FAYETTEVILLE -- A candidate for the top research officer position at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville has withdrawn from consideration days after being named one of three finalists.
Lynne Parker, interim engineering dean at the University of Tennessee, on Tuesday told UA officials that she had accepted another position, Amy Schlesing, UA's director of strategic communications, said Wednesday.
Remaining finalists are Robert Nobles II, interim top research officer at the University of Tennessee, and Daniel Sui, a division director with the National Science Foundation. UA's former top research officer, Jim Rankin, left to become president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
"At this time, we don't have plans to expand the search with additional candidates," Schlesing said in an email.
A committee of made up primarily of faculty members is helping with the search process. UA has agreed to pay $100,000 in professional fees to search firm Greenwood/Asher & Associates Inc., a total not including "indirect expenses" specified to be 12 percent of professional fees, according to contract documents released under the state's public disclosure law.
Sui has already visited and Nobles will be on campus Monday.
In an email, Parker said she "cannot say more about my plans at this time."
"I regret that I will not be able to pursue the U of A top research position, as it looks like many great things are happening at U of A," Parker said.
Metro on 06/14/2018