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FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
G. David Gearhart to Be Recommended as Next University of Arkansas Chancellor, Sugg Advises Faculty
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - University of Arkansas System President B. Alan Sugg will recommend Dr. G. David Gearhart as the next chancellor of the state's flagship university, Sugg told faculty and staff members today in Fayetteville. Sugg will formally recommend Gearhart, currently the university's vice chancellor for university advancement and professor of education, to the university's Board of Trustees at its meeting in Little Rock on Friday, Jan. 25. If approved by the board, Gearhart would succeed Chancellor John A. White upon his retirement on June 30, 2008, after which White plans to return to the faculty. Gearhart, 55, has served in his current capacity since 1998, providing leadership for development, alumni relations, constituent relations, university relations and special events. Gearhart previously served as senior vice president for development and university relations at The Pennsylvania State University from 1985-1995. A Fayetteville native, Gearhart also is a University of Arkansas alumnus, holding a doctorate and a law degree from the university. "I'm honored to recommend David Gearhart as the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas," Sugg said. "In my judgment, Dr. Gearhart has the strong leadership skills and experience needed to perform in this position at the highest level. He has been an extremely effective leader in higher education, not only at the U of A but throughout his career at Penn State and elsewhere. "In his tenure at the U of A, Dr. Gearhart has been both a consensus builder and well-respected leader," Sugg added. "If approved by the board, I'm confident that he will work very well with the students, faculty, staff and alumni within the university community. He also has the extraordinary ability to cultivate relationships with government and business leaders to continue to expand the resources of the university." Gearhart is perhaps best known for guiding the overwhelmingly successful Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, which raised more than $1 billion for the Fayetteville campus between 1998 and 2005. "I sincerely appreciate the confidence President Sugg has placed in me, and I'm humbled and excited by the tremendous opportunity that lies ahead," Gearhart said. "With the board's consent, I stand ready to lead this great university community as we continue to build on the remarkable progress made over the past several years." Gearhart previously served the University of Arkansas as director of development from 1982-1985. His career in higher education began at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., where he was assistant to the president from 1976 to 1977, and then director of development from 1977 to 1978. He then served as vice president for development at Hendrix College in Conway from 1978-1982 prior to his return to Northwest Arkansas. After earning his doctorate and law degrees at the University of Arkansas, Gearhart completed a Fulbright Fellowship at Oxford University's Merton College in Oxford, England in 1992. He earned his bachelor's degree from Westminster College in 1974. --- EDUCATION Oxford University, Oxford, England, 1992 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., 1989 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., 1977 Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., 1974 PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., 1998-present Grenzebach Glier & Associates, Inc., Chicago, Ill., 1995-1998 The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., 1985-1995 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., 1982-1985 Hendrix College, Conway, Ark., 1978-1982 Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., 1977-1978 Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., 1976-1977 ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., 1998-present The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., 1988-1995 NOTABLE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Arkansas Jurisdiction, 1977-present University of Arkansas Fayetteville Campus Foundation, 2003-present Arkansas World Trade Center, 2007-present Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, 2007-present The Pryor Center for Oral and Visual History, 2006-present BOOKS WRITTEN Philanthropy, Fund Raising, and the Capital Campaign: A Practical Guide The Capital Campaign in Higher Education - A Practical Guide for College and University Advancement HONORS The Pennsylvania State University Westminster College
### Contact:Tysen Kendig, associate vice chancellor, university relations Ben Beaumont, director of communications
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