Arkansas higher ed search committee narrows to three choices

A search committee looking for a new Arkansas Department of Higher Education director selected three candidates Monday for interviews.

According to an ADHE press release, the committee on July 26 will interview Maria Markham, vice chancellor for academic services at Cossatot Community College; MacGregor Stephenson, former deputy chief of staff to Texas Governor Rick Perry; and John Townsend, associate vice chancellor of workforce development for Tennessee’s board of regents.

The current ADHE director, Dr. Brett Powell, is leaving his post July 29 to become Henderson State University’s vice president for finance and administration. Ann Clemmer, the ADHE’s senior associate director for academic affairs and a former state legislator, is slated to serve as interim director.