Ross promoted to associate vice chancellor at UAFS

Kendall Ross has been promoted to associate vice chancellor for economic and workforce development at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley told faculty and staff in an April 19 email that the University of Arkansas System has created a Workforce Action Plan, which will, when implemented, coordinate and strengthen workforce training and development in the state of Arkansas.

Those efforts will be mostly focused in non-credit training and in secondary career centers, the email said. As a result of this effort, Riley promoted Ross to his new position.

Ross has been employed as executive director for the UAFS Center for Economic Development, which is comprised of the Center for Business and Professional Development, Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center, and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.

According to the email, Ross will continue to serve in this capacity while representing workforce development and personally leading initiatives in the UA System Workforce Action Plan.

Ross, 59, will report directly to the chancellor and will have a seat on the Chancellor’s Cabinet. His promotion will bring his annual salary to $145,000 beginning July 1.

Ross has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in leadership from Hillsdale College. Before coming to UAFS, he was an engineering manager of research and development at a Fort Smith manufacturing facility and operated a private consulting firm.