professor emeritus of music, will serve as the interim president of the private Arkadelphia-based university as a search committee reviews candidates for the post.
Rex Horne held the position but resigned to lead Arkansas' Independent Colleges and Universities.
Wright will start in that role on Aug. 1, according to a news release.
He retired in 2004 after four decades at the private university, but he returned in 2013 to work as a development officer, the news release states. Wright led the university's School of Music from 1982 to 1996, when the school merged with the art and theater departments, the university said.
He has also taught choral music education classes. The Choral Rehearsal Hall in the Mabee Fine Arts Center is named after him.
"I believe it will be impossible for me to replace President Rex Horne even for a relatively brief interim," Wright said in a statement. "We all deeply regret that he is leaving and will certainly miss him. My personal challenge is to assist in every way possible to help Ouachita continue to make the amazing progress she has made under his astute leadership."
Metro on 07/02/2015