LITTLE ROCK (April 16, 2026) – The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas today approved the selection of Derek McDowell, Ph.D., director of secondary academics for the Amarillo (Texas) Independent School District, as the next executive director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & the Arts (ASMSA).

The UA Board approved University of Arkansas System President Jay B. Silveria’s recommendation of McDowell during a specially called meeting today held virtually and in-person at the UA System – Cammack Campus.

“Dr. McDowell’s background is a unique mix of Ph.D.-level research and executive K-12 leadership — both of which will serve him well among some of the brightest high school students our state has to offer,” Silveria said. “But most importantly, he will be a great fit to lead ASMSA’s efforts on campus, in the community, and throughout the state as our only residential high school. That says a lot considering how impressive the talent was among candidates and especially the other finalists. I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Michael Moore and the advisory search committee for completing a successful search process.”

Finalists were selected in March with the help of a 12-member advisory search committee chaired by Michael Moore, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs for the University of Arkansas System, which advised UA System President Jay B. Silveria as he sought a candidate to recommend to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval. Three finalists visited campus in the last monty for meetings with faculty, staff, administrators, students and various ASMSA stakeholders.

McDowell, who is expected to begin at ASMSA July 1, is currently director of secondary academics for the Amarillo (Texas) Independent School District, where his main goal is to provide vision, strategy and leadership to improve secondary student outcomes. He’s previously worked as secondary science curriculum coordinator for the Frisco (Texas) Independent School District. He currently serves on the National Science Education Leadership Association Board of Directors, and also was the regional coordinator for the Academic Decathlon in North Texas for nearly a decade. McDowell, a native Arkansan from Corning,  earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and chemistry from Lyon College, a master’s degree in education from Lamar University and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Rice University.

“I’m just very grateful to the UA System, to ASMSA and to the UA Board for this opportunity to return to my home state and give back to students where I got my start,” McDowell said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know and becoming part of the gifted team of faculty and staff at ASMSA to continue identifying innovative pathways and partnerships to develop our exceptionally talented students in Arkansas.”

More information about the search can be found at the ASMSA Director Search webpage.

Previous ASMSA Chancellor Search News:

• Finalists Selected in ASMSA Executive Director Search
• Flynn Named Interim Exeuctive Director at ASMSA
• Advisory Search Committee Announced for ASMSA Executive Director
• ASMSA Director to Step Down After 13 After 13 Years

About the University of Arkansas System (www.uasys.edu)
Since its inception, the University of Arkansas System has developed a tradition of excellence that includes the state’s 1871 flagship, land-grant research university; Arkansas’s premier institution for medical education, treatment and research; a major metropolitan university; an 1890 land-grant university; two regional universities serving southern and western Arkansas; eight community colleges; two schools of law; a presidential school; a residential math and science high school; and a 100 percent-online university and divisions of agriculture, archeology and criminal justice. As the premier higher education system in the state, it enrolls more than 70,000 students, employs more than 27,000 employees, and has a total budget of more than $4 billion. An intrinsic part of the texture and fabric of Arkansas, the UA System is a driving force in the state’s economic, educational and cultural advancement.