Bain, who joined the university 32 years ago, most recently served as dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. She replaces Dr. Drale, who was interim executive vice chancellor and provost before being appointed chancellor in September by University of Arkansas System President Dr. Donald Bobbitt.

As provost, Bain is the senior academic administrator who oversees curricular, instructional, and research affairs.

“I’m honored to have been selected for this position and look forward to working with our new leader, Chancellor Drale, the leadership teams, our faculty, staff, and students,” said Bain. “I recognize that I am accepting this position at a challenging time in the history of this university, but with challenging times comes great opportunity.”

In her new role, she will focus on strengthening the university’s connection to the Little Rock community and expanding community engagement and collaboration; expanding student support to enable greater student success; and helping to reshape the university to meet the needs of Little Rock and Arkansas.

Read more at University News.

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After spending four years at Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (PARK) ultimately serving as a Program Director, Charnley Conway began his work in higher education at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock as a recruitment coordinator.  He was responsible for encouraging students from central, eastern, and south Arkansas to continue their educational pursuits at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. 

Conway has more than 12 years of experience in admissions, recruitment, advising, retention, academic success, diversity and inclusion, and networking. 

Prior to returning to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s campus, Conway served as the Assistant Director of Academic Success at Hendrix College. During his time at Hendrix, he coordinated the peer learning program, closely worked with first-generation college students, served on the early alert and retention committee, and assisted students to help them excel academically.

Conway is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), the Association for Coaching and Tutoring Profession (ACTP), and is a board member of the Conway Area Youth Leadership Institute (CAYLI).

Conway holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Philander Smith College and a master’s degree in Adult Education with an emphasis in Learning Systems Technology from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock.

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After a competitive internal search, Dr. Estes was selected to lead the college that forms the liberal arts core of our university. Dr. Estes has served in the role of interim dean for the last year and brings to the position a continuing commitment to advance the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock vision of providing excellent teaching, research, and community partnerships.

Dr. Estes served as associate dean both in the former College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and in the College of Social Sciences and Communication at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. In the latter role she focused on supporting research, engagement, and interdisciplinary programs. In 2017, Dr. Estes became the associate provost of Community, Careers and Extended Education, formerly known as the Community Connection Center. In this role, she launched the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Extended Education office that now offers non-credit courses in six areas and brought the “handshake” job recruiting platform to campus. Dr. Estes served on the Faculty Senate from 2007 to 2013, the last two years as vice president.

For much of her time at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock, Dr. Estes has been devoted to collaborative initiatives in a wide variety of areas. Of particular importance to her role as dean, Dr. Estes has worked to support curricular innovation including high-impact learning opportunities, career connections, and interdisciplinary education. Her work as the faculty liaison during academic restructuring, and more recently her membership on the Institutional Effectiveness Committee have given her detailed insight to the workings of college administration. The knowledge she has accumulated from her diverse service and administrative roles give her a reliable toolbox of successful strategies for leading a diverse college.

Dr. Estes received her M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology (cum laude) from Hendrix College. She served as an assistant professor in sociology at the University of Cincinnati before coming to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2006 to join the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and to serve as coordinator of the gender studies minor. In 2014 she was named Faculty Member of the Year through the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Government Association Student Choice Awards.

I am delighted to have someone with Dr. Estes’ experience joining the leadership team. Her commitment to student success, to community engagement, and to the value of a liberal arts education will serve her well in providing inspired leadership as the dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. Please join me in congratulating Sarah Beth Estes on her appointment.

Christina Drale

Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

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After a competitive internal search, Dr. Berry was selected to lead our efforts in fulfilling our research mission and enhancing graduate studies at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Berry has a wide range of experience in both research and graduate education that has prepared him well for his new role.

Brian has served as Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Chemistry, Director of the interdisciplinary Applied Science Program, and Chair of the Faculty Senate’s Graduate Council. In research, he has been a principal investigator or co-PI on a number of sponsored research projects totaling nearly $1.5 million. His administrative experience beyond these roles includes three years as Chair of the Department of Chemistry where he led his faculty in several student success initiatives while continuing to mentor many students who have since become accomplished scientists and educators.

Over the last several years, Dr. Berry has also been very active in critical institutional level initiatives. These include serving first as a member and then as the faculty co-chair of the Higher Learning Commission Steering Team (our institutional accreditation leaders), serving as a member and now co-chair of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee, and previously serving as a member of the Strategic Planning Task Force, the Faculty Workload Task Force, and the Task Force on Program Coordination. These experiences have given Brian a deep insight into higher education issues in general, and the importance of mission-based planning in particular.

Dr. Berry received his Ph.D. in Applied Science/Chemistry from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, also from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock. He completed a postdoc at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a National Research Council postdoc fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) before returning to ����Vlog��ý Little Rock as an assistant professor in 2008. Dr. Berry has 28 publications in well-respected peer-reviewed journals, and he won the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching in 2014.

I am confident that Dr. Berry’s broad experience in research and graduate studies, combined with his comprehensive institutional perspective, will enable him to provide excellent leadership as our new Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. Please join me in congratulating Brian on his appointment.

Christy Drale

Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

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