Clinton School interim associate dean Dr. Todd Shields has been named the new dean of the Graduate School and International Education at the University of Arkansas. Shields had also served this year as interim dean of the UA Graduate School this year.
His Clinton School appointment will end on June 30 and Dr. Susan Hoffpauir will become associate dean at the Clinton School. Click here for a press release on Shields’ UA appointment. Here’s an excerpt:
A professor of political science, Shields has served as interim dean since July 1, 2010, while also serving as interim associate dean for academic affairs of the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock. Additionally, Shields is the director of the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. His interim appointment at the Clinton School ends June 30, but he will continue as director of the Blair Center.
“Dr. Shields has done an exceptional job in the past year, working essentially two full-time jobs in two cities that are 200 miles apart,” said Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “He has merged our international student services into a new unit within the Graduate School and International Education, and has developed relationships with the many constituencies served by this area. We look forward to seeing the benefits of the joint collaborative projects that will develop from this merger.”
Chancellor G. David Gearhart said Shields is a great fit for this position, and brings many personal skills and talents to the job, as well as an extensive background as a researcher.
“Todd has demonstrated great patience and enthusiasm over this past year during a challenging assignment; at the same time, he has brought energy to the merger of our international student services and the Graduate School. With his experience as a successful administrator, I expect we’ll see an exciting future for the Graduate School and International Education under his leadership,” Gearhart said.