Laura Jacobs Named Chief of Staff to UA Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz

Laura Jacobs

The University of Arkansas said Thursday that Laura Jacobs has been named associate vice chancellor and chief of staff for incoming UA Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz. 

Jacobs previously worked as associate vice chancellor for University Relations. She’ll now be responsible for executive strategy and strategic planning, advising the chancellor, serving as a liaison to internal and external constituencies, and special projects. The Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History will report to her, the UA said.

“I was consistently impressed with Laura as I got to know her last year during the chancellor search process in her role leading the search committee,” Steinmetz said in a news release. “Her depth of experience in strategic planning and communications combined with her natural tact in dealing with others make her a perfect fit for this important role.”

Jacobs joined the university in 1998, holding several positions, including manager of development communications, managing editor of Arkansas magazine and senior director of strategic communications. She worked more than two years as director of communications at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art of Bentonville, then returned to university relations in 2014 as associate vice chancellor.

Jacobs is a former advertising coordinator and graphic designer for the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, formerly owned by Arkansas Business Publishing Group of Little Rock, where she worked from 1997 to 1998.

The UA said Mark Rushing will replace Jacobs as acting director of the Office of University Relations after serving as director of strategic communications since early 2012.

Steinmetz began at the university on Jan. 1, replacing G. David Gearhart, who retired June 30. Former UA Chancellor Dan Ferritor served as interim chancellor.

Steinmetz was one of three finalists for the job of leading the system’s flagship campus in Fayetteville. Other finalists were April Mason of Kansas State University and Jeffrey Vitter of the University of Kansas.