Tom Courtway, the twice-interim and now semipermanent president of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, has an enduring relationship with both UCA and its home city.
Courtway, 59, moved to Conway with his family in 1961 as a third-grader. His parents are UCA alums, and his father worked for years in athletics at Hendrix College, the Conway school that became Courtway’s alma mater.
(For more profiles of the leaders of Arkansas educational institutions, click here.)
From 1993 through 2002, Courtway practiced law in Conway. In 2002, Courtway accepted a job as general counsel for UCA.
“This school is part of me,” Courtway said. “I wanted the opportunity to go to work there, and I’ve enjoyed every moment since then. I consider it a privilege to work there.”
He began serving as general counsel in 2002, while taking time to serve the interim president stints, first from September 2008 to June 2009 and then Sept. 2, 2011, through Dec. 16, 2011.
Courtway provided UCA stability during turbulent transitions in leadership after the misconduct of the school’s most recent past presidents, Lu Hardin and Allen Meadors.
Following Meadors’ resignation in 2011 and Courtway’s second term as interim president, Courtway agreed to serve as UCA president for no more than three years.
While president, Courtway said he particularly wants to work toward increasing enrollment and retaining students.
Courtway also said he wants to balance needs for new academic and residential buildings with financial responsibility.
Sign up for Daily E-news
