Arkansas State Trustees Appointed New Chancellors
The Board of Trustees named Dr. Calvin White Jr. and Ike Wheeler as permanent chancellors for the university system.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in People
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The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Calvin White Jr. as chancellor of Arkansas State and Ike Wheeler as chancellor of ASU-Newport. These appointments formalize leadership roles for both educators following their respective tenures as interim chancellors.
Why it matters
These appointments provide long-term administrative stability and leadership continuity for both the Jonesboro and Newport campuses. The decisions were made to secure permanent oversight for institutions serving thousands of students across the state.
Arkansas State manages an annual enrollment of 23,430 students, while ASU-Newport supports 4,994 students annually. Current fall enrollment at the Jonesboro campus stands at 18,775 compared to 2,235 at the Newport institution.
The players
Calvin White Jr.
He is the newly appointed chancellor of Arkansas State and the first African American to hold this position.
Ike Wheeler
He is the newly appointed chancellor of ASU-Newport and has been associated with the institution for over 30 years.
Todd Shields
He is the System President of the Arkansas State University System who recommended the candidates for the chancellor positions.
The details
The Board of Trustees reached the decision during a special meeting where they approved the recommendation presented by System President Todd Shields. Calvin White Jr., who served as interim chancellor since July 2026, marks a historic milestone as the first African American to lead Arkansas State, while Ike Wheeler brings over 30 years of association with the Newport campus to his new role.
Timeline
Ike Wheeler began serving as interim chancellor in August 2025.
Calvin White Jr. began serving as interim chancellor in July 2026.
The board approved the appointments on September 28, 2026.
Market Landscape
The transition from interim to permanent leadership reflects the standard administrative cycle for public university systems in the region. These appointments solidify the strategic direction of both institutions within the state's higher education sector.
The stabilization of campus leadership ensures continued continuity for students, faculty, and local stakeholders in Jonesboro and Newport. These permanent appointments finalize the executive oversight responsible for managing academic programming and institutional resources.
The takeaway
Permanent leadership appointments serve to align institutional goals with long-term educational outcomes for student populations. Stakeholders should look to the university's official communications for upcoming strategic plans under the new administration.
Further reading
For more on administrative changes in the state, visit the Arkansas People section.
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