The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Robin Myers to serve once again as interim system president, effective immediately. Myers, the retired ASU-Mountain Home chancellor who previously served in the interim role in 2024, succeeds Dr. Brendan Kelly. Kelly will assist with the transition through Dec. 31 before departing to become president of his alma mater, Eastern Michigan University.
Following an executive session, trustees voted to reinstate Myers under contract terms consistent with his prior interim service. No action was taken regarding a future presidential search. Myers retired in 2023 after 13 years as chancellor at ASU-Mountain Home and has since served as a consultant on the new CREST workforce training center in Jonesboro.
The board also approved $23.7 million in capital improvements at A-State in Jonesboro, including a $5 million Indoor Baseball Development and Training Center funded by private sources; a $16.2 million renovation of the 400-room Kays Hall to update student housing; and construction of new equine and bovine barns to support the College of Veterinary Medicine, which is planned to open in fall 2026 pending accreditation. A related measure authorizes issuing $16 million in housing revenue bonds to help finance the Kays Hall project.
In other business, Vice President for Strategic Communications and Economic Development Jeff Hankins introduced the ASU System’s new advocacy initiative and redesigned website, asusystem.edu. Created with Little Rock’s digital agency Few, the site showcases major educational and workforce partnerships, merging the system and foundation pages for streamlined outreach. It features 30 new videos produced by Elevate Creative of Conway that highlight students, faculty and industry partners across the system’s two-year campuses.
Trustees also heard updates on ASU-Beebe’s veterinary technician program—the only one of its kind in Arkansas—which operates on the state’s only community college–run farm. The competitive program averages 60 students, maintains a 100% job placement rate and collaborates closely with regional veterinary clinics and A-State’s developing College of Veterinary Medicine.
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