Broughton to Lead Trustees; Officers, Committees Also Set

LITTLE ROCK (April 9, 2021) — The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas elected Dr. Stephen Broughton, of Pine Bluff, to serve as chairman of the 10-member board effective March 1 along with a slate of other officers and board committee assignments.

Broughton was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Beebe in April 2012, and his term runs through 2022. He is also currently leading the racial equity task force assigned by former Board Chair John Goodson in summer 2020.

Goodson, who served as chairman of the board during his final two years of his 10-year appointment to the board, served his final meeting in January. Goodson’s replacement on the board was announced March 31 when Gov. Asa Hutchinson named Jeremy Wilson, of Bentonville, to a 10-year term.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my peers and colleagues to lead this board during the next year and greatly look forward to the many duties we have before us as our UA System campuses, divisions and units begin returning to normal in the next phase of this pandemic,” Broughton said. “We’ll miss Mr. Goodson’s good-hearted and jovial spirit that accompanied his steadfast leadership of this board the last couple years, and welcome in a new voice in Mr. Wilson.”

In addition to Broughton being elected chairman, the trustees also voted for C.C. “Cliff” Gibson III, of Monticello, to serve as vice chairman; Tommy Boyer, of Fayetteville, to serve as secretary; Kelly Eichler, of Little Rock, to serve as assistant secretary; and Morril Harriman, also of Little Rock, to serve as assistant secretary. The election took place during the executive session at the Jan. 27-28 regularly scheduled meeting.

Under the umbrella of the UA Board are eight committees in which members are chosen under the discretion of the Board Chairman. Broughton announced those committees, which include:

Agriculture Committee

• Ted Dickey, Chair
• Cliff Gibson
• Ed Fryar
• Jeremy Wilson

Athletic Committee

• Steve Cox, Chair
• Tommy Boyer
• Cliff Gibson
• Kelly Eichler

Academic and Student Affairs 

• Kelly Eichler, Chair
• Tommy Boyer
• Ted Dickey
• Cliff Gibson
• Jeremy Wilson
• UA System Liaison: Ben Beaumont

Building and Grounds Committee

• Morril Harriman, Chair
• Steve Cox
• Ed Fryar
• Sheffield Nelson
• Cliff Gibson
• UA System Liaison: Don Bobbitt

 Audit and Fiscal Responsibility Committee

• Ed Fryar, Chair
• Steve Cox
• Ted Dickey
• Morril Harriman
• Cliff Gibson
• UA System Liaison: Gina Terry

 Joint Hospital Committee

• Sheffield Nelson, Chair
• Tommy Boyer
• Ted Dickey
• Kelly Eichler
• Cliff Gibson
• UA System Liaison: Melissa Rust

 Two-Year Colleges and Technical Schools

• Kelly Eichler, Chair
• Ed Fryar
• Cliff Gibson
• Jeremy Wilson

 Distance Education Policy and Technology Committee

• Jeremy Wilson, Chair
• Ed Fryar
• Cliff Gibson