LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas system unanimously approved UA System President Jay B. Silveria’s recommendation to name Anthony Graham, Ph.D., as the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), effective July 1.

The UA Board called a special zoom meeting held in person and via Zoom at the UA System – Cammack Campus in Little Rock on Friday, March 21st to consider the recommendation. Graham served as former interim chancellor and provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU).

“There are different types of leaders that are most effective for different times and places and Dr. Graham is the right fit for UAPB at this moment in time. The pool of finalists was very competitive and equally strong, due in large part to the hard work and dedication of the advisory search committee. UAPB is one of the UA System’s most storied and unique institutions. Dr. Graham has demonstrated his understanding of its important role and brings the experience necessary to lead this proud institution into a new era of prominence.”

– Jay B. Silveria, UA System President

Currently a tenured professor of education and former provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Winston-Salem State University, Graham also served as interim chancellor at the institution from 2023-24. He was previously a professor and dean of the College of Education at North Carolina A&T State University.

“I am deeply grateful to the UA Board of Trustees and to President Silveria for entrusting me with the incredible opportunity to lead the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, one of the nation’s esteemed 1890 land-grant institutions. I am eager to collaborate with exceptional faculty, dedicated staff, devoted alumni, and valued partners to foster a culture of excellence that drives student success, growth, and development. As chancellor, one of my priorities is to ensure that UAPB thrives as a catalyst for social and economic mobility. Our mission is to provide students with a strong return on investment by expanding experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for meaningful careers and lifelong success. Leading UAPB is more than a role – it is a calling – as the university has a proud legacy of producing transformative servant leaders. I look forward to elevating the UAPB brand, which is synonymous with excellence.”

– Anthony Graham, UAPB Chancellor-Elect

Graham attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in mathematics in 1997. He obtained a master’s degree in Secondary Education in 1999 and a doctorate in curriculum and teaching with a cognate in multicultural education in 2003 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Prior to his work in higher education, Dr. Graham was a high school English teacher. He has served as the managing editor of the historic peer-review academic journal The Negro Educational Review, and has collaborated with educators and scholars to create initiatives that increase the number of classroom teachers, especially ethnic and racial minority teachers, who enter the teaching profession in under-resourced and hard-to-staff rural and urban schools.

“State College We Greet Chancellor-Elect Graham With Love and Devotion. I commend the UA System Board of Trustees, President Silveria, and the Chancellor Advisory Search Committee for their selection of Chancellor-Elect Anthony Graham. Graham’s unwavering leadership will propel Dear Mother, my alma mater, into the next 150 years of existence. His vision for Dear Mother is transformative, with his strategic plan to continue evolving the institution as a catalyst for social and economic mobility in its classification as the second oldest public university in Arkansas. UAPB is indeed one of the nation’s esteemed 1890 land-grant institutions, nationally recognized as a leading research institution in aquaculture studies and for its Agriculture, Fisheries, and Human Sciences programs. Graham’s heartfelt leadership will emulate the legacy of our late founder, Joseph Carter Corbin, as the late John Watson once said, “We Develop Power, Courage, and Determination and we go out to achieve Truth, Wisdom, and Justice.” The organization extends its heartfelt congratulations to Chancellor-Elect Graham and pledges its unwavering support under his guidance. We look forward to immense success and welcome him to The Pride of The Pridelands. Let’s GO Lions GO! ROAR!”

– Demetrius Johnson Jr., founder, President & CEO, HCF

Nearly 60 applicants from across the country were vying for the position, and finalists were named in February, followed by campus visits and meetings with administrators, students and stakeholders later that month. The advisory search committee was chaired by Perry Stuckey, a UAPB alum, Pine Bluff native and retired senior vice president at Eastman Chemical Co.

“I’m very proud of how the committee came together and never lose sight of the ultimate goal of doing what’s best for the future of UAPB. President Silveria and the Board of Trustees were presented with high-quality candidates and I’m proud that the institutions reputation is such to draw the attention of so many outstanding candidates. I look forward to seeing Dr. Graham again and seeing his vision for UAPB unfold in the years to come.”

– Perry Stuckey, UAPB Chancellor Advisory Search Committee Chair

About the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public comprehensive HBCU 1890 Land-Grant Institution. The University embraces its land-grant mission of providing cutting edge research, teaching, outreach, and service programs that respond to the social and economic needs of the state and region. Its mission is to promote and sustain excellent academic programs that integrate quality instruction, research, and student learning experiences responsive to the needs of a racially, culturally, and economically diverse student population. Learn more at www.uapb.edu.

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