The UA System universities and two-year colleges each have a chancellor as chief executive officer. The titles of the leaders of other affiliated UA System units are indicated below. The chancellors and unit leaders are responsible for enforcement of policies and procedures, budgets, regulations and carrying out decisions of the Board of Trustees.
Universities
Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Joseph E. Steinmetz, Ph.D., became the sixth chancellor at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on Jan. 1, 2016 after previously serving as The Ohio State University’s chief academic officer since July 1, 2013. As executive vice president and provost there, he oversaw the administration, coordination, and development of all academic functions of the university.
Chancellor Christina Drale
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Dr. Christina Drale serves as Chancellor for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Prior to this appointment, she was the Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at UA Little Rock. As the university’s chief academic officer, she oversaw the administration, coordination, and development of all academic functions of the university.
Chancellor Cam Patterson
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Cam Patterson, M.D., took over as chancellor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on June 1, 2018 after serving as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital. A cardiologist, Patterson previously held numerous academic and clinical appointments at the University of North Carolina, including as physician-in-chief at the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care and executive director of the UNC McAllister Heart Institute.
Chancellor Karla Hughes
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Karla Hughes, Ph.D., took over as the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s (UAM) 12th chancellor on Jan. 15, 2016, after serving as the executive vice president and provost of the University of Louisiana System in Baton Rouge, La.
Chancellor Terisa C. Riley
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Dr. Terisa C. Riley is the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS). She assumed her duties on July 1, 2019. Prior to her appointment as UAFS Chancellor, Riley served as Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Administration at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, as well as holding previous positions as the institution’s chief student affairs officer, chief financial officer, chief administrator, and chief enrollment management officer. Over her 25-year career, Riley has held numerous other appointments in higher education and in her community.
Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Dr. Laurence B. Alexander became chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on July 1, 2013. The former associate dean of the Graduate School and director of the Office of Minority Programs at the University of Florida, Alexander was a distinguished teaching scholar and a professor in the Department of Journalism at Florida and chair the Graduate Curriculum Committee before joining UAPB.
CAO/COO Michael Moore
University of Arkansas System eVersity
Dr. Michael K. Moore, who is leading the UA System’s eVersity charge, is an award-winning distance education professor and a recognized leader of online programs. As a first-generation college student, he appreciates the transformative power of a college education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Washburn University and a master’s and doctorate in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Before joining eVersity, he served as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Texas at Arlington for 20 years.
Two-Year Colleges
Chancellor G. Keith Pinchback
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
G. Keith Pinchback, Ed.D., became the as the fourth chancellor at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) in July 2015, having previously served as vice chancellor of institutional advancement at Arkansas State University-Beebe since 2001.
Chancellor Chris Thomason
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
Chris Thomason, J.D., became chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope on August 1, 2008. He had previously served on the UACCH-T Foundation Board and as an adjunct faculty member for the college. Under Thomason’s leadership, UACCH-T’s student enrollment and graduation rate hit record highs in the last two years.
Chancellor Deborah J. Frazier
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Deborah Frazier was named chancellor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville in May 2007. She began her teaching career as an accounting instructor at Gateway Vocation Technical School in 1987. During her tenure, she has served as a division chair of business, technology and public service, vice chancellor of academic affairs and vice chancellor for learning and student services.
Chancellor Steve Cole
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Dr. Steve Cole has served as chancellor at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas since 2010. He began his career at the college in 1997 as a member of the business faculty. He was named division chair of Adult, Distance, and Secondary Education in 2001, division chair of Business in 2003, and vice chancellor and dean of academics in 2007.
Interim Chancellor Diana Arn
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
Diana Arn was named interim chancellor in January 2019 after the retirement of former Chancellor Larry Davis. Arn has 32 years of experience at UACCM. A U.S. Army veteran, she joined the college in 1987 as a business education instructor. In 2002, she became division chair of humanities, social sciences, and mathematics, then was vice chancellor starting in 2008. She also has notable experience sitting on committees. Since 2008, she has sat on the Arkansas Rural Nursing Education Consortium Board, including presiding as chair on three separate occasions, and has served on the Arkansas Community Colleges Board. She received her M.S.E. in Business Education at the University of Central Arkansas. Prior to that, she earned a bachelor’s degree at Harding University and an associate’s degree at Arkansas State University-Beebe.
Chancellor Margaret Ellibee
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
Dr. Margaret A. Ellibee began her tenure at University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College on August 16, 2012. She has served as Vice President for Strategic Effectiveness and Advancement at Waukesha County Technical College in Waukesha, Wisconsin from 2007 until 2012. Previously, she served as State Director for Career and Technical Education with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and was Coordinator for Innovative Programming and Research at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
Chancellor Phillip Wilson
University of Arkansas Rich Mountain
Dr. Phillip Wilson, Ed.D., became chancellor at UA-Rich Mountain in 2011 after having served in several other academic and administrative roles at the college. He graduated high school in nearby Oden and earned a Political Science degree from Hendrix College. He worked in the private technical sector in Dallas after college before moving to Mena to join the faculty at UA-Rich Mountain. Dr. Wilson earned MBA and doctorate degrees in higher education from the University of Arkansas.
Other Units
Director Corey Alderdice
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Corey Alderdice became director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts on July 1, 2012. He previously served as assistant director for admissions and public relations at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Bowling Green, Ky.
Director Cheryl P. May
Dr. Cheryl P. May has served as director of the Criminal Justice Institute since 2009. She has 29 years experience as a forensic professional having previously served as deputy director, assistant director and program manager at CJI.
Director George Sabo
Dr. George Sabo III, a professor of anthropology and environmental dynamics at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, became director of the Arkansas Archeological Survey on July 1, 2013. Sabo has served as the AAS research station archeologist at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, since 1979.
Vice President Mark J. Cochran
Dr. Mark Cochran was appointed vice president for agriculture of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture on January 4, 2011. He is responsible for leading the university’s coordinated agriculture program including the Cooperative Extension Service and the Agriculture Experiment Station.
Dean James L. “Skip” Rutherford III
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
Skip Rutherford has served as dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service since 2006. Prior to joining the Clinton School, Rutherford was executive vice president of Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, one of the region’s largest communications firms. From 1997 until it opened in 2004, Rutherford also supervised the planning for the Clinton Presidential Library.
Executive Director Marta Loyd
Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
Marta M. Loyd, Ed.D., joined the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute in February 2014. She served the previous 12 years as vice chancellor for university advancement at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and as executive director of the UA-Fort Smith Foundation Inc.