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Dr. G. David Gearhart's comments to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees

G. DAVID GEARHART
Comments to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees
January 25, 2008

It is indeed a great honor and privilege to be named the chancellor of the University of Arkansas, and I want to thank President Sugg and the board of trustees for the faith and confidence you have shown in me. I pledge to you every ounce of energy in my body to work as hard as I can for the betterment of our university.

President Sugg, I am particularly grateful to you for the support and encouragement you have given me, and I know Jane joins me in thanking you for being a mentor, a confidant and a friend ever since we came back to the university 10 years ago.

To Chancellor White, I extend heartfelt congratulations to you on the occasion of your retirement. We all owe you and Mary Lib our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your leadership and vision these past 11 years. It has been my distinct honor to be a part of your administration.

To Chairman Reed, thank you for the expression of confidence you have in me and the tremendous responsibility you have given me today. I am humbled beyond words and thank you for your support.

To all members of the board of trustees.I'm sure glad you voted the way you did! Back in Fayetteville, my mother is sitting by the phone waiting for me to call her.

To the board and President Sugg, I want you to know that I firmly understand the great responsibilities you have in guiding, leading and governing all of the campuses of the University of Arkansas System. I pledge to you today that I will always respect that vital role and you will find me accessible, approachable and collaborative on all the major issues that we will face together.

To our superb faculty, staff, students and alumni, the University of Arkansas has a special role in the brilliant constellation of American colleges and universities. It is a rising star as a major public research university in a state where higher education must play an increasingly larger role in the lives of its citizens. Working with our sister public institutions and in partnership with our own university system, we must work hard and smart to increase the college participation rate and to strengthen the quality of Arkansas' higher education. We must be seen as enthusiastic leaders in this venture, all in a time of diminished resources nationally that will not make it easy, but a challenge that we at the university must embrace.

At the University of Arkansas our ultimate purpose is to improve the human condition, to make life better for our citizens and our state and to contribute to the general welfare of our nation.

It will be my challenge, as chancellor of the university, to provide the resources and the leadership to strengthen academic quality and our reputation for quality while also keeping the institution affordable and within reach of the citizens of our state. I realize that is not an easy challenge, but it is one that I embrace with vigor.

I pledge to you and our faculty, staff and students that I will work hard to provide the resources and support necessary to carry out the mission of the university. I will do it in a collegial atmosphere in the best traditions of the academy.

I pledge that I will do all I can to provide an administration that has a combination of academic vision, inspirational leadership, a strong commitment to financial viability, a climate of openness and tolerance and acceptance of all peoples of diverse backgrounds that will accelerate the progress of the University of Arkansas.

Finally, I want to acknowledge my partner in life who also will be my partner in this new role. For 33 years, she has given a significant part of her life to our cause of advancing higher education. I don't know if I want to use the worn out phrase that you're 'getting two for the price of one'.but you are, and Jane will be with me every step of the way in this new adventure. Believe me; it would not be near as fun without her!

As I was shaving this morning, I asked Jane, "of all the new college and university presidents elected to office this year, how many of them do you think will really, really be outstanding at their job?" Jane's response was, "I don't know, David, but I'm sure one less than you think." Mr. President, I assure you Jane will keep me grounded.

To the president and Board of Trustees, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the great honor you have bestowed upon me today. I won't let you down.