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Calvin Johnson to serve as interim chancellor of UAPB

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LITTLE ROCK – University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt has named Dr. Calvin Johnson to serve as the interim chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff beginning Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

Johnson will serve as interim chancellor while a national search is conducted to find a permanent replacement for Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., who will retire Friday, May 25. Johnson has said he will not be a candidate for the permanent position.

Johnson is former dean of the College of Education at UAPB and former chair of the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His career in education as a teacher and faculty member spans more than 30 years. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1998 to 2004 and is a current member of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a position he will resign before becoming interim chancellor.

“After consulting with campus and community leaders, I’m pleased that Dr. Calvin Johnson has agreed to serve as interim chancellor of UAPB,” Bobbitt said. “Calvin has vast experience in higher education and is a strong leader in the Pine Bluff community. I believe he has the right combination of experience and knowledge of the university to serve in this capacity, and I look forward to working with him.”

Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture education at UAPB and a master’s degree in counselor education from the University of Central Arkansas. He completed his Ph.D. degree in adult education and public school administration at Kansas State University.

“As a graduate of UAPB and having served on the faculty for almost 20 years, I have a firm understanding of the important role the university plays in our community and state,” Johnson said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to serve in this capacity and help bridge the transition to a new chancellor.”

Bobbitt has met with the UAPB Faculty and Staff Senate, campus administrators, and state and local leaders about the search for a new chancellor. He plans to convene an advisory committee to assist in the process with the goal of having a permanent chancellor in place by July 1, 2013.