Dr. R. Duncan Pelly has been appointed as the new Dean, College of Business & Industry at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith effective August 10, 2026. Dr. Pelly is an academic leader with deep international experience in accreditation, entrepreneurship, corporate partnerships, and regional economic development. He comes to UAFS from Fisk University, where he served as Co-Dean of the School of Natural Sciences, Business, and Mathematics, Cal Turner Endowed Chair of Business Administration, and tenured professor. His leadership has included work supporting faculty research, institutional advancement and administration, student affairs, budgeting, hiring, enrollment, and student retention. Prior positions include leadership roles at McMurry University and California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Pelly holds a Ph.D. from EM Lyon Business School in France and a BA in International Relations, French, and German from the University of Pennsylvania. Read more.
