Velmer Burton named new 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provost
Velmer Burton
A new academic leader will soon bring the University of Arkansas at Little Rock closer to its goal of preparing students for success in the 21st century workforce.聽Dr. Velmer Burton Jr. is set to become 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 executive vice chancellor and provost on July 1.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to have Dr. Burton join our leadership team,鈥� said 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. 鈥淗e is extremely well qualified to help 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock grow into a transformative university that drives economic development in central Arkansas.鈥�
Burton, most recently the dean of the University of Mississippi School of Applied Sciences and a tenured professor, has nearly 30 years of faculty and administrative experience in higher education.
Previously, he was a special assistant to the senior vice president for system academic administration at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Burton also has a wide-ranging leadership background that includes stints as department head, graduate dean, and small campus chancellor at a variety of universities.
His experience leading student retention and graduation initiatives is a strong fit for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 goal of bolstering the regional economy by making higher education more affordable and accessible to central Arkansas students, Rogerson said.
鈥淒r. Burton鈥檚 talents and decades of academic experience have him well positioned to serve our students and faculty who are critical to our success and mission,鈥� Rogerson said.
Burton is ready for the opportunity.
“I’m delighted to accept the role of executive vice chancellor and provost at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and to join the faculty as a professor of criminal justice,鈥� Burton said. 鈥淐hancellor Rogerson鈥檚 leadership and vision for the university convinced me of the bright future that awaits the institution.
鈥淚 look forward to teaming-up with the talented faculty, academic administration and staff to equip students with the vital skills and knowledge necessary to make them successful.鈥�
Burton sees great things on the horizon for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the region.
鈥淒uring my campus visit, it became clear that the university has enormous potential and is poised to advance as a premier metropolitan and research university for the city of Little Rock and the state of Arkansas,” he said.
As a teacher-scholar, Burton taught courses in the areas of crime and justice, criminology, and research methods.
His scholarship involves testing theories of crime and community corrections and assessing the collateral consequences and legal restrictions placed on the rights of former offenders. Burton鈥檚 findings have been published in peer-reviewed journals, including 鈥淐riminology,鈥� 鈥淛ustice Quarterly,鈥� 鈥淛ournal of Quantitative Criminology,鈥� 鈥淛ournal of Research in Crime and Delinquency,鈥� 鈥淛ournal of Criminal Justice,鈥� and 鈥淔orensic Social Work.鈥�
Burton has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Cincinnati and an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania. He also earned a 2004 certificate for new presidents from Harvard University鈥檚 Graduate School of Education and holds bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Deborah Baldwin, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock associate provost of collections and archives and director of the Center for Arkansas History and Culture, agreed to serve as the interim provost and executive vice chancellor during the spring semester until the candidate search was complete.
鈥淲e appreciate Dr. Baldwin鈥檚 willingness to graciously lend her time and skills to serve a dual role during the spring semester, and we look forward to her continued excellent work with collections and archives and the Center for Arkansas History and Culture,鈥� Rogerson said.
