Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity at Purdue University, will be the second of four chancellor finalists to participate in a public forum on campus. His forum is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center and will also be live streamed and recorded for broad access to the campus community.

Each of the four candidates are scheduled to visit campus for two days of meetings with students, faculty, staff and university stakeholders. A public forum will also be part of that schedule. Everyone at the U of A is invited to attend the four public forums either in person or virtually.

Akridge serves as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity at Purdue University, with a faculty appointment as professor of agricultural economics. He leads the academic enterprise of the university with a total budget of approximately $1.8 billion; student enrollment of more than 50,000; 2,700 faculty members; and 8,000 staff.

As provost, he has led the university’s enrollment growth initiative and expanded undergraduate enrollment from 31,000 in 2017 to near 38,000 in 2022. Formerly the dean of agriculture at Purdue for more than eight years, Akridge earned a bachelor’s in agriculture and business administration from Murray State University before completing his master’s and doctorate in agriculture economics at Purdue.

Registration details for the virtual component of each finalist’s forum can be found below as well as on the chancellor search website. A university email address is required. The search site is being updated with details regarding how the campus community can access recordings of the forums as they become available. 

A link to the recording and a brief feedback survey (available for 72 hours after each forum) can be found under each candidate's name after they have completed their forum. This information will also be updated on the chancellor search site. 

Each forum will take place in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on the U of A campus between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on their scheduled days. 

CHANCELLOR FINALIST FORUMS

• Charles F. Robinson
  • Monday, Sept. 12, 2022
  • Watch the recorded forum
  • Provide feedback before noon Thursday, Sept. 15
• Jay T. Akridge
  • Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 (10:30-11:30 a.m.)
  • Register for remote access
• Daniel A. Reed
  • Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 (10:30-11:30 a.m.)
  • Register for remote access
• Cynthia Y. Young
  • Monday, Sept. 19, 2022 (10:30-11:30 a.m.)
  • Register for remote access

Keep in mind that to attend each forum virtually, it will require a separate registration. 

For more information about the finalists, including their CVs and application cover letters, visit the chancellor search website.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.