Arkansas State University chancellor resigns after four years

Special to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette -- 03/02/2012 -- Arkansas State University chancellor Tim Hudson
Special to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette -- 03/02/2012 -- Arkansas State University chancellor Tim Hudson

Arkansas State University Chancellor Tim Hudson has resigned effective immediately after four years at the campus in Jonesboro, the university said Wednesday morning.

In a news release, university officials said Charles Welch, president of the Arkansas State University System, accepted Hudson’s resignation Tuesday evening. No reason for Hudson's resignation was cited.

Hudson, who made $309,688 annually, also resigned this week from his position as a professor in the ASU College of Business, according to the university.

His brief resignation letter obtained by Arkansas Online reads in part: "I wish the institution and everyone associated with A-State all success in the future."

In a separation agreement, all parties denied engagement in any "wrongful, tortious or unlawful conduct of any kind" related to the former chancellor's employment.

Lynita Cooksey, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and research at the university since 2012, has been named acting chancellor.

"In the coming days I will develop plans for a long-term interim appointment,” Welch said, adding that the Jonesboro campus experienced "many significant milestones" during Hudson's tenure, which began in 2012.

[DOCUMENTS: Read Hudson's resignation letter and separation agreement with ASU]

Among those achievements, Welch said, were record numbers of graduates, record fundraising totals and the creation of a public-private partnership with the New York Institute of Technology for an on-campus osteopathic medical school.

Hudson's wife, Deidra Hudson, resigned last month from her part-time position as the ASU study-abroad director after an internal audit revealed problems with organization, instructor contracts and pay methods for overseas trips, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.

Tim Hudson advocated last fall that the position be made full time and pay nearly $13,000 above the budgeted amount for such a position.

After the position was opened to applicants, Hudson later told a top university official to cancel the posting for that job when Welch barred Deidra Hudson from applying, citing the chancellor's role in leading the study-abroad department.

"I appreciate Tim, Dee Dee [Deidra] and their family for their many contributions to A-State, and I wish them well in their future endeavors," Welch said in Wednesday's statement.

Check back with Arkansas Online for updates on this story and read Thursday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Information for this article was contributed by Kenneth Heard of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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