All four candidates made presentations to the campus community, which then provided feedback. The search committee is currently reviewing that feedback and will make a recommendation to the chancellor.

The Office of the Chancellor launched a national search for the next provost last fall, following Provost Terry Martin's decision to return to a full-time role as a professor of electrical engineering in June 2025. J.F. Meullenet, senior associate vice president for agriculture research and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, chaired the search committee. The committee narrowed the search to four finalists who visited campus and gave public presentations in late January and early February. 

The four finalists are: 

• Mark Sheridan — vice provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs and dean of the Graduate School, Texas Tech University 

• Elizabeth Wentz — vice provost and dean of the Graduate College, Arizona State University 

• Indrajeet Chaubey — dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut; director of the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station and UConn Extension 

• David Norton — vice president for research, University of Florida 

The provost oversees all academic affairs of the U of A, including the administration of programs of instruction, mentoring, student life and promoting goals of academic excellence for faculty and students. The next provost will continue to advance student success, augment the research enterprise and ensure that the university is an employer of choice, serving the state of Arkansas as a partner and resource. Reporting directly to Chancellor Charles Robinson, the provost will also work closely with the leadership of each of the university's colleges and schools to advance the university's strategic priorities.