Southern Arkansas University Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Corbet Lamkin visits with faculty and staff of SAU-Tech in Camden after being announced as their new Chancellor at a press conference there Tuesday morning.
Dr. Corbet Lamkin has announced his retirement as chancellor of Southern Arkansas University Tech effective on January 4, 2016. On that date, Lamkin will begin to work as a special projects assistant for the SAU System and will retain the title of chancellor emeritus.
“Dr. Lamkin has dedicated much of his professional life to both SAU in Magnolia and to SAU Tech in Camden. During my time at SAU, I have met numerous students who credit Dr. Lamkin with being an inspiration to them in the classroom and in directing them in their paths in life. It is quite clear that he will be leaving such a legacy on both campuses,” said SAU President Dr. Trey Berry.
Lamkin has been chancellor of Southern Arkansas University Tech since January 2, 2008. Prior to joining SAU Tech, he served as the vice president for academic affairs with SAU in Magnolia.
During his 26 years at SAU, he served as the director of the Center of Economic Education and Research, director of the Division of Continuing Education, professor of agriculture and economics, and as a member of the graduate faculty.
He has also served on the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and as a director on Ouachita Electric Cooperative Corporation’s Board. He has served on the Ouachita Valley Community Foundation Board since its inception in 1993 and has served as the board’s chairman. Since 1983 he has been on the Ouachita County Medical Center Board and has been chair of that board.
Southern Arkansas University Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Corbet Lamkin speaks at a press conference Tuesday morning, during which he was announced as the new chancellor for SAU-Tech in Camden. Also pictured is SAU President Dr. David Rankin and Lamkin’s wife Verna.
Lamkin earned his B.B.A. from SAU in Business Agriculture; his M.S. from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in Agricultural Economics; and his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in Agricultural Economics with a minor in Economics. While at Mississippi State, Lamkin developed a computer programming application called “multi-stage optimization using separable programming.” His dissertation was also one of the first to incorporate polar coordinates, which would ultimately lead to the GIS and GPS systems we have today.
“SAU Tech has benefitted from Dr. Lamkin’s endless contacts around the state and his astute understanding of our region, its people and of Arkansas politics in general. I hope our community will join me in thanking Dr. Lamkin all of his work and countless years of service to the SAU System and to generations of students,” said Berry.
