Dr. Christina Drale serves as the Chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Appointed by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees in September 2019, she has led the university in prioritizing educational opportunity, academic program relevance, applied research, and community engagement. Dr. Drale joined UA Little Rock in 2006 as an Associate Dean of the College of Professional Studies before becoming the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 2011. She also served as Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at UA Little Rock before her appointment as Chancellor.

Dr. Drale earned a Ph.D. in sociology, a Master of Arts in sociology, and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of California, San Diego. She accepted her first academic position at Missouri State University where she served as an associate professor of media, journalism and film, and as associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters.

Current memberships include Fifty for the Future, the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Little Rock-Club 99, Arkansas Research Alliance Board, and AR Kids Read, Friend of Reading.

“Growth economies and healthy communities are undergirded by an active research and development sector. UA Little Rock is committed to helping Arkansas thrive through its research mission and its ongoing engagement with research partners.”

— Dr. Christina Drale, Chancellor, UA Little Rock