Dean Brian Primack has appointed Ed Bengston to serve as interim chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Cheryl Murphy, who currently holds the position, was recently named vice provost for distance education at the University of Arkansas.

"In this role, she will be leading an extremely important, influential, and growing unit," Primack said. "Although we will miss her tremendously in COEHP, this position represents an ideal fit with her background in educational technology, her commitment to improving educational access, and her outstanding leadership qualities."

Murphy will officially begin her new role Oct. 1, 2019.

Bengston, who has been at the U of A since 2010, will hold the interim position until June 30, 2020. A search for a permanent department chair will begin soon.

"Dr. Bengtson brings to this position a truly remarkable set of experiences and qualities," Primack said. "He knows direct K-12 school service extremely well. He has been a music teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal. He also has a distinguished record of scholarship; after his M.A. in music performance he went on to receive an Ed.S. in Educational Administration from the George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia."

Bengston maintains active research interests in teacher and principal agency, leadership succession, and the professional doctorate in education, Primack added.

During the past decade, Bengston has balanced teaching, research, and service. He's currently chairing 13 doctoral student committees and is serving on an additional 15 doctoral student committees. He has also served as program coordinator for the educational leadership program, a key member of the search committee for the director of the Arkansas Leadership Academy, and a member of the University Conflict of Interest and University Teacher Education Board Committees.

He has also attended multiple regional Education Cooperative meetings around the state.

Bengston also finds time for national and international leadership and service, including reviewing for top peer-reviewed journals in his field, such as the Journal of School Leadership, the International Journal on Mentoring and Coaching in Education, and the International Journal of Leadership in Education.

"For all of these reasons, we are very fortunate to have Dr. Bengtson provide leadership and stability during Dr. Murphy's transition to the provost's area," Primack said.