Jay Barth on Thursday announced that he is stepping down as director of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in October after more than three years in the role.
In a Facebook post, Barth said, “I feel a need to transition my professional energies to social change projects and also look forward to a return to the classroom and writing.”
Barth of Little Rock said recent months in the federal workplace have been “distinctly challenging,” but praised library employees’ commitment to public service. He pointed to “amazing archival and digitization numbers,” new public outreach programs and strong community partnerships as some of the library’s achievements under his leadership.
Barth is the third director of the library in downtown Little Rock. The library opened in 2004.
Before he was hired as director in 2022, Barth spent 26 years as a faculty member at Hendrix College and was a member of the inaugural faculty for the University of Arkansas’ Clinton School of Public Service. He also taught at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law.
From 2012 to 2019, Barth was a member of the Arkansas State Board of Education. He was chair of the board for two years.
Barth became chief education officer for the City of Little Rock in 2019. In that role, he coordinated the city’s work to support education from birth through higher education.
Clinton Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Street said on Facebook that Barth exemplifies public service, praising efforts to expand the Clinton Presidential Center’s civics education and cultural programming.
“On behalf of my Clinton Foundation colleagues, I wish you the very best as you begin a new chapter,” she said.
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