LITTLE ROCK (Wednesday, July 30, 2025) – The advisory search committee tasked with helping to find the next chancellor at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) has announced that Misty Hughes, dean of institutional effectiveness at UAHT, was named chair of the committee at its July 24 meeting.
The committee also finalized a position profile for the open chancellor role and has begun advertising its national search to fill it. The position posting and other search-related news can be found at the UAHT Chancellor Search landing page here.
“Ms. Hughes is a graduate of UAHT and has poured her efforts into working at the institution for more than 15 years to give its students the best opportunities possible to succeed,” said Jay B. Silveria, president of the University of Arkansas System. “I attended the recent UAHT commencement and watched as she was honored as the institution’s ‘Outstanding Alumna.’ She will provide unmatched leadership to this committee and a keen sense of what’s best for the institution during this important process for the future of UAHT.”
Hughes began her career at UAHT in 2009 as a Power Plant Technology advisor and scholarship manager. She has gone on to serve the institution in various roles, including director of testing, Texarkana student services specialist, and director of advising. She earned her associate degree from UAHT in 2002, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Master of Education (Student Affairs) from Southern Arkansas University.
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to be a part of this process and to be chosen to lead such a dedicated group of individuals from campus and the community that all have UAHT’s best interests at the forefront,” Hughes said. “Empowering students and uplifting the communities we serve have always been the driving forces during my career, and I don’t take lightly the impact this committee can have on ensuring a bright future for the UAHT family and the UA System.”
Hughes was recently selected as the 2025 University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Outstanding Alumna and honored at the institution’s spring commencement ceremony.
Former Chancellor Dr. Christine Holt announced in May that she was stepping down July 1, while Laura Clark, vice chancellor for academics at UAHT, was named interim chancellor. Chris Thomason, vice president for strategic and community college partnerships for the UA System, is leading the search for the UA System President’s Office and will coordinate the recommendation of a short list of final candidates cultivated by the committee for Silveria to consider before ultimately taking his pick to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval.
“You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who better understands or is more dedicated to UAHT and serving students than Misty Hughes,” said Thomason, who will guide the committee in coordination with Silveria and the UA System. “She will do an amazing job while keeping the institution’s best interests at the forefront. We are all grateful for the time and effort this whole committee is putting forth to help us ultimately cultivate a deep pool of highly qualified and skilled candidates to secure strong leadership and a strong future at UAHT.”
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