Schmidt Joins A-State Administrative Leadership Team as Chief of Staff
JONESBORO – Newly appointed Chief of Staff Lane Schmidt likes Arkansas State University’s emphasis on enhancing research, recruiting and retaining students, and continuing to build its reputation for providing quality higher education.
Schmidt recently joined the university administration to provide strategic support and assistance to Chancellor Todd Shields and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Calvin White Jr.
“I view the chief of staff position as an essential role that can be leveraged to benefit our campus,” Schmidt says. “I am excited to work with Chancellor Shields, Provost White, and their executive leadership teams to identify and operationalize campus priorities and special projects.”
With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa, Schmidt previously served for a decade in higher education administrative roles at the University of Arkansas.
Following his experience in the academic initiatives and integrity division, Schmidt progressed to become executive assistant to the deans of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, then chief of staff and executive director of communication for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the university’s largest college.
“I have been lucky to work on several amazing executive leadership teams in higher education and think that will benefit my work here,” he continued. “At A-State, I will help clearly communicate goals and provide support to meet them.”
That work will support institutional goals and administrative initiatives articulated by Chancellor Shields since beginning his tenure at A-State in 2022, followed by Provost White’s arrival last July.
“We’re so happy to have Lane join the A-State leadership team,” Shields said. “In the time I’ve worked with him, I’ve known him to be an excellent communicator, able to provide nuanced and strategic management of special projects, along with support of day-to-day operations.”
White, who also has worked closely with Schmidt, emphasized his talent with providing insight to colleagues and building relationships with high-priority stakeholders, both on campus and the state at large.
“Lane has extensive experience creating bonds on and off campus, working closely with university central administrators, deans, department chairs, and key external constituents,” White noted. “I see him as a facilitator and collaborator, who can help support and accelerate our campus initiatives.”
Schmidt said he sees so many opportunities at A-State, adding to the other incentives that attracted him to Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas.
“Arkansas State is uniquely situated to serve swaths of the state that have largely been ignored by other institutions,” he continued. “We are fulfilling the land-grant mission for the state, without being a land-grant institution. We know those gaps exist and I am excited to continue my professional support of Arkansans.”
When he’s not attending to duties at A-State, Schmidt enjoys family ties, especially the excitement of being uncle to 13 nieces and nephews all under the age of 12 . . . some of whom he hopes may join the Pack someday, he adds with a smile.
