On Campus, UA Introduces New Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz

Joseph Steinmetz

Joseph E. Steinmetz won’t take over as chancellor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville until January, but System President Donald Bobbitt and Interim Chancellor Dan Ferritor made sure Steinmetz would look the part.

Bobbitt officially introduced Steinmetz as the sixth chancellor on Friday at the Faulkner Center. Ferritor, who is serving until Steinmetz takes the reins, came on stage and presented Steinmetz with a red jacket to wear.

Steinmetz, who also answered questions after reading prepared remarks, said he hopes his appointment as chancellor would be the “exclamation mark” on his academic career. Arkansas selected Steinmetz, executive vice president and provost at Ohio State, on Oct. 21 to replace David Gearhart, who retired in July.

“It is sure great to be a Razorback,” Steinmetz said. “It’s very difficult to describe how I feel at this time.”

Steinmetz will earn an annual salary of $700,000. He was selected over April Mason of Kansas State University and Jeffrey Vitter of the University of Kansas after a seven-month search.

Steinmetz said there were as many as 40 reasons why he chose to pursue the Arkansas job before listing 10 during the news conference.

“One wants to be a leader in a special place,” Steinmetz said.