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Biography of the Provost

Dr. Calvin White, Jr.
Dr. Calvin White, Jr.
Calvin White, Jr. was named Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor in spring of 2023. Stepping into the role of the chief academic officer and second-in-command of the university, White is the first African American named provost at A-State.

White directs the institution’s largest division, as well as overseeing the College of Agriculture, Neil Griffin College of Business, College of Education and Behavioral Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Liberal Arts and Communication, College of Science and Mathematics, University College, the Graduate School, and the upcoming College of Veterinary Medicine. Additionally, he oversees several vital community outreach programs including the Arkansas State Heritage Sites, the A-State Museum, and the A-State Reserve Officer Training Program regiment, which is one of the largest in the region. White is also the top liaison for the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State. Already, he has played a pivotal role in academic reorganization efforts.

Prior to joining A-State, White was the senior associate dean in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In his role at UA, he was a key administrator of the largest college on the campus, overseeing several academic areas including programs, departments, centers and schools, including the Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, the Diane Blair Center for Southern Politics and Society, and the Arkansas Humanities Center.

During his time at UA, White served as a fellow in the SEC Academic Leadership Program and earned several teaching, advising and service awards, including the Fulbright Master Teacher Award, and the Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship. He also was inducted into UA’s Teaching Academy and served Gilder-Lehrman Fellow at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York.

White enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. One of his other great joys is travel. White has spent extensive time in east and west Africa and Europe along with numerous other international locations.