"Executive Director"

The Opportunity

The University of Arkansas System invites nominations and applications for the role of Executive Director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA). One of only 17 residential public high schools of its kind in the United States, ASMSA enrolls roughly 250 sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are among Arkansas’ most academically and artistically gifted and highly motivated students. Additionally, via its Pathways program, ASMSA impacts hundreds of teachers and nearly 4,000 students throughout the state each year. The reach of the school extends statewide beyond high school to 6th-9th graders through involvement in the ASMSA Talent Identification Program, which discovers and develops talent in high-ability students and their teachers. Located in Hot Springs, this role offers a highly visible, mission-critical leadership position with statewide influence in advanced education, workforce development, and innovation.

About ASMSA

Founded by the Arkansas General Assembly in 1991, ASMSA is a premier public residential high school within the University of Arkansas System. The school has earned national recognition—by The Washington Post, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and Niche.com—for its excellence and service to high-achieving students. It offers a rigorous, interdisciplinary curriculum spanning STEM, the arts, and humanities, combined with faculty mentorship and advanced research opportunities. The Residential Life staff creates holistic programming focused on the student experience resulting in healthy communities and student success.

ASMSA serves a highly diverse student body from all 75 Arkansas counties. Nearly half of its faculty hold terminal degrees. Graduating classes secure millions of dollars in competitive scholarships and widespread acceptance at leading colleges and universities. In addition, ASMSA assumes a leadership role across the state through technology outreach, distance learning, talent identification, teacher development, and innovation in emerging fields.

Responsibilities of the Executive Director

As chief executive officer, the Executive Director is accountable for:

• Faculty & Staff Development: inspiring excellence in teaching, learning, and research across disciplines, and cultivating a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth across all campus departments.
• Student Experience: fostering a supportive residential environment that develops intellectual curiosity, creativity, leadership, and personal responsibility with attention to students' mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Fiscal & Administrative Management: overseeing budgets, facilities, personnel, and ensuring compliance with university and state requirements.
• Strategic Planning & Innovation: leading long-range planning, program development, and initiatives aligned with the future of gifted education.
• Resource Development & Fundraising: building and stewarding relationships with alumni, donors, foundations, and funding partners.
• External Relations: representing ASMSA with state government, higher education, national organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Community Engagement: serving as an engaged, visible leader locally and statewide, and strengthening partnerships across civic, cultural, business, and educational sectors.

Living in Hot Springs

Hot Springs provides an outstanding environment for executive leadership, blending natural beauty, cultural richness, and small-city livability. Bordering Hot Springs National Park and set amid the Ouachita Mountains, the city features thermal springs, historic architecture, scenic trails, and multiple lakes such as Hamilton, Catherine, and Ouachita. Downtown Hot Springs combines heritage charm with contemporary vitality: art galleries, theaters, restaurants, shops, and festivals contribute to a vibrant civic culture.

Strategically located in central Arkansas, Hot Springs affords access to Little Rock and other regional hubs, offering both connectivity and cost advantages. The combination of inspiring surroundings, affordability, and cultural amenities makes it a compelling place to live and lead.

Application Process

Nominations and expressions of interest may be submitted to Dr. Michael Moore, Vice President for Academic Affairs, at mmoore@uasys.edu. Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae/resume and a letter of interest through asmsa.me/execdirsearch25. Priority will be given to applications received by January 16, 2026, though the search will remain open until the position is filled.

For more about ASMSA, its mission, programs, and impact, see www.asmsa.org.

Qualifications

Required

• Proven leadership experience with demonstrated capacity to lead complex organizations using shared governance.
• Strong record in institutional administration such as fiscal oversight, strategic planning, operational management, and resource allocation.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to engage and build trust among diverse constituencies (students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, governmental bodies).
• Master’s degree or equivalent.

Preferred

• Administrative leadership in a secondary school environment with selective admissions and/or strong gifted and talented programming and/or a residential model, or in a higher education setting with rigorous academic and artistic programs.
• Teaching experience, especially with high-achieving or gifted learners.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor relations, or community engagement.
• Familiarity with outreach initiatives, student research, teacher and staff professional development, or distance learning.
• A terminal degree.