Search for Honors Dean to Continue

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -Bob Smith, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, announced today that the search for a dean to head the honors college will continue. He expressed his thanks to the search committee that has served thus far and named a new committee to take up the charge.

"I want to express my gratitude, and think I can extend that from thanks from the entire campus, to the search committee that has worked so diligently," Smith said.

"Members of that committee have conducted two thorough searches that have not resulted in a hire. At this point, the institution has not lost its resolve to find the right person for this job, but the committee members deserve our thanks and the opportunity to return more fully to the numerous other responsibilities they have here at the University of Arkansas."

The Honors College was established in 2002 with support from the $300 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation of Bentonville, Ark. The Honors College is designed to serve high achieving Arkansas students who might otherwise enroll at out-of-state colleges and universities with attractive scholarship programs, and to attract extremely talented students from across the nation.

An initial search for a dean in spring 2004 did not result in a hire. The second search yielded four finalists. Of those, John Foley from the University of Missouri-Columbia, was offered the position as dean of the Honors College.

Foley is a full professor in the departments of classical studies and English and an adjunct full professor of anthropology and of Germanic and Slavic languages at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He also holds two endowed positions: the William H. Byler Endowed Chair in the Humanities and a Curators' Professorship.

"John received wonderful reviews from the search committee, and we believed we had found a fit for the position of dean of the Honors College," Smith said. "Unfortunately for the U of A, John was a highly valued member of the faculty at the University of Missouri and received a counteroffer he could not refuse."

In an e-mail to Smith, Foley wrote, "Everyone we met was so talented, committed and kind, and I am especially sorry that I will not have the opportunity to work with and learn from you. From my perspective the search was conducted with unmatched professionalism and grace, from the initial interview through the campus visit and the subsequent contacts."

The newly appointed search committee will consist of the following chair and members:

Don Bobbitt, dean and professor of chemistry & biochemistry, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences, chair; Dennis Brewer, professor of mathematics and associate vice provost for Research; Sue Borrego, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and dean of students; Bill Curington, professor of economics and associate dean, Walton College of Business; Curt Rom, professor of horticulture and president of the Teaching Academy; Fiona Davidson, associate professor of geography; Kevin Hall, professor of civil engineering; Jean Jones, Sturgis, Gates Millennium Scholar, English (with interests in education); Andrew Kincannon, Honors College fellow, engineering; Charles Riggs, professor of kinesiology, College of Education & Health Professions; Daniel Levine, professor, chairman of Classical Studies program, and co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center; Suzanne McCray, associate dean, Honors College; Gail Moore, executive assistant to the Chancellor, ex officio; Catherine St. Clair, Bodenhamer fellow, Sam M. Walton College of Business; Juana Young, associate dean, Libraries; Charles Robinson, associate professor of history & director of the African American Studies Program.