LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Interim Provost Charles Robinson, Dean Deacue Fields and Marvin Caston of the Razorback Foundation were among the 14 appointees by University of Arkansas System President Donald R. Bobbit for the newly formed UA System Task Force on Racial Equity announced on Thursday, July 2.

Robinson is the interim provost and vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the U of A, Fields is the dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and Caston is the senior director of development in the Razorback Foundation.

The task force is the result of a proposal made by John Goodson, chair of the U of A Board of Trustees, at a special meeting on June 17. The task force will address racial injustice and promote equitable practices within the System.

“The past several weeks in our country have brought to light the vital need for all institutions to increase efforts to combat racial injustice,” Goodson told Trustees and those attending the virtual special meeting. “Many people of color have spoken out, including many constituents of the UA System, about issues they face in their daily lives that we should all be concerned about.”

Goodson asked U of A Trustee Stephen Broughton to chair the task force, and fellow Trustee Ted Dickey to represent the board, while setting expectations for the task force to make recommendations regarding policies, procedures and activities to help ensure the UA System and its campuses, divisions and units across the state promote an atmosphere that is “welcoming and attuned to the cultural and educational needs of all Arkansans,” he said.

“I see this as an opportunity to consider necessary changes across the UA System, highlighted by the chance to give everyone a voice and a seat at the table to discuss areas of concern and successes at individual campuses,” Broughton said. “It will be vitally important that we not only have a good ear and listen to what’s going on around us, but to also propose new ideas and policies and follow them up with appropriate actions to ensure progress is being made.”

Bobbitt said the task force is a welcomed addition to many efforts already underway at the system’s campuses, divisions and units to address issues of racial equity.

“There is an expectation from my office and the Board of Trustees that faculty, students, staff and visitors to our campuses should all be treated with respect and presented with an equitable environment to pursue their educational and scholarly goals,” Bobbitt said. “This is a well-respected and accomplished group, and I look forward to the UA System benefitting from its work immediately and well in to the future.”

UA System Task Force on Racial equity

Committee Member, UA System Affiliation
Dr. Stephen Broughton, UA System trustee, committee chair
Ted Dickey, UA System trustee
Robert Carr, provost, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Marvin Caston, senior director of development, Razorback Foundation
Mark Cochran, vice president, UA System Division of Agriculture
Deacue Fields, dean, Bumpers College
Moses Goldman, vice chancellor, University of Arkansas at Monticello
Georgia Hale, provost, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Keith Pinchback, chancellor, Phillips Community College
Terisa Riley, chancellor, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
Charles Robinson, interim provost, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Chris Smith, dean, UA Community College at Hope-Texarkana
Kristi Smith, director, UA Little Rock Alumni Association
Christina Clark, vice chancellor and chief operation officer, UAMS

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3 percent of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.