Ike Wheeler Appointed Chancellor of ASU-Newport
Ike Wheeler Appointed Chancellor of ASU-Newport
LITTLE ROCK, (Ark.) — The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees has appointed Ike Wheeler as chancellor of Arkansas State University-Newport, placing a longtime ASUN leader at the helm of the institution he has served for more than three decades.
Ike Wheeler, ASU-Newport Chancellor
The Board approved the appointment Monday, Sept. 28, upon the recommendation of ASU System President Dr. Todd Shields. Wheeler had served as interim chancellor since August 2025.
“It is my highest honor to serve ASU-Newport as chancellor,” Wheeler said. “Spanning some 35 years, my connection with this institution has been my proudest association. I am humbled by this opportunity and appreciate the confidence of Dr. Shields and the Board of Trustees. I am eternally grateful to my wonderful network of friends, faculty and staff, and most especially the students and communities driving our work. I will strive ardently to remain worthy of this trust.”
Wheeler’s appointment comes during a milestone year for ASU-Newport as the institution celebrates 50 years of providing education and workforce training to communities across Northeast Arkansas. His own history with the college spans much of that transformation.
During Wheeler’s career, ASU-Newport has grown from a small technical institution serving approximately 600 students into a comprehensive community college with campuses in Newport, Jonesboro and Marked Tree. Today, ASU-Newport serves thousands of students annually through academic, technical, workforce and concurrent enrollment programs.
“These appointments provide strong leadership and continuity at two institutions with tremendous opportunities ahead,” Shields said in announcing the appointments of Wheeler and Arkansas State University Chancellor Dr. Calvin White Jr. “Ike’s three decades of service to ASU-Newport give him a deep understanding of its people, its mission and its role in the communities it serves.”
Wheeler previously served ASU-Newport as vice chancellor for institutional advancement, overseeing areas including fundraising, community outreach, campus events and alumni relations. He was named vice chancellor for leadership and community engagement in 2019 before his title was updated in 2023 to reflect his expanded role in institutional advancement. He also previously served briefly as interim chancellor in 2021.
His career at ASU-Newport has paralleled some of the most significant periods of growth in the college’s history, including its evolution from a technical institute into an independent two-year college and the expansion of ASUN’s presence across Northeast Arkansas.
ASU System Board of Trustees Chair Robert Rudolph congratulated Wheeler and White following the Board’s vote, emphasizing the role institutional leadership plays in creating opportunities for students and communities.
Wheeler is a resident of Swifton and is active in organizations including Arkansas Community Colleges, the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, the Jackson County Historical Society and Iron Mountain Regional Arts.
He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Arkansas State University.
Wheeler succeeds Dr. Johnny Moore, who left ASU-Newport in 2025 to become president of Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
As chancellor, Wheeler will lead ASU-Newport as the college enters its next chapter while building on a relationship with the institution that has already spanned most of its 50-year history.