MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – Arkansas State University System President Dr. Charles L. Welch today announced the selection of Dr. Bentley Wallace, president of South Arkansas College in El Dorado since 2020, as chancellor of ASU-Mountain Home effective Aug. 1.
Wallace – a native of nearby Mountain View with broad experience in executive leadership, higher education, workforce training initiatives and fund-raising – will succeed Dr. Robin Myers, who will retire on July 31 after 11 years as ASUMH chancellor and 34 years in higher education.
“I have known Bentley for a long time and think he is the right person at the right time for ASU-Mountain Home,” Welch said. “His combined history of work in the private sector and developing higher education partnerships with business and industry will serve the Mountain Home region well. We are impressed with his accomplishments as president at South Arkansas College, his track record at other institutions including our own ASU-Newport and his active community service. His strong leadership, management and fund-raising skills will benefit ASU-Mountain Home and its constituencies.”
“It’s never easy to hire a replacement for someone like Robin Myers, but I am confident that Bentley will continue to move this institution forward,” Welch added. “Robin and his team – like Ed Coulter before him – have created a strong foundation in Mountain Home for higher education and workforce training.
A 12-member Chancellor Search Advisory Committee – with members representing faculty, staff, students and the community – reviewed 47 applications for the position. Three finalists were interviewed on campus.
“I am thrilled to be able to serve students, faculty and staff as the next chancellor of ASU-Mountain Home,” Wallace said. “It is an incredible opportunity to come home to north Arkansas and back to the ASU System where my career in higher education began. ASUMH is an invaluable resource for the people and communities in the region, whether that is to pursue a short-term workforce credential, a two-year degree, lifelong learning opportunities, or to enjoy the broad variety of cultural events at the college.
“Building on a rich history of student success, I am excited to carry on important legacies and blaze new trails while working with the amazing team at ASUMH,” he added.
Prior to joining SouthArk, Wallace served at University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College as dean of technical and professional studies from 2018-2020 and as vice chancellor for economic development from 2013-2018. He was division chair and director of business and transportation technology at ASU-Newport from 2006-2013.
His private sector experience includes director of operations at Ronnie Dowdy Trucking Inc., division manager for WCA Waste Systems Inc. and general manager of JIT Warehouse Services.
Wallace was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Master of Science in Education from Arkansas State University and an Ed.D. in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education from the University of Arkansas.
Welch said his salary will be $203,000.
ASU-Mountain Home is a two-year institution that serves students primarily in North Central Arkansas. The ASU System, based in Little Rock, serves almost 38,000 students annually on campuses in Arkansas and Queretaro, Mexico, and globally online.
