UALR chancellor officially aboard

NASHVILLE -- Andrew Rogerson, the new chancellor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will be looking for a new road.

In California, Rogerson rode his Ducati Panigale motorcycle along a stretch of the Bodega Highway, straight to the Pacific Ocean. But he'll soon be making a move to Arkansas as the next UALR chancellor.

On Thursday, University of Arkansas System trustees gave the Scotsman the final stamp of approval, unanimously bringing him on board to lead the metropolitan university. And on Sept. 1, he will assume his new, $350,000 post.

"I'm absolutely thrilled, of course," Rogerson said by phone Thursday from California. "I feel honored to have been asked to be the next chancellor."

Rogerson, 63, is coming from Rohnert Park, Calif., where he currently works as provost and vice president of academic affairs at Sonoma State University, a part of the California State University System. He is replacing Joel Anderson, 74, who is retiring from his $219,406 post at the end of June after serving the university for 45 years and leading it for the past 13.

And for the two months in between?

UA System President Donald Bobbitt said he is still considering some possibilities on an interim chancellor and hadn't had the chance to talk to all of the possible candidates.

"The first month of the fiscal year -- the month of July -- it's a very dead time," he said. "And the second month would be where all the action occurs. So, to some extent, June 30, I'm not really worried if the person goes on vacation the first week of July simply because there's not a lot going on."

Last week, Bobbitt recommended to the board the hiring of Rogerson over two other candidates, both out-of-state higher-education administrators.

"All three of them would bring significant strengths to the position," he said. "I think the experience that Dr. Rogerson has had is probably broader in terms of the full range of issues we're confronted with in higher education.

He understands the community picture; he understands the fundraising. But he also, having served as provost, understands faculty and academics. He's the complete package."

He added that he expects Rogerson, whom he called "a pretty polished administrator in higher education," to start his new role at UALR and be productive right away.

In an offer letter dated May 18, Bobbitt laid out the details for Rogerson: a five-year contract, health insurance, basic life insurance, retirement plans and more.

Expenses associated with trips to Little Rock before his start date to help with the transition would be paid, along with reasonable moving costs. He'll get a university vehicle and move into the on-campus chancellor's home on 28th Street.

Rogerson and his wife, Janessa, will make a second trip to Little Rock next weekend for a first look at the chancellor's home -- and to meet more people. He was unsure of when he will make the move to Arkansas.

And for those vehicles -- the 2014 Ducati, a gray 2014 Yamaha VMAX motorcyle, a silver 2008 Mercedes AMG SLK55 roadster and a vermillion red 1978 MGB nicknamed "Clive" -- Rogerson said he'll probably sell all but the MGB because it's "kind of" nostalgic. He'll keep the motorcycles, too, which go into the moving van, he said.

Bobbitt wrote in the letter that he had no doubt Rogerson will lead UALR "to a position of national recognition as a top metropolitan public research university."

The nature of UALR first attracted Rogerson to the position -- and still excites him about the job, the microbiologist and painter said, adding that the university is a member of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities along with 87 other schools in the U.S.

"That makes it very special because it can be the anchor of the city," he said. "We need to make a tight connection between the city and university. There's a lot written out there about sustainable cities of the future. The way forward is to have a true anchor with the university. It's the driver of economic development if done right."

Connor Donovan, the president of UALR's Student Government Association, said it was clear during the forums that Rogerson was very student-centered and listens to students.

Donovan, 21, of Little Rock added that Rogerson has worked to earn sponsors from businesses and alumni for student research. Rogerson has talked about developing partnerships in Arkansas, with Little Rock in particular.

"I got to hear him speak to different groups," he said. "He's very, very calm and collected, very precise in what he said. I could tell immediately that he knew where he was and where he wanted to go. He really has the students at the forefront of his mind, and that's the most important thing to me in a chancellor candidate."

It's also an exciting time for the university and the community, said Donovan, who is studying international business with a Chinese language concentration.

"There is really high morale right now," he said. "The city and the university is really motivated. There's a lot of cool things happening: we're about to get the visual arts center, we're getting eStem to come on campus, and now we're getting a new chancellor."

And there's more camaraderie, he said.

"I'm excited to see -- with all of these other things going on and the new Trojan spirit -- how he's going to come in and help us form that Trojan identity," he said.

A Section on 05/27/2016