Jack Ervin has been named vice president of operations for Chartwells Dining at the U of A. Ervin has been the director of operations at the U of A for the last nine years. 

"Moving on to this new role is a testament to his leadership and success within the organization," said Nadeem Zafar, divisional president for Chartwells. "Jack joined Chartwells in 2001, where he began to cultivate a culture of culinary-driven teams that have brought significant results to the bottom line while developing top talent. He started as a regional chef overseeing many accounts."

"I look forward to working with Jack in his new capacity," said Lynne Bell, assistant vice chancellor for business services. "His talent and extensive experience have been, and will continue to be, key in providing a premiere food program to our students."

Ervin replaces Andrew Lipson, who served in this position at the U of A for eight years and was recently selected to oversee the dining program at the University of Florida.

"I am honored to take on my new role as vice president of operations for Chartwells," Ervin said. "Still, more importantly, I am energized to continue to grow the campus dining program and provide an exceptional experience for the University of Arkansas community."

Since arriving at U of A, Ervin has been an integral part of creating dynamic teams and innovative concepts on campus, such as True Burger, Paper Lantern and Melt Lab, to name a few. Hill Coffee Co., a concept developed around locally roasted coffee and fresh-baked items, achieved a Loyal Horton award in 2020. Ervin also worked to create the 1021 Food Hall concept, showcasing an authentic Fayetteville dining experience with local artist and fantastic food. 

"Jack is a long-time member of the University of Arkansas community. He knows our campus well," said Melissa Harwood-Rom, interim vice chancellor for student affairs. "He also has experience in the public schools and understands the value of excellent dining to the educational mission."