Search continues

The University of Central Arkansas Presidential Search Committee made no decisions in its first meeting since the death of committee co-chairman and former UCA President Dr. Jeff Farris on Jan. 16.

Jack Gillean, who said he would act as interim chair "for this meeting only" as second co-chair Dr. Jerry Manion was not present, said that 12 applications for the position have been accepted and three potential presidents have been nominated.

The issue of who will be the next committee chairperson or co-chairs will be visited at a later meeting.

By March 1, Gillean said, the committee should be in the process of narrowing the 15 down to a few recommendations to be submitted to the UCA Board of Trustees, which has the final say on who UCA's next president will be. The next committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16.

Though the committee has recently paid the Chronicle of Higher Education almost $10,000 on a three-week advertisement for the position and more applications will be accepted, the list of applicants and nominees so far is as follows:

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Dr. Chris Sliwa, of Fayetteville, N.C.

Sliwa is currently an associate professor of Spanish at Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, N.C.), adviser and charter fellow of Advisory Directorate International, and vice-chair of The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Assessment Committee.

Dr. Joe Olander of Johns Creek, Ga.

Olander is currently president of The Scholar Ship, an actual ship that, until recently, offered undergraduate and postgraduate programs on semester-long global voyages. He has also worked as president of South Ocean International University in Beijing.

Tim Avants of Duba, Saudi Arabia.

Avants is currently director of the Ministry of Higher Education's Foundation Unit at Sultan University. He is working on a Doctor of Education degree through Argosy University.

Dr. Terry P. Dixon of Cumming, Ga.

Dixon is currently provost and chief academic officer at American Intercontinental University in Buckhead, Ga. He has previously served as vice president for academic affairs at Troy State University's Montgomery, Ala. campus.

Dr. William A. Kritsonis of Houston, Texas.

Kritsonis is currently a professor at Prairie View A and M University teaching leadership, school law/administration, education theory and ethics courses. He has also worked as superintendent of the Preston Community School District in Preston, Iowa, and as principal in two other Iowa school districts.

Dr. Terry Hitchcock of Prior Lake, Minn.

Hitchcock is currently chairman/CEO of Everyday Hero Every Day Inc. Hitchcock has worked as a professor at several colleges and universities and as president of Hyperport International and EdView Inc.

Dr. E. Andrew Balas of Virginia Beach, Va.

Balas is currently dean of the College of Health Sciences at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. He has worked as a congressional fellow for the U.S. Senate Public Health and Safety Subcommittee under the Clinton administration and is an active marathon runner.

Dr. Brad Bartel of Durango, Colo.

Bartel is currently president of Fort Lewis College in Durango and has worked as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has also been involved with more than two dozen archaeological digs and surveys.

Dr. Rodger A. Bates of Fayetteville, Ga.

Bates is currently dean of the Clayton State University's College of Professional Studies. He has worked as president of New Mexico State University and provost, dean of faculty and professor of sociology at the Richard Bland College of the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Dr. Mark L. Brown Sr. of Ooltewah, Tenn.

Brown is currently chief financial officer and chief development officer at Tennessee Temple University. He was the founder/CEO of Brown's Vanguard Insurance Agency Inc. and served in the United States Army's 20th Special Forces Group, Airborne.

Dr. James A. Johnson of Parkersburg, W.Va.

Johnson is currently president of Ohio Valley University. He has worked as senior vice-president of university advancement, director of external affairs and associate dean of students at Lubbock Christian University and as CEO of The Ethos Leadership Group Inc. He was also on former President George H. Bush's 1988 campaign writing staff.

Dr. Alan G. Phillips of Bloomington, Ill.

Phillips has worked as executive director of the Spoon River College Foundation and executive director of institutional advancement at Spoon River College. He has also worked as vice president for advancement at Lincoln College's Lincoln, Neb. campus.

Nominees

Conway native Ray Simon has been nominated by Dr. Terry Fiddler, also of Conway. Simon has worked as deputy U.S. education secretary and is a former Conway School District superintendent.

Dr. Allen C. Meadors, currently chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, has been nominated by Roger G. Brown, chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Dr. John L. Crain, currently interim president of Southeast Louisiana University, has been nominated by UCA associate professor of business law Roy Whitehead.

(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)