As the search for a new chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello moves into 2015, the school's interim leader has vowed to keep things running smoothly until someone is hired permanently.
Jay Jones, 51, was asked by University of Arkansas officials just before Christmas to temporarily take over for UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter, whose retirement takes effect Wednesday.
Jones is UAM's vice chancellor for finance and administration and said he plans to go back to that job once a new leader is hired.
Lassiter, 69, has led the 3,850-student university for a decade, and a national search has been in place since October to find his successor.
A native of Phillips County, Jones arrived at UAM in 2006 from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, where he was vice president for finance.
At one time, he worked as vice chancellor for finance at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, a community college that is part of the UA System.
Jones graduated from what was then called Phillips County Community College before earning his bachelor's degree from what was then Northeast Louisiana University.
Jones, who began his professional career as an accountant in the private sector before going to work in higher education, was elected city treasurer of what was then West Helena in 1998, serving four years in city government.
So far, 23 people have applied for the chancellor's position, according to information released by the University of Arkansas System based on an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request.
The applicants include Corbet Lamkin, chancellor of Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden since 2008, and Steve Rook, vice president for academic and student affairs at Rich Mountain Community College in Mena.
In an email to UAM faculty and staff members shortly after appointing Jones, UA System President Donald Bobbitt thanked Lassiter for his service and said Jones "will be very helpful in guiding us through the upcoming legislative session."
Bobbitt added, "I encourage all of you to give Jay your full support as he assumes this important responsibility."
Jones said he felt honored to be tapped as interim chancellor, calling it a "caretaker position."
"We already have existing strategic plans that have been developed, and we will continue those," Jones said of his plans at interim chancellor.
"There are no plans for any major initiatives or changes to the campus. That is not my mission.
"There are two main things I am charged with, that is managing UAM's interests in the upcoming legislative session and to facilitate the fiscal year 2016 budget process."
Jones also praised his former boss, saying of Lassiter: "I appreciate the opportunity he gave me to come here. Monticello has been a great community to me, and Jack will be missed on this campus."
State Desk on 01/05/2015