Following the visits and further evaluation, Dr. Les Wyatt, president, will recommend one of the individuals to the ASU Board of Trustees for appointment as chancellor.

Dr. Glen Jones, chair of the committee, commented that he was particularly pleased with the slate of finalists that the committee is recommending for visits and further consideration.

"The committee’s charge was to develop a list of four to six candidates who we could recommend to Dr. Wyatt," Dr. Jones said. "The committee members have worked hard to identify prospective candidates and to closely evaluate each individual’s credentials, experience and potential. The committee has excelled, given the outstanding quality of the pool of finalists selected. Committee members believe that every one of these individuals demonstrates a record that suggests each would be a very fine leader for Arkansas State University."

Jones also expressed his appreciation to the search committee members for "working diligently to identify, recruit, and review the many prospects for this position." In addition to their many hours of work, he thanked them for their wisdom and guidance.

The Board of Trustees voted in December of last year to create the position of chancellor to serve as chief executive of the Jonesboro campus. They asked Dr. Wyatt to give his full-time attention to serving as president of the entire system of ASU campuses, located in Jonesboro, Beebe, Mountain Home, Newport, Searcy, Heber Springs and Marked Tree. Chancellors of the various campuses report to Dr. Wyatt.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 26, in Jonesboro.

# # #

Those selected by the search committee as finalists for the position of chancellor of the ASU-Jonesboro campus, are (in alphabetical order):

• Dr. John M. Dunn, provost and vice chancellor at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

• Dr. John W. Folkins, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

• Dr. Kaylene A. Gebert, executive vice president and provost at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

• Dr. Thomas K. Harden, president of Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga.

• Dr. Norval F. Pohl, immediate past president of the University of North Texas in Denton.

Additional highlights and background about each candidate:

Dr. John M. Dunn
Current Position:
Provost and Vice Chancellor
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, Ill.

Dr. Dunn has served in this position since 2002. He serves as the university’s chief academic officer with oversight for the university’s nine academic colleges, Morris Library, SIU Press, Clinical Center, Public Policy Institute, Enrollment Management, and continuing education. He also serves as senior officer to the chancellor.

His previous position was dean of the College of Health and professor of exercise and sport science at the University of Utah from 1995 until 2002.

Dunn earned his doctorate in education from Brigham Young University, with a major in physical education. His master’s and bachelor’s degrees are from Northern Illinois University in physical education.

Dr. John W. Folkins
Current Position:
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, Ohio

Dr. Folkins has served in his current position since May 2000. He is responsible for administrative leadership in all academic programs and services. As provost, his responsibility includes translating the University's core values into action within a framework of priorities set by the University community. Under his leadership as chief academic officer, the university developed The Academic Plan in 2003.

His previous position was associate provost for undergraduate education at the University of Iowa, from 1997 to 2000.

Folkins earned his doctoral degree through the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of Washington, and his master’s and bachelor’s degrees through the Department of Speech at University of Redlands in California.

Dr. Kaylene A. Gebert
Current Position:
Executive Vice President and Provost
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Dr. Gebert has served in her current position since March 2003. She serves as chief academic officer of the university and provides campus-wide leadership. Her primary duties involve integrated strategic planning, academic budget management, academic policy development, implementation and evaluation, program assessment, and faculty affairs. She is also responsible for administrative oversight of the research activities, the library, enrollment management initiatives, and chairs of excellence program.

Her previous position was provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Alabama from 1999 until 2003.

Gebert earned a Ph.D. in historical and contemporary communication at Indiana University, a master of arts in theatre production from Cornell University, and bachelor of arts with majors in English and speech-drama from Hanover College.

Dr. Thomas K. Harden
Current Position:
President
Clayton State University
Morrow, Ga. (Atlanta metro)

Dr. Harden serves as chief executive officer, chair of the faculty, professor, and administrative head of the university. He has been president since June 2000. He oversees and directs the institution’s strategic planning, including budget planning, and completion of the annual financial plan. As chair of the faculty, he maintains an active leadership role in the development of academic programs, polices and faculty development.

His previous position was dean of the College of Technology and professor at Eastern Michigan University from 1993-2000.

Harden earned his doctoral degree in adult/technical education, curriculum and instruction, and educational administration from the University of Cincinnati. His master’s degree is in educational administration from the University of Dayton, and his bachelor’s degree in industrial education is from Miami University of Ohio.

Dr. Norval F. Pohl
Most Recent Position:
President
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas

Dr. Pohl was president from 2000 until this month. While at UNT he led in the development of themes for the university’s strategic planning process, an 18-month effort that involved more than 200 faculty and staff. The plan embraces broad goals based on Vision 2015, a blueprint for the future. He also initiated a four-year project to decentralize the budgeting process, led in the effort to acquire a former manufacturing facility for development as a research park, and directed development of a proposal to establish a College of Engineering.

His previous position was provost and executive vice president of the University of North Texas from 1999-2000.

Pohl earned a Ph.D. in quantitative systems from Arizona State University, and a master of business administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University in Fresno.

Dr. Robert L. Potts
Most Recent Position:
Chancellor
North Dakota University System
Office in Bismarck, N.D.

Dr. Potts was chancellor of the North Dakota University System from 2004 until earlier this month. He was chief executive officer for the 11-campus university system, which serves approximately 42,000 students and a biennial operating budget of approximately $1.5 billion. The chancellor’s office supports the State Board of Higher Education in developing public policy for the system’s governance.

Previously he served as president of the University of North Alabama from January 1990 to June 2004.

Potts earned a master of laws degree from Harvard, a juris doctor degree from the University of Alabama, and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tenn.