UA-Fort Smith Names Beran New Chancellor

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith announced on April 25 that Paul Beran has been hired as the university’s new chancellor.

Beran’s first official day at the campus will be July 1. He was the president of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, which has campuses at Alva, Enid and Woodward.

Beran addressed the economic standing of Fort Smith, saying that even though there’s uncertainty, he feels that the city is looking forward and not backward regarding economic vitality.

Beran said he will become involved with the community and try to increase the economic infrastructure of the city.

“First thing I plan to do is do a lot of listening, both inside the institution and outside the institution,” he said, adding that he will work closely with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce along with other workforce organizations to increase economic development.

Beran was selected from three finalists including UAFS interim chancellor Sandi Sanders, who took over after Chancellor Joel Stubblefield died in October.

Before taking over as interim chancellor, Sanders was senior vice chancellor and chief of staff at UAFS. Rodger Bates, executive officer of New Mexico State University at Alamogordo, was the other finalist for the position.

University of Arkansas System President B. Alan Sugg recommended Beran for the job on April 24, and the UA System board of trustees voted to elect him as the new chancellor in a closed session the next day.

“He is a very effective leader, and he understands the importance of the climate on campus, so that teaching and learning can be highly successful,” Sugg said in a news release.

Beran will be paid a salary of $160,000 his first year. That compares with $154,500 that Stubblefield received last year and $250,350 that John A. White was paid last year as chancellor of the UA’s main campus in Fayetteville.

Beran earned $146,000 last year as president of Northwestern Oklahoma State.