Bobbitt Names Hoffpauir Interim Dean at Clinton School of Public Service

While a search for a permanent dean is underway, Hoffpauir will serve in the interim role until a new dean is named. Longtime Clinton School Dean James L. “Skip” Rutherford III announced his retirement in September 2020, which becomes effective June 30. He has led the institution since 2006. More info on the search can be found here. 

“Dr. Hoffpauir has a wide array of experience and an impressive list of academic and leadership accomplishments during her career and is a natural fit to help lead this unique institution while our search is completed,” Bobbitt said. “I’m thankful she agreed to step into this role, and I feel confident the Clinton School will continue the impressive trajectory that was fostered under the leadership of Dean Rutherford.”

Under Hoffpauir’s academic leadership, the Clinton School has expanded its community partnerships in Arkansas, across the nation and around the world. Clinton School students work with these partners on community and organizational change projects tied to curricular requirements. In Hoffpauir’s tenure, the Office of Field Services has built a policy and curricular infrastructure that supports partnerships with 44 international host organizations on six continents.

“In addition to thanking Dr. Bobbitt for this wonderful opportunity and for entrusting me to lead the Clinton School in the interim, I am grateful to step into the role that Dean Rutherford has so effectively crafted in his many years of dedicated and thoughtful leadership here,” Hoffpauir said. “While wishing him the best in retirement, the Clinton School has a bright future and I’m excited to be a part of what’s in store as we continue working toward fulfilling our mission of educating and preparing professionals in public service who go on to make great change in the world.”

Since joining the Clinton School in 2011, Hoffpauir led an institutional curriculum review and revision effort that resulted in a more cohesive curricular design, conducted the school’s first self-study, and wrote the 10-year program review required by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Additionally, she facilitated the planning and development of the new online Executive Master of Public Service program which launched in March 2018.

Hoffpauir completed her bachelor’s degree in social welfare at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She earned a master of social work from Michigan State University before earning her master of arts in developmental psychology and Ph.D. in social work and social science from the University of Michigan. She also completed a professional development program at the Harvard Institute of Management and Leadership Education.

She has served as both president and vice president of the board of directors of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. She was co-principal investigator on a $175,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Health to create a mental health crisis response training curriculum and protocol that were used to train over 250 mental health professionals who delivered care to over 750 Hurricane Katrina survivors displaced in Arkansas in 2005.