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 Charles Robinson
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Dr. Charles Robinson was named interim chancellor on Aug. 9, 2021 and permanent chancellor on Nov. 16, 2022. He previously led the UA, Fayetteville campus’s academic enterprise in addition to the 25 departments that comprise the Division of Student Affairs. He has served as provost since July 2020 and as vice chancellor of student affairs since 2015.
Robinson’s time at the U of A spans more than 20 years, beginning as an assistant professor of history. Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Houston, a master’s degree in history from Rice University, and a doctorate in history from the University of Houston. A full bio can be found here.
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.
Interim Chancellor Lowry Barnes, M.D.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Lowry Barnes, M.D., took over as interim chancellor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on July 11, 2025 while serving as professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Barnes is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in joint reconstruction and replacement surgery of the hip and knee. He joined UAMS in 2014 as professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Barnes is founding director of The Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital at UAMS, a hospital located on UAMS’ Little Rock campus that brings world-class orthopaedic, spine and pain experts together under one roof to provide the best possible care focused on achieving the best possible results. The Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital opened in 2023.
Chancellor Peggy Doss
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Dr. Peggy Doss took over as chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Monticello on Jan. 1, 2020 after serving many years as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. She also served for a decade as dean of the School of Education and as vice chancellor for student affairs and university relations after working in public education as a teacher and administrator. Doss holds degrees from three UA System institutions.
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 Anthony Graham
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Dr. Anthony Graham took over as Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on July 1, 2025. Prior to his appointment at UAPB, Dr. Graham served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (2018–2023) and Interim Chancellor (2023–2024) at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Before these appointments, he was Dean of the College of Education and a tenured Full Professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where he advanced initiatives to increase teacher diversity and expand community engagement.
Chancellor Lindsay Bridgeman
University of Arkansas Grantham
Lindsay Bridgeman is chancellor of UA Grantham, which joined the UA System in November 2021. She is a seasoned leader with more than 20 years of higher education administrative experience in both private nonprofit and for-profit institutions. With specialized experience in student finance administration, Bridgeman has held critical roles with a variety of institutions, all of which were focused on enabling a positive student experience throughout the entire educational journey.
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 Ricky Tompkins
University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
Ricky Tompkins was named chancellor at UAHT in 2025. He earned a doctorate from UA Little Rock, a master’s degree from Henderson State University, and a bachelor’s degree from East Texas Baptist University. He is previously director of the Center for Student Success for Arkansas Community Colleges, vice president for learning and chief academic officer at Northwest Arkansas Community College, and director of the Institute for Corporate and Public Safety. He has taught on the college and university levels, published in academic and professional journals, and keynoted and presented at higher education meetings and conferences nationally.
Chancellor Brian Shonk
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
Dr. Brian Shonk was named chancellor at UACCB in 2021. He earned two associate degrees in criminal justice and electronics technology from Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University. He received a Master of Public Administration degree and a doctorate in education, curriculum and instruction from the University of West Florida.
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.
Chancellor Lisa Willenberg
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
Lisa Willenberg became chancellor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) on Nov. 1, 2019. Willenberg has served at UACCM for 27 years, starting as a general accountant and later becoming a vice chancellor in 2011. She earned her Masters of Education at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas. She also graduated from the College Business Management Institute at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Chancellor Summer DeProw
University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College
Summer DeProw, Ph.D., was named chancellor at UA-Pulaski Tech in January 2023. Previously she served as UA-PTC’s Provost and before arriving at UA-PTC, Dr. DeProw served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Assessment and Accreditation at Arkansas State University (A-State) in Jonesboro. She had been with A-State for six years and started as the Director of Assessment. She was promoted to Assistant Vice Chancellor after two years in the Director’s position.
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.
Chancellor Rick Massengale
University of Arkansas – North Arkansas College
Rick Massengale Sr. became University of Arkansas – North Arkansas College’s fifth president on Aug. 2, 2021. Massengale served as North Arkansas College’s vice president of academic and student affairs from 2019-2021. Before coming to Harrison, Massengale served Arkansas Tech University in Russellville as associate vice president for sponsored programs and university initiatives and as a professor of computer and information science. From 2008 to 2015, Massengale was a department chair and associate professor of computer and information science at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He earned a bachelor of science in computer science from Arkansas Tech University at the University Center in Fort Smith, Ark. Massengale earned a master of business administration from Webster University and a doctor of philosophy and applied science in applied computing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Other Units
Director Corey Alderdice
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Corey Alderdice has served as the director of ASMSA since 2012 and is the school’s longest-tenured executive administrator. During his time at ASMSA, Alderdice has advanced the school’s legislated arts mission, expanded statewide outreach programs, and continued a $35 million physical transformation of campus facilities. He was previously a founding administrator at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky.
Director Alicia D. Corder
Corder has served as director of the Criminal Justice Institute since April 1, 2026. She had most recently retired from nearly 23 years of service to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) where she was special agent in charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. She earned a law degree from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis and practiced law in that state prior to joining the FBI. Prior to Corder’s service at the Little Rock FBI Field Office, she served as the section chief for the internal affairs section at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw all allegations of misconduct concerning FBI employees. She began her FBI career in 2003 and worked in counterterrorism in the Sacramento (CA) and Los Angeles Field Offices through 2010, before moving to violent crime and white-collar crime in Modesto, CA until 2013.
Director Alex Barker
Dr. Alex Barker was named director in November 2021. He earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Marquette University, a master’s degree in anthropology from Wichita State University and a doctorate degree in anthropology from the University of Michigan. He most recently served for 14 years as director of the Museum of Art & Archaeology at the University of Missouri and was also vice president for collections and research and curator of North American Archaeology at the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Vice President Deacue Fields
Deacue Fields, Ph.D. was named Vice President in April 2022. Previously, he was dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at UA, Fayetteville since 2017. He is a former professor and chair of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Auburn University.
He was previously associate professor and coordinator of the Alabama Farm Analysis Program with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at Auburn for almost two years.
Dean Victoria M. DeFrancesco Soto
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Ph.D., was named dean in 2021. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Latin American studies at the University of Arizona and master’s and doctorate degrees in political science at Duke University. She previously served as assistant dean for civic engagement and a senior lecturer at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the UT. She is a contributor to MSNBC, Telemundo and NBCNews.com. She has also provided on-air analysis for PBS, CNN, Fox, Univision and NPR, as well as contributions to other national publications.
Executive Director Janet Harris
Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
Janet Harris was named executive director at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on April 1, 2022. She previously served at the the Institute as director of programs, followed by a promotion to chief programs and marketing officer in 2018 and as chief strategy officer.