FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Linda Beene, director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, has accepted the position of dean of the School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach effective July 1, 2007. She will also assume the title of associate provost for academic outreach for the University of Arkansas. Beene will report directly to Provost Bob Smith and earn an annual salary of $150,000.

Beene, 56, replaces Donnie Dutton, who announced his intention to retire earlier this year after serving as dean since 1983.

“Linda emerged from a strong group of extremely qualified individuals. She has a passion for education and a strong belief that quality education is the key to successful economic growth in Arkansas,” Chancellor John A. White said. “Her extensive background in higher education will be an asset to the University of Arkansas.”

As director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Beene coordinates board approval of academic programs and accountability for Arkansas’ 33 public colleges and universities, and guides state and federal funding efforts including annual operating fund recommendations of more than $839 million, 33,000 positions, $318 million in capital recommendations and the administration of $45 million in state scholarships. Over the past three decades she has been a teacher and both a university and two-year college administrator having held appointments at the University of Central Arkansas, Henderson State University and the University of Arkansas campuses at Fort Smith and Helena.

She began her state-level career in the 1970s as associate director at the Arkansas Department of Education, followed by experiences creating two state agencies with missions of higher education and economic development. Beene holds degrees from the University of Central Arkansas, the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and the University of Arkansas where she received her Doctor of Education in 1985.

“Linda’s administrative record is outstanding and contains the kinds of experiences that should help the university advance markedly the continuing education and academic outreach goals of the university,” Smith said. “My hope is that her work through the School of Continuing Education and Academic Outreach will help us achieve an unparalleled level of participation and success of Arkansas citizens in university degree programs.”

Beene also has been a consultant, providing organizational development and training for Fortune 500 companies including Georgia Pacific Corp. She serves on the Governor’s Cabinet, the executive committee of the State Higher Education Executive Officers, the Council of the Southern Growth Policies Board and an advisory committee for the new Postsecondary Education and Workforce Institute of the Education Commission of the States.