The official blog for the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences

U of A Launches Dean Search for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

by | Aug 2, 2023 | Announcements, Dean's Corner, Features

The search for the next dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is underway. Dean of Libraries Jason Battles is chairing the search committee. 

“I was incredibly pleased to appoint Jason Battles as the chair of the search committee,” said Provost Terry Martin. “As Dean of Libraries, Jason has experience working with every academic unit on campus and is uniquely positioned to lead this search. His expertise will greatly benefit the search committee as they find the ideal candidate for our largest college on campus.”

The next dean of Fulbright College will raise the school’s national profile by recruiting top students, faculty and staff, by building strong relationships within the university and community, and by being a visionary leader who continues to build on the college’s tradition of being an inclusive program of arts and science education.

The dean of Fulbright College is an important member of the university’s leadership team and will possess a wide range of skills and competencies to support the university’s growth. The dean of Fulbright College plays a critical role in the university’s mission and serves as the chief executive officer of the college and reports to the provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

The search for the dean of Fulbright College is a national search. Individuals interested in the position can view the job description and apply here. Campus interviews will likely to be held in February 2024.

The search committee for the dean of Fulbright College includes the following members:

  • Jason Battles, dean of University Libraries, chair
  • Ana Bridges, professor of psychology, director of clinical training for the doctoral program in clinical psychology, and director of the Diversity Research and Enhanced Access for Minorities (DREAM) Lab
  • Abe Khan, assistant professor of communication
  • Jeff Murdock, professor of music education, director of choral studies, and founding director of the Arkansas Center for Black Music
  • David McNabb, associate dean for Fulbright College and professor of biology
  • Romona West, assistant dean of inclusive excellence and strategic initiatives for Fulbright College
  • Melody Kouchehbagh, senior director of development and external relations for Fulbright College
  • Simon Chua, senior assistant dean of finance and operations for Fulbright College
  • William “Lin” Oliver, department chair of physics
  • Bill Schreckhise, department chair of political science
  • Trish Starks, Distinguished Professor of history
  • Angela LaPorte, professor and director of the Art Education Program
  • Paula Prescott, HEI program coordinator
  • Susan Hall, University of Arkansas alumni
  • Martha Guirl-Phillips (support), executive assistant to the dean of University Libraries

To learn more about this position and the search process, visit the Fulbright College dean search website.

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with three schools, 16 departments and numerous academic programs and research centers. The college provides the majority of the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students. Get the inside scoop on all things Fulbright College by subscribing to the digital Fulbright REVIEW publication.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.