Following a nationwide search, Dr. Todd Shields has been appointed as the next chancellor of Arkansas State University, ASU System President Dr. Charles Welch announced Monday afternoon. Shields was named as one of four finalists for the chancellor position back in June.
Dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville since 2014, Shields will officially take over as chancellor at ASU in August 2022, and will be introduced on campus later this month.
“I believe that the hiring of Todd Shields will prove to be a truly transformational moment for our university,” Welch said in an official statement. “He has an extraordinary track record in fostering student success, securing external funds, and managing large, complex academic units. These experiences, combined with his strong reputation and connections statewide, are precisely why the Chancellor Search Advisory Committee recommended his hiring to me. Dr. Shields outlined an exciting vision for our university in areas of community engagement and development, fundraising, academic programming and research. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and I cannot wait for our university community to get to know Todd and Karen.”
Following the announcement of former ASU Chancellor Kelly Damphousse’s resignation back in March, a Chancellor Search Advisory Committee of 22 individuals representing faculty, staff, students and community leaders reviewed 44 applicants for the position. After conducting formal interviews with four finalists, the committee recommended Shields.
“I am honored and thrilled to accept the position of chancellor at Arkansas State University,” said Shields. “After talking with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members, the opportunities at Arkansas State are obvious and exciting,” Shields said. “My family and I are deeply committed to the mission of Arkansas State, and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the A-State family. After seeing the many opportunities, new relationships, and potential partnerships in Jonesboro, Northeast Arkansas, and across the university, we are eager to help serve the campus, the community, expand collaborations, and help Arkansas State University grow into an even brighter future. My wife and I are deeply honored to join the Red Wolves.”
Fulbright College is the largest college at U of A, and includes some of the institution’s hallmark programs. Managing $80 million in general budget plus a research budget of approximately $18 million, Shields had oversight for more than 650 full-time faculty and instructors and more than 700 teaching and research assistants as the Fulbright dean.
Shields began his academic career as an assistant professor in political science at Arkansas in 1994, promoting to associate professor in 1999. He joined the Fulbright Institute as its associate director in 2000, and in 2005 became a full professor in political science. For seven years, he also concurrently chaired the political science department at UA.
Concurrent with his time at the Clinton School, Shields was first appointed interim dean in 2010-11, then permanent dean of GSIE the following academic year. Along with the graduate school, he also supervised international students, study abroad and sponsored programs on the UA campus.
In 2014, Shields was named interim Fulbright dean, then the permanent dean in July 2014 where he led the college until departing UA to become chancellor at A-State. Fulbright College’s three schools, 16 academic departments and 10 research centers span 30 academic programs.
Shields earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1990 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He continued his education at the University of Kentucky where he received his Master of Arts in political science in 1991 and his Ph.D. in 1994. In addition, Shields participated in Ohio State University’s Summer Institute in Political Psychology in 1993 and Harvard University’s Management Development Program in Higher Education in the summer of 2006.
He and his wife, Karen, have two adult children, Savvy and Dane.
Shields’ first official day at Arkansas State as chancellor will be August 15, 2022, and his annual salary will be $450,000.
Image courtesy of Arkansas State University
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