Meet the Chancellor

Dr. Terisa C. Riley has served as chancellor of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith since July 1, 2019.

An experienced higher education administrator, Dr. Riley spent more than 30 years serving in virtually every facet of higher education from academics to administration before taking the helm at UAFS. Most recently she served for 12 years as senior vice president at Texas A&M University – Kingsville. She has also held positions as chief student affairs officer, chief financial officer, chief administrator, and chief enrollment management officer. She has held faculty rank in higher education administration graduate programs at Saint Louis University and the University of South Dakota.

As a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Riley values public universities’ missions to provide excellent and affordable educational opportunities. She is deeply committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive campus environment where students and employees feel valued, welcomed, and supported.

She is dedicated to serving her community, currently serving on the board of directors of the Fort Smith Regional and Van Buren chambers of commerce, and the Fort Smith United Way as well as the Fort Smith Regional Council, Arvest Bank Board, and chair of the U.S. Marshals Museum Board. She also serves on the Arkansas Division of Higher Education Executive Council and as chair of the University of Arkansas System Workday Steering Committee. 

Dr. Riley earned her bachelor’s degree in communication and master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Missouri at Columbia and her doctorate in higher education administration and research methodology from Saint Louis University. She is also a graduate of the National Police Institute and the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Riley's CV is available here