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Three Finalists Selected in National Search for Next UA - Pulaski Tech Chancellor

Three finalists in the search to be the next chancellor at the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) have been announced and will visit campus and hold public forums later this month at the system’s largest two-year college.

The finalists (in alphabetical order) include:

• Summer DeProw, Ph.D., Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, UA-Pulaski Technical College
• Wade Derden, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs, National Park College
• Ted A. Lewis, Ed.D., Provost/Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Bluefield State University (West Virginia)

Finalists were selected with the help of an advisory search committee that aided in guiding the search process, and details regarding the candidates’ campus visits and public forums are being finalized and will be released soon.

“UA - Pulaski Technical College is an integral piece not only within the UA System puzzle, but also within the state’s most populated county with the workforce and education needs the institution strives to meet in Arkansas,” said Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, president of the UA System. “I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to meet with each of the candidates in the final phases of this search.”

Chaired by Dr. Richard Moss, Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UA-PTC, the advisory search committee has evaluated applicants from 17 states interested in the chancellor position. The committee, which includes faculty, staff, Board of Visitors representatives, and other supporters of the college, advises 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, is leading the national search for the UA System. Bobbitt will ultimately recommend a candidate to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval.

“The widespread interest that’s been shown in UA-PTC during this process speaks volumes about the appeal and potential of central Arkansas and the key role the institution plays as the largest two-year college in the area,” Thomason said. “Leading a student-centric institution that works to connect the talent, knowledge and resources needed to promote student success and economic growth in central Arkansas and the entire state is a great opportunity and many higher education professionals locally and nationally want to be a part of that at UA-PTC.”

More detailed information about the search can be found on the chancellor search website. Dates, times and additional details regarding each candidate’s public forum and campus visits will also be posted to the site once they’re finalized.

At the beginning of the search process, Bobbitt named Ana Hunt, Ed.D., as interim chancellor at UA-PTC July 1. Hunt has served as associate provost at UA-PTC since 2021 and has been at the college since joining as registrar in 2019. Hunt will continue to serve as interim until one of the finalists is chosen and begins their work at UA-PTC.

Prior Search News:

• Chancellor search site
• Search Committee Announced
• Chancellor Position Profile Announced
• Ellibee Announces Retirement
• Hunt Named Interim Chancellor

Meet the Finalists (in alphabetical order):

Summer DeProw, Ed.D.
Provost | Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs,
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College

Dr. DeProw previously served as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Assessment and Accreditation at Arkansas State University prior to becoming the Provost at UA-PTC. She had been with Arkansas State for six years and started as the Director of Assessment. She was promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor after two years in the Director’s position. Her academic career began at Williams Baptist University where she was the Business Department Chair and later Associate Professor of Business. Dr. DeProw continues to mentor and correspond with the students she served for 18 years. Dr. DeProw earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi where she was honored with the 2014 Outstanding Doctoral Student award. Additionally, she earned her BS in Accounting, MBA, and Specialist in Community College Education from Arkansas State.

Wade Derden, Ph.D.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, National Park College (Hot Springs)

Dr. Derden is a sixth-generation Arkansan who grew up in central Arkansas and has served in education for more than two decades. He first taught at ASU-Beebe on the Little Rock Air Force Base and at UA-PTC. Upon appointment as a full-time faculty member at UA-PTC, Dr. Derden taught classes in history, political science, and the humanities. Later, he chaired the Social Science Division at National Park College before becoming its Vice President. Dr. Derden received his Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of Arkansas. His research focused on the social and cultural factors in a community that may predict students’ choices to attend college and their likelihood to complete a degree. His thesis for the Master of Arts at the UA explored southern masculinity and religion. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Hendrix College.

He is a past-president of the Arkansas Community College’s Board of Directors, is a Governor Hutchinson appointee to the Criminal Justice Institute Board of Advisors and is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission.

Ted A. Lewis, Ed.D.
Provost/Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Bluefield State University (West Virginia)

Dr. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master of Science in Political Science from the University of North Texas, and a Doctorate of Education (with distinction) in Educational Administration, with a specialization in Community College Leadership, from the University of Texas at Austin. He serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Bluefield State University where he has twice been recognized as “Administrator of the Year.” Previously, he was the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Pellissippi State Community College. He was founding Dean of Instruction at Lone Star College-CyFair, Professor of Political Science and department chair at Collin College, and director of Collin College’s national Bellwether Award-winning learning communities program. Dr. Lewis has conducted workshops and delivered presentations on active learning strategies, community partnerships, curriculum development, engaged scholarship, student success, and workforce education for the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the League for Innovation in the Community College, the National Council of Instructional Administrators, the National Council for Workforce Education, The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, and other international educational organizations.