UALR enlists Florida firm to find new vice chancellor

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has contracted with a Florida firm to find its next provost and executive vice chancellor.

The university will pay up to $105,000 to Miramar Beach, Fla.-based Greenwood/Asher & Associates Inc. to find a replacement for Zulma Toro, who left the provost's role to lead Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn. She earned $239,527 annually in that position.

Deborah Baldwin, an associate provost of collections and archives and the director of the Center for Arkansas History and Culture, is serving as provost in the interim.

UALR has posted the position in an advertisement in The Chronicle of Higher Education and is encouraging anyone interested to turn in an application by Feb. 24. The search firm is also accepting the nominations with the name, position, address and phone number of the nominee, along with a recommendation letter.

Applicants should include a cover letter, a resume and contact information for at least five references. Those should also go to the search firm's partners, Jan Greenwood at [email protected] or Betty Turner Asher at [email protected], or its principal and practice leader, Marion Frenche at [email protected].

The university has formed an advisory search committee, led by the vice chancellor for finance and administration, Steve McClellan, to help whittle down candidates. Other search committee members are:

• Belinda Blevins-Knabe, professor.

• Abhijit Bhattacharyya, interim vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School.

• Joshua Silverstein, professor.

• Jane Wayland, Stephen Harrow Smith Endowed Dean of Business.

• John Hendon, senior instructor.

• Jack Tipshus, senior networks administrator.

• Samuel Atcherson, associate professor and director of audiology.

• Angela Hunter, associate professor and interim chairman of English.

• J.B. Hill, director of the Ottenheimer Library.

• Nickolas Jovanovic, professor and coordinator of architectural, civil, and construction engineering programs.

• Nicholas Lester, vice president of the Student Government Association.

University Chancellor Andrew Rogerson has said he would like to fill the position by July 1.

The university has also announced the filling of two other interim positions, both of which work closely with the provost's office.

Daryl Rice -- who was working as interim associate dean for enrollment management, academic programs and funded research for the College of Social Science and Communication -- started as associate vice chancellor for academic affairs Wednesday. That role includes student-related leadership initiatives and oversight of departments and programs, including academic advising, the military student success center and intensive English language, according to a news release.

He is replacing Sherry Rankins-Robertson, who is returning to a full-time faculty position in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. He will earn a $6,250 bump from his current annual salary of $115,000 for taking on the role through June 30.

UALR is bringing in a retired university leader to fill the vice provost for student affairs and dean of students position. Preston Slayden left UALR in 2011 as division chief of student development and dean of students after working there for more than three decades.

He was appointed to the position after Brad Patterson left. He will earn $120,000 annually.

Metro on 02/04/2017

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