ASU System Announces Promotions, New Appointments
07/07/2025
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State University System President Dr. Brendan Kelly today announced several new executive roles and promotions in the ASU System Office, effective July 1.
Two longtime executives who participated in the Early Retirement Program are:
Julie Bates, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the system since 2011, who moves into a part-time role as Chief Financial Advisor.
Pam Kail, Executive Assistant to the President since 1991, who moves into a part-time role as Special Advisor to the President while continuing as Secretary of the ASU System Foundation Inc. board of directors.
Promotions include:
Brad Phelps, General Counsel since 2014, who becomes Senior Vice President and General Counsel in an expanded leadership role.
Landen Crancer, Assistant Vice President for Finance and Administration since 2022 and Chief of Staff since January, who becomes Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration and continues as Chief of Staff.
Dr. Lori Pope, Vice Chancellor for Human Resources at Arkansas State University, who becomes Interim Vice President for Human Resources for the ASU System.
New hires include:
Megan Gross, Executive Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary to the ASU System Board of Trustees.
Esther Canales, Operations Specialist.
The Arkansas State University System, based in Little Rock, serves almost 35,000 students annually on campuses in Arkansas and Queretaro, Mexico, and globally online. The System includes two four-year universities, Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. The system's two-year college institutions include ASU-Beebe, with additional campuses in Heber Springs and Searcy and an instructional site at Little Rock Air Force Base; ASU-Newport, with additional campuses in Jonesboro and Marked Tree; ASU-Mountain Home; ASU Mid-South in West Memphis; and ASU Three Rivers in Malvern. Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro opened in September 2017.
