Enrollment tops 18,000 as new A-State chancellor takes office

Arkansas State University has named its first African American chancellor. Dr. Calvin White Jr. officially assumed the role in September 2026. He replaced Dr. Todd Shields. Shields moved up to become president of the university system.

The university has grown under recent leadership. Enrollment now exceeds 18,000 students. More than 58 percent of those students are first-generation college attendees. White is a first-generation graduate himself. He joined the faculty in 2023. Before becoming chancellor, he served as provost and interim chancellor.

White is a historian by training. He earned his doctorate at the University of Mississippi. He holds bachelor and master degrees from the University of Central Arkansas. His research focuses on the African American experience in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta. He has received multiple teaching and mentorship awards.

As chancellor, White leads the Office of Academic Affairs and Research. This division is the largest on campus. It includes 12 academic colleges. It also manages the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and two museums. The university recently opened Arkansas' first College of Veterinary Medicine. Its first class is expected in fall 2026.

White told the paper his primary goal is to maintain current momentum. He wants to increase research expenditures and enrollment. He plans to pursue industry partnerships. These partnerships will fund scholarships and professorships. White believes this model helps the state economy while keeping budgets stable.

He said the university will avoid duplicating programs offered by other schools. White described A-State as a destination campus for specific fields. He cited the veterinary college as a prime example. He is also exploring the feasibility of a College of Meteorology. White noted that agriculture remains the top economy in Arkansas. He said this sector relies heavily on climate data.

White said he will measure his success by how well he communicates the value of higher education. He plans to travel beyond Craighead County to share the university's news. He wants students from all 75 counties to view A-State as a viable option. He aims to leave the institution in better condition than he found it.

He credited Shields for laying a strong foundation. White said he intends to build on that base. He described his next steps as the logical progression of current efforts. He wants the university to become a statewide institution that residents are proud to support.