Lynita Cooksey
Lynita Cooksey announced Friday that the upcoming academic year will be her last as vice chancellor and provost at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
She will retire from A-State at the end of 2018-19.
Cooksey, Ph.D., said in a news release, “I’ve enjoyed working with administrative leadership and faculty throughout the university. I look forward to working with Chancellor [Kelly] Damphousse during this final year and the transition process, in the best interests of the institution.”
Cooksey was appointed vice chancellor and interim provost in mid-2012, followed by a permanent appointment a few months later.
Damphousse said in the release, “She worked tirelessly over the past years on our successful accreditation process with the Higher Learning Commission, and was instrumental to implementing several important changes in our academic procedures that have placed in good standing with HLC.”
The selection process for the new provost will involve key academic constituencies and organizations across campus, including faculty and administrative leadership, the univeristy said.
After joining the A-State faculty in 1993, Cooksey taught for several years in the Department of Biological Sciences before serving as chair and associate chair. Later, she was appointed associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Then she was promoted to associate vice chancellor of Academic Services in 2000.
Her other appointments include dean of University College, now Undergraduate Studies, where she was involved in starting the university’s First-Year Experience program.
Cooksey earned her doctoral degree in entomology at Oklahoma State University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from A-State. She is a graduate of Jonesboro High School.
Sign up for Daily E-news
