A-State Chancellor Todd Shields Named 2026 Rural Advocate of the Year
May 20, 2026JONESBORO, Ark. (May 20, 2026) – Arkansas State University Chancellor Todd Shields has been named the 2026 Rural Advocate of the Year by the Arkansas Rural Development Commission.
The honor was presented to Shields by Becca Caldwell, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's Division of Rural Services, during a luncheon held May 20 at the annual Rural Development Conference at the Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro.
“Chancellor Todd Shields is making a significant impact in Northeast Arkansas, driving new educational initiatives and workforce development projects in the region,” said Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “We are honored to name Chancellor Shields as the 2026 Rural Advocate of the Year and look forward to his continued success advancing education and workforce development in Arkansas.”
Shields has served as the Chancellor of Arkansas State University in 2022, focusing on building partnerships with the local community and industry leaders to strengthen the Northeast Arkansas region and create opportunities for A-State students. He is the fourth appointed chancellor and the 14th individual to lead the university since its inception.
"I’m honored to receive this recognition and proud to stand alongside the educators, local leaders, and industry partners across our state who are making a difference in rural Arkansas,” said Arkansas State University Chancellor Todd Shields. “Higher education changes lives, and I remain committed to supporting efforts that help every part of our state, no matter its size, continue to grow and succeed.”
Since 2022, Shields has spearheaded several transformational initiatives at Arkansas State University. These initiatives include the state’s first College of Veterinary Medicine, which will accept its first student class this fall; a new Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing; and securing competitive workforce grants to expand training opportunities in partnership with Arkansas Northeastern College and ASU-Newport.
A nationally recognized scholar and academic administrator, Shields previously served in multiple roles at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He served as the dean for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the largest academic unit at the university.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, as well as a Master of Arts in political science and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.
Past recipients have included many outstanding Arkansans who have been dedicated to rural Arkansas: former U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and David Pryor, former Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Secretary of Agriculture Butch Calhoun, State Senators Missy Irvin, Larry Teague, Randy Laverty and James Scott, State Representatives Sam Angel, Phil Jacobs and Johnnie Bolin, former Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane, Lake Village Mayor Jo Ann Bush, Mulberry Mayor Gary Baxter, Rex Nelson, Annett Pagan, Donna Kay Yeargan, former ARDC Chairman Bruce Leggitt, Sip Mouden, Randy Young, and Bob Summerville.
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About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn’t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.
