A University of Arkansas - Fort Smith dean has accepted the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla.
Dr. Mark Arant of Muldrow has been the dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at UAFS since July 2008 and has also served as the interim dean of the College of Education since July 2013. He will assume his new role in Tahlequah on July 1.
Arant has presided over extensive growth in the STEM College, including increases in graduation rates by 100 percent, in new majors by 38 percent, in student credit hour production by 15 percent, in faculty by 8 percent and in scholarly production by 50 percent.
He established the STEM College Advancement Council and STEM’s Strategic, Advancement, Marketing, Recruiting and Master plans. He has introduced new curricula for STEM and presided over a distance program where the Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology is offered to community colleges in Eastern Arkansas, growing from two students in 2008 to 30 currently.
Arant has also initiated international and national studies courses in STEM and overseen curriculum revisions for the College of Education. He has been active in serving in leadership roles on numerous UAFS committees.
Arant said he has enjoyed his time at UAFS but is looking forward to new challenges.
“My debt to the UAFS family is great,” said Arant. “They have made indelible impressions on me, and it has been a great honor to serve them. UAFS is a special place whose brightest days remain ahead.”
Dr. Paul B. Beran spoke highly of Arant’s contributions to UAFS.
“Mark Arant has been an asset to UAFS and will be missed,” said Beran. “The areas he has overseen have been important ones as we became a regional university, and we know he will go forward to serve NSU well.”
Dr. Ray Wallace, provost and senior vice chancellor, said Arant has been an asset on his Dean’s Council.
“Mark Arant will do a fine job as provost for NSU,” said Wallace. “He is smart and fully aware of the various costituents, both internal and external, shaping a university of this caliber.”
Arant previously held several positions at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., and a doctorate from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. In June 2010 he completed the Institute for Management and Leadership Program in Higher Education at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.