PINE BLUFF, Ark. — On Monday, a new interim chancellor for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) was announced by University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt.
Dr. Andrea Stewart, who currently serves as provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, will assume the role on July 1 until a new permanent chancellor is named.
This makes Dr. Stewart the 2nd woman to lead the university on an interim basis.
Chancellor Laurence B. Alexander will leave UAPB at the end of June to become chancellor of the University of Michigan-Flint after eleven years of service in Arkansas.
“I am pleased that Dr. Stewart has accepted this appointment as we embark upon the comprehensive search for the next chancellor,” Dr. Bobbitt said. “While I hope we can complete the search expeditiously, I feel it is much more important that we work carefully to find the right person for this critical position. Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Stewart, we have the opportunity to be deliberative and strategic in our work.”
Dr. Stewart received a doctorate in social work from Howard University, a master’s degree in social work, and a bachelor’s in sociology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. From 2013 to 2022 she also served as the dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the interim chancellor of UAPB and thank Dr. Bobbitt for this tremendous opportunity,” Dr. Stewart said. “This institution holds a rich legacy of academic excellence and community impact, and I am committed to advancing its mission during this transitional period.”
A Chancellor’s Search Committee is in the process of being established to help advise President Bobbitt and the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees while they identify and interview finalists.
“Their insights will be invaluable as we identify, evaluate, and ultimately appoint the next chancellor who will guide UAPB into its next chapter of growth and success," he added.
