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UA - Pulaski Tech Chancellor Finalists Set Visit Dates, Public Forum Times

A national search by a committee formed to find the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) has announced schedules for three finalists that will visit campus and hold public forums Oct. 17-24.

The three finalists, who were announced earlier this month, will each take part in a forum that will be open to the public both on campus and livestreamed via Zoom. Each candidate will also spend a day meeting with various campus, community and UA System stakeholders.

The finalists (in order of visit date) and links to public forums include:

• Wade Derden, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs, National Park College (3:45 p.m., Oct. 17 | daily agenda with Zoom access)
• Ted A. Lewis, Ed.D., Provost/Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Bluefield State University (3:45 p.m., Oct. 18 | daily agenda with Zoom access)
• Summer DeProw, Ph.D., Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, UA-Pulaski Technical College (3:45 p.m., Oct. 24 | daily agenda with Zoom access)

“We’re very excited to welcome each finalist to campus and allow faculty, students and staff – as well as the greater central Arkansas community – the chance to get to know each one and learn more about their unique vision to move UA-PTC into the future,” said Richard Moss, Ph.D., search committee chair and Dean of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UA-PTC. “We encourage the public to tune in or come to campus for each public forum and participate in the process.”

Additional information about the search can be found on the chancellor search website.

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

Meet the Finalists (in order of campus visit):

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.

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.