Bill

HR 1022

TO WELCOME DR. BRENDAN KELLY AS PRESIDENT OF THE ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Brooks

Ceremonially welcomes Dr. Brendan Kelly as President of the Arkansas State University System and documents his leadership credentials, with no policy or funding changes.

READ AND ADOPTED.

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Bill Summary · HR 1022

Summary — HR 1022 (House Resolution)

Title: To welcome Dr. Brendan Kelly as President of the Arkansas State University System
Classification: House Resolution (ceremonial)
Introduced: February 5, 2025
Status: Read and adopted (May 23–24, 2025)
Companion bill: S 402

Purpose

HR 1022 is a ceremonial resolution formally welcoming Dr. Brendan Kelly as the third President of the Arkansas State University System. The resolution recognizes his prior experience, accomplishments, and leadership credentials and directs that a copy of the resolution be provided to Dr. Kelly.

Key provisions

Officially welcomes Dr. Brendan Kelly as President of the Arkansas State University System.
Records that Dr. Kelly began his tenure on September 23, 2024.
Summarizes Dr. Kelly’s professional background, accomplishments, awards, and academic credentials.
Directs the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide a copy of the adopted resolution to Dr. Brendan Kelly.

Background details included in the resolution

Arkansas State University System serves more than 35,000 students annually across campuses in Arkansas and Mexico and via global online programs.
Dr. Brendan Kelly’s prior leadership roles highlighted:
- President, University of West Georgia (4 years) — led the “Becoming UWG” strategic plan, record fundraising (including the largest gift in institutional history), and enrollment growth.
- Chancellor, University of South Carolina Upstate; Interim President, University of South Carolina.
- Vice President of University Advancement and President of the UWF Foundation, Inc., at the University of West Florida.
- 13 years teaching communication arts in Michigan and Florida.
Other recognitions and service: member of the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; honors from the National Forensic Association; named among “Most Influential Georgians” by regional publications.
Academic degrees: B.S. in Public Relations and M.A. in Communications (Eastern Michigan University); Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Political Communication (Wayne State University).

Who is affected / impact

Primary effect: ceremonial and symbolic recognition of Dr. Brendan Kelly’s appointment.
No policy, regulatory, or budgetary changes are made by this resolution. It creates no binding legal obligations and does not appropriate funds.
It publicly documents the legislature’s welcome and the administration’s credentials for constituents, university stakeholders, and the broader higher-education community.

Procedural timeline (selected)

Feb 5, 2025: Introduced in the House; referred to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; sponsor introductory remarks recorded.
Feb 10, 2025: Committee returned the measure “Do Pass.”
Apr 14, 2025: Read and adopted (notation in legislative history).
May 1–23, 2025: Placed on Local & Consent and Congratulatory & Memorial calendars; laid before the House.
May 23, 2025: Adopted by the House.
May 24, 2025: Reported enrolled.

Notes

HR 1022 is a non-binding, congratulatory resolution intended to record the legislature’s welcome and recognition. It does not alter law, create programs, or allocate funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.