OBU names panel to find new leader
The chairman of the board of trustees at Ouachita Baptist University has named those leading the national search for a new president.
The group is looking for a replacement for President Rex Horne, who is leaving to head Arkansas' Independent Colleges and Universities. The group will make a recommendation for the next president, while trustees will select someone for the position.
Gene Whisenhunt, the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Hickingbotham Investments in Little Rock, will serve as the chairman of the 11-member committee, according to a news release. Board Chairman Jay Heflin will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.
Heflin told faculty and staff members during a forum Thursday that the full committee will meet July 2 and begin accepting nominations from July 6 to Sept. 1, according to the news release. Then, the committee will meet Sept. 10 to start reviewing the nominations and resumes.
"The future of this institution is too important to rush," Whisenhunt said in a statement. "We commit to you to work hard, to hear the opinions and the voices define the need and give you our very best. It will be a huge priority in my life each and every day to get this done."
ASU starts search for education dean
Arkansas State University has started the search for a new dean for its College of Education and Behavioral Science.
Lynita Cooksey, the university's provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, is piecing together a search committee for the search. So far, she's named Don Bowyer, dean of the College of Fine Arts, and Jeff Bailey, director of the Dean B. Ellis Library, as co-chairmen of the search committee, according to a news release.
The position was left vacant for a year, as university officials finished up discussions about restructuring academic units. During that time, Susan Hanrahan served as the college's interim leader. She will return to her position as dean of the Nursing and Health Professions but will continue providing administrative supervision to some departments, according to a news release.
Gina Hogue, an associate vice chancellor for academic services, will fill in as interim dean for the college starting July 1. Hogue will continue working in Academic Affairs and Research.
"This search is timely, especially with the many changes and uncertainty of K-12 education in the state," Cooksey said in a statement. "We look forward to finding an individual who can continue to help A-State play a major role in preparing future teachers and school administrators as well as the other areas served by the college."
New clinical officer in position at UAMS
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has hired a new chief clinical officer.
Dr. Stephen Mette began the new post May 20, overseeing the clinical enterprise and medical services, giving credentials to faculty members and participating in the safety and quality agenda, UAMS officials announced last week. He will earn $412,500 annually.
Mette succeeds Dr. Nicholas Lang, who retired. Mette has made the move to UAMS from the Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. There, he served as the chief of the department of critical care for six years and the chairman of the Critical Care Service Committee. He's worked in many other roles at the medical center, as well.
Mette earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York and later interned and completed his residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Metro on 06/17/2015