Susan Hoffpauir
Susan Hoffpauir will lead the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service until officials find a permanent replacement for longtime dean James L. “Skip” Rutherford, who retires June 30.
Rutherford has led the school since 2006 and announced his retirement in September. A committee was formed in December to conduct the search for his successor.
Hoffpauir, professor and academic dean at the Clinton School, was named interim dean on Wedneseday.
“Dr. Hoffpauir has a wide array of experience and an impressive list of academic and leadership accomplishments during her career and is a natural fit to help lead this unique institution while our search is completed,” University of Arkansas System President Donald Bobbitt said in a news release. “I’m thankful she agreed to step into this role, and I feel confident the Clinton School will continue the impressive trajectory that was fostered under the leadership of Dean Rutherford.”
Hoffpauir added, “While wishing [Rutherford] the best in retirement, the Clinton School has a bright future and I’m excited to be a part of what’s in store as we continue working toward fulfilling our mission of educating and preparing professionals in public service who go on to make great change in the world.”
Hoffpauir joined the school in 2011. She led an institutional curriculum review and revision effort that resulted in a more cohesive curricular design, conducted the school’s first self-study and wrote the 10-year program review required by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
She also facilitated the planning and development of the new online Executive Master of Public Service program, which launched in March 2018.
Hoffpauir earned her bachelor’s degree in social welfare from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University, master’s degree in developmental psychology and Ph.D. in social work and social science from the University of Michigan. She completed a professional development program as well, at the Harvard Institute of Management & Leadership Education.
Hoffpauir has served as president and vice president of the board of directors of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
In addition, she was co-principal investigator on a $175,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Health. That project created a mental health crisis response training curriculum and protocol. Both were used to train 250-plus mental health professionals who delivered care to more than 750 Hurricane Katrina survivors who were displaced in Arkansas in 2005.
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