North Arkansas College trustees have formed a committee to help find a replacement for outgoing President Jackie Elliott.
Elliott, 49, announced last month that she will be stepping down from the post June 30. The Kansas native, who is the college's third president, took that role July 1, 2011.
The board has formed a 21-member committee, including two students and an area school superintendent, in lieu of hiring an executive search firm. The group -- led by trustees David Evans and Jane Adair -- is hoping to have the position filled by July 1, according to a news release.
"This is a broad-based committee drawing on the talent and experience of trustees, business and community leaders, students, and faculty and staff members," board Chairman Scott Miller said in a statement.
"We're confident this foundation of talented individuals combined with the previous search expertise of Northark's Human Resource Director Kris Greening will provide us with the results that are critical to identifying and recommending the person who will provide the energy, innovation, and vision to advance Northark's Mission."
The group will advertise the position online and will keep the public informed on the search through a forthcoming website at www.northark.edu/presidentialsearch.
The president's job pays a maximum of $154,578 in public funds, according to Act 272 of 2015. But college and university leaders can earn more. Arkansas Code 6-63-309 states that higher education institutions may pay a certain number of specified employees up to 25 percent above the state-set maximum from public funds.
And college and university leaders' public salaries are often supplemented with private funding to offer top administrators and research faculty more competitive pay while abiding by legal restrictions.
Elliott has worked in higher education for more than two decades. Before North Arkansas, she spent five years as the vice president of student affairs at Northwest Missouri State University.
She's also held many national positions, including as a peer corps reviewer for the accreditation company Higher Learning Commission, and as an examiner for the Malcolm Balridge National Quality Award, according to the school's website.
North Arkansas College, which has 1,786 students, has four campuses -- north, south and center in Harrison, and the Carroll County Center in Berryville. The college's annual budget is about $17 million.
NW News on 02/02/2016