Angela Laird Brenton, dean of the College of Professional Studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Western Carolina University. She starts Aug. 1.

The selection of Brenton, dean at Little Rock since 2001, concludes a national search by a 16-member campus committee to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Kyle R. Carter, who was named chancellor at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in April 2010.

“Angi is one of the most passionate people I know in terms of the importance of a university focus on engagement with the external community,” WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher said. “She is a strong advocate for the academic affairs of her institution, and she is one of the best communicators I have ever met in my life. She is a respected member of her community, and she is loved and adored by her faculty and staff.”

As dean at Little Rock, Brenton is responsible for the departments of audiology and speech pathology, criminal justice, and speech communication; the School of Social Work; the School of Mass Communication; Institute of Government; public radio stations KLRE-KUAR; and the Mid-South Center, which is responsible for all child welfare training in the state of Arkansas. She oversees 150 faculty and staff in a college with an annual budget of $12 million.