Three finalists have been announced in the search for the next executive director at Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) in Hot Springs, with each making independent campus visits between March 13-20.
The finalists were selected with the help of a 12-member advisory search committee chaired by Michael Moore, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs for the University of Arkansas System, which is advising UA System President Jay B. Silveria as he seeks a candidate to recommend to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval.
The finalists will visit campus starting this week for meetings with faculty, staff, administrators, students and various ASMSA stakeholders.
The finalists, in order of their scheduled visits, include:
- Peter L. Gess, Ph.D. (March 13) Economic Policy Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families
- Derek McDowell, Ph.D. (March 18) Director of Secondary Academics, Amarillo (Texas) Independent School District
- Carllos Lassiter, Ed.D. (March 20) V.P. for Student Affairs and Community Engagement, Austin College (Sherman, Texas)
Brief bios of each finalist are included below. More information and search details can be found at the ASMSA Director Search webpage.
“The number and caliber of applicants received from across the country for the position of executive director is a testament to the reputation ASMSA has built as being one of the nation’s top public high schools,” Silveria said. “The pool of high-quality finalists recognizes the magnitude of this opportunity to be a part of leading some of the brightest students our state has to offer and the potential that exists out in the world for them with the experience ASMSA can provide. I want to thank the advisory search committee for helping to recruit such an impressive group, and I look forward to each of them visiting so we can learn more about them as we consider the right fit for this critical position.”
Following the visits, President Silveria will receive feedback from the campus community before making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, which ultimately approves the selection of ASMSA’s next executive director.
“ASMSA is in a great position of carrying a lot of positive momentum due to the hard work and vision of previous leadership, current faculty and staff, and the admirable dedication of Interim Director (Stuart) Flynn,” Moore said. “There is a defined path for growth in its infrastructure and an open runway for the right candidate to step in and continue this overall upward trajectory with fresh ideas and dynamic leadership. I’m looking forward to introducing these finalists to campus and learning more about the unique vision and perspective each one brings to the UA System and the state.”
Below are short biographies about each finalist in order of their planned visits:
Peter L. Gess, Ph.D.
Economic Policy Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Peter L. Gess, Ph.D., has been the economic policy director at Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families since 2024. He was previously a professor of Politics and Environmental Policy at Hendrix College, where he held various positions during his 16 years at the college, including Department Chair, Director of International Programs, Director of the Odyssey Engaged Learning Program, and Associate Provost for Engaged Learning. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a master’s in environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology before completing a doctorate degree in public administration at the University of Georgia.
Derek McDowell, Ph.D.
Director of Secondary Academics, Amarillo (Texas) Independent School District
Derek McDowell, Ph.D., is currently director of secondary academics for the Amarillo (Texas) Independent School District, where his main goal is to provide vision, strategy and leadership to improve secondary student outcomes. He’s previously worked as secondary science curriculum coordinator for the Frisco (Texas) Independent School District. He currently serves on the National Science Education Leadership Association Board of Directors and was the regional coordinator for the Academic Decathlon in North Texas for nearly a decade. He earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and chemistry from Lyon College, a master’s degree in education from Lamar University and a doctorate in physical chemistry from Rice University.
Carllos Lassiter, Ed.D.
V.P. of Student Affairs and Community Engagement, Austin College (Sherman, Texas)
Carllos Lassiter, Ed.D. is currently the vice president for student affairs and community engagement at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he oversees all areas of Campus Life, including residential. He previously worked as assistant vice president for student engagement at American University in Washington, D.C., vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Westminster College (Pennsylvania), and vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Vassar College as well as a master’s degree in higher education administration and student personnel and doctorate in education, both from University of Mississippi.
About the University of Arkansas System (www.uasys.edu)
Since its inception, the University of Arkansas System has developed a tradition of excellence that includes the state’s 1871 flagship, land-grant research university; Arkansas’s premier institution for medical education, treatment and research; a major metropolitan university; an 1890 land-grant university; two regional universities serving southern and western Arkansas; eight community colleges; two schools of law; a presidential school; a residential math and science high school; and a 100 percent-online university and divisions of agriculture, archeology and criminal justice. As the premier higher education system in the state, it enrolls more than 70,000 students, employs more than 17,000 employees, and has a total budget of more than $4 billion. An intrinsic part of the texture and fabric of Arkansas, the UA System is a driving force in the state’s economic, educational and cultural advancement.