Three candidates have been selected as finalists for the dean of the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. They will be on campus in May for interviews and presentations.

The finalists include Vann Newkirk of Alabama A&M University, Jie Chen of the University of Idaho, and David Devraj Kumar of Florida Atlantic University.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Zulma Toro appointed Gail Hughes, interim dean of the College of Education, to lead the search committee. The new dean will be responsible for all aspects of operation of the Graduate School and advance the school’s and university’s strategic plans and institutional goals.

Newkirk will be on campus May 6 and 7. Currently serving as associate provost for Academic Affairs and dean of Graduate Studies at Alabama A&M University, he is responsible for management and oversight of the Graduate School, sponsored programs, university libraries, institutional research, testing, and the Alabama State Black Archives. He serves as one of two institutional authorities for regional accreditation.

He received a doctorate in history in 2002 from Howard University, Washington, D.C.; a master’s degree in library science in 2007 from North Carolina Central University, Durham, N.C.; a master’s degree in history in 1991 from Winthrop University, Rock Hill, S.C.; and a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1985 from Barber-Scotia College, Concord, N.C.

Chen, dean of the College of Graduate Studies and director of Confucius Institute, will be on campus May 8 and 9. He is currently William Borah Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Idaho (UI). He developed a strategic plan for graduate education at UI and strengthened shared governance in graduate education.

He received a doctorate in political science in 1991 from Washington State University; a master’s degree in international policy studies in 1987 from Monterey Institute of International Studies; and a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1982 from the Institute of International Politics in Beijing, China.

Kumar, a professor of science education at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), will be on campus May 15 and 16. He has more than two decades of experience in research and teaching in science education, administration and leadership, and state level public office and service. He has served as associate dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the college level and as graduate program coordinator at the department level at FAU, developing and implementing policies to promote research and scholarship among faculty and students.

He received a doctorate in science education in 1991 from Vanderbilt University; a master’s degree in analytical chemistry in 1987 from the University of Louisville; a master’s degree in chemistry in 1980 from the University of Kerala; and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1978 from the University of Kerala.

The new graduate dean will replace Paula Casey who served over the past year as interim dean and plans to retire this summer. The dean will report to the executive vice chancellor and provost.

The UALR Graduate School serves the needs of graduate students, faculty, and staff in a wide range of programs offered in the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences; the College of Business; the College of Education and Health Professions; the George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology; and the College of Social Sciences and Communication.

As the central administrative unit for graduate studies, the Graduate School manages all aspects of graduate education from application to graduation. Together with the individual graduate programs, academic departments, colleges, the Graduate Council, and the Provost’s Office, the Graduate School oversees all curricular matters.