Nancy Talburt, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Announces Retirement After 42 years

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Dr. Nancy Ellen Brown Talburt

Nancy Ellen Brown Talburt, vice provost for academic affairs, has announced her retirement on Aug. 10, 2010, after 42 years. She began her career at the University of Arkansas as an assistant professor in the department of English in 1969, was promoted to associate professor and then professor and established the advising center in the College of Arts and Sciences; served as associate director of Libraries, 1982-83; director of records (position is now called Registrar), 1984-85; associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, 1991-2002; and vice provost for academic affairs, 2002 to present.

Talburt received her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in English from the University of Arkansas and her Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a major in biology and minor in mathematics, from Arkansas State University. She has chaired several North Central Association accreditation teams and served on several other teams around the world.

Talburt has authored articles in Dictionary of Literary Biography, Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing, Guide to Great Women Mystery Writers, Twentieth Century Crime and Mystery Writing, Longman's Anthology of Crime Fiction, and Clues. She has had essays published in three collections on crime fiction and is co-editor of A Mystery Reader for Scribner's. She has served as president and executive council member for National Popular Culture Association and as national program chair for crime and mystery fiction.

She has been a member of the advisory panel for the Journal of Popular Culture for 15 years and is currently editorial adviser for Clues and A Journal of Detective Fiction. She received the George N. Dove award for outstanding contributions to the serious study of crime and mystery fiction from the Mystery and Detective Fiction Caucus of the Popular Culture Association.

She served a three-year elected term on the College Board Southwest Regional Council and seven years as Arkansas state representative to ACT Corporation. She was a Governor appointee to Arkansas Commission on Community-Based Rehabilitation for 16 years; the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Pardon, Parole, and Sentencing; chaired the Commission and served, ex officio, on Arkansas Board of Correction.

At the University of Arkansas, she served in elected positions as president of Phi Beta Kappa and AAUP chapters; on Senate Council; on Fulbright College Curriculum Committee and Cabinet; chaired the search committee for the current dean of libraries; and taught some 20 different courses.

Provost Sharon Gaber said, "Dr. Talburt's breadth of contributions to this campus is astounding. It is a rare individual who has served as faculty, registrar, associate director of libraries, and in Academic Affairs. Her service and commitment has been very much appreciated and will be missed by the campus.