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Bobbitt Announces Committee to Aid in UA-PTC Chancellor Search

University of Arkansas System President Donald R. Bobbitt, Ph.D., has named a search committee to assist in identifying the next chancellor at the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC).

Chancellor Margaret Ellibee, Ph.D., announced earlier this year she will be retiring June 30. Ellibee has led the college since becoming president of then-Pulaski Technical College on Aug. 1, 2012. Her title changed to chancellor with the college’s merger with the University of Arkansas System Feb. 1, 2017.

The committee, which includes faculty, staff, Board of Visitors representatives, and other supporters of the College, will advise Bobbitt as he considers candidates to serve as the next chief executive of UA-PTC, one of seven two-year institutions within the UA System. Chris Thomason, vice president of planning and development for the UA System, will help lead the national search. Bobbitt will ultimately recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval.

“While Dr. Ellibee’s strong leadership and substantial contributions to the institution and the UA System will certainly be missed, it is time to take the necessary steps to begin a national search to ensure that the momentum due to Dr. Ellibee’s leadership will continue into the future at UA-PTC,” Bobbitt said. “I’m confident that this search will produce top-tier talent and that the right candidate will be identified to serve the institution and the region, thereby ensuring that central Arkansas’s premier two-year college will continue to fulfill its mission.”

The committee will begin its work in the coming weeks to advertise the position and recruit qualified individuals from across the country to consider the opportunity. A search webpage hosted by the institution will also be developed as a reference for candidates and a hub for search-related news. More information will be available soon after the committee’s initial meetings.

Chaired by Dr. Richard Moss, Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UA-PTC, the search committee members also include representatives from key local and state constituencies, campus faculty, staff, alumni, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, among others.

“Being a part of a search committee is hard, diligent work, and I sincerely appreciate the commitment of those who agreed to help us through this process,” Bobbitt said. “The diversity of the committee members will bring a variety of voices to this search enabling us to identify a short list of exceptional candidates for the campus community to consider. As part of the process we will make the candidates available to stakeholders both on and off campus, and the committee will solicit and summarize feedback from these groups. I am looking forward to working with the institution and the community to secure the right leader for this important institution.”

The committee includes:

Dr. Richard Moss, Chair, Dean, School of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Rajesh Chockhani, UA-PTC Board of Visitors
Heather Nelson, UA-PTC Board of Visitors
Jerry Best, UA-PTC Assistant Chief of Police
Matthew Chase, Faculty Senate Chair, UA-PTC
Wendy Davis, Dean of Libraries, UA-PTC
Talayia Johnson, Faculty/Interim Dean, UA-PTC
Mindy Hodges, Faculty, UA-PTC
Mimi San Pedro, Chief Strategy Officer, The Venture Center
Dean Martin, Commander, Arkansas Air National Guard/Little Rock Air Force Base
Ronald Dedman, Chief Executive Officer, AT&T/Arkansas State Chamber
Greg Pilewski, Superintendent, North Little Rock School District
Stephanie Gardner, Provost, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Derrell Hartwick, President, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
Kelly Eichler, Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas

Ex officio members:

Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, UA System President
Chris Thomason, UA System Vice President of Planning and Development