LITTLE ROCK (Thursday, March 13, 2025) — Two new members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas have been appointed, its officers have been elected, and the various committees of the body have taken shape for the 2024-25 cycle.  

The UA Board elected new officers at its Jan. 29-30 regularly scheduled meeting at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and Kelly Eichler will serve a second consecutive term as chairman of the 10-member board during the upcoming year. 

Two new members of the UA Board have also recently been appointed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, including Randy Lawson, of Bentonville, and Judd Deere, of Little Rock.  

Lawson’s appointment came March 7 to fill the seat of the late Tommy Boyer, who passed away in February, and his term runs through March 1, 2027. Deere’s appointment, announced March 12, fills the opening left by the end of Sheffield Nelson’s 10-year appointment. Nelson was honored at the UA Board’s March 10 regularly scheduled meeting at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), his last meeting.  

Eichler, other officers, and the members of a new slate of Board committees appointed by the chairman for 2024-25 officially began their roles March 1. 

In addition to Eichler being elected as chairman, the trustees voted for Steve Cox to serve as vice chairman; Ed Fryar to serve as secretary; and Kevin Crass to serve as assistant secretary. The election was announced following an executive session at the Jan. 29-30 meetings at UALR. 

Eichler also previously served as chairman during the ninth year of her decade-long term as a trustee. Trustees are appointed to 10-year terms by the governor.  

“Trustee Nelson was a thoughtful and deliberate contributor to our Board during his service, and we’ll miss his many contributions and the leadership he provided,” Eichler said. “I’m extremely excited about the new appointments of Randy Lawson and Judd Deere to our Board and look forward to working with both alongside the unique perspectives of our existing Trustees of the University of Arkansas. I’m optimistic about the year ahead as we approach and deliberate the various issues facing the state’s largest higher education system.” 

Under the umbrella of the UA Board are eight committees in which members are chosen under the discretion of the board chairman. Eichler and the office of UA System President Jay B. Silveria recently finalized those committees, which are listed below: 

UA Board Committees Effective March 1, 2025: 

STANDING COMMITTEES (Meets every Board meeting) 

ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS 

Ed Fryar, Chair 

Steve Cox 

Jeremy Wilson 

UA System Liaison: Ben Beaumont 

AUDIT AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY 

Scott Ford, Chair 

Ted Dickey 

Ed Fryar 

Jeremy Wilson 

UA System Liaison: Tara Smith 

JOINT HOSPITAL 

Kevin Crass, Chair 

Scott Ford 

Ed Fryar 

Jeremy Wilson 

UA System Liaison: Melissa Rust 

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS 

Nate Todd, Chair 

Steve Cox 

Ted Dickey 

UA System Liaison: Jay Silveria 

SELECT COMMITTEES (Meets as needed) 

AGRICULTURE 

Steve Cox, Chair 

Ted Dickey 

DISTANCE EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY 

Ed Fryar, Chair 

Nate Todd 

Jeremy Wilson  

ATHLETICS 

Ted Dickey, Chair 

Kevin Crass 

Ed Fryar 

TWO-YEAR COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS 

Nate Todd, Chair 

Kevin Crass 

Jeremy Wilson