Students at Harding University share a common trait of taking on activities until there doesn't seem to be any time left to sleep. However, thi s is not unique to students only. Executive Vice President Jim Carr also fill s his ti me with a wide range of activities, including his important rol e at Harding. Carr's official job duties include strategic planning and oversight of the enrollment, advancement, student services and public relations departments, as we ll as the American Studies Institute (ASI). He works closely with Vice Pres ident Mike Williams to target 'enrollmenteach year and attract students to Harding. Whil e Carr works hard, he is quick to give credit to his co-worke rs. "I wo rk with a great team of people who are ded icated to excell ence," Carr said. He attributed the success ofHarding University to the team effort of everyone invo lved. "We do it as a team,"he said. If We want Harding's reputation to match its excellent program. The 75th annive rsary has given us an opportunity to showcase Harding. " Regardless of changes that may take place at Harding, there is one thing Carr hopes never changes . "I want Harding to contiue to change the lives of its students," he sa id. Carr's respons ibilites with the American Studies Institute playa special part in his job with Hard ing. ASI has brought many speakers of international reputation to the campus. "My favorite speaker was probably Prime Mini ster Bhutto of Pakistan," Carr said. "Even though shewas considered royalty, she seemed down to earth and geniunely excited to be here." Dr. Jim Carr chats with Billy Ray Cox, a member of the American Studies Institute board from Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Tom Howard, chair ofthe history and political science department, before a performance by the chorus. Carr has served as executive director of the AS! since it was initiated in 1988. In add ition to his duties at Harding, Carr is a long-standing board membe r at Central Arkansas Hospi tal and Simmons First Bank. He is also a member of the United Way and Kiwanis Club and serves as a deacon at the Cloverdale Church of Christ. Spending time with his family is also very important to Carr. Each weekend is spent with his family, and he cons iders it a "great time." Carr and hi s wife, Susan, have three children, Chelsea, 10; Lance, 9; and Anna Ruth, 2. The Carr family owns a 200-acre farm in the countrysi de just outside of Searcy. They raise Lob Lolly Pine for sale as lumber and own a few cows as we ll. "I love Hardingand th is part of the country," Carr said. "We' re blessed to be here." Afte r completing his undergraduate work at Harding University in 1970, Carr wo rked with Florida State University and American Co ll ege Testing from 1970 until 1987. During this time, he also earned hi s Ph.D., and even attended FSU with President David Burks. Carr returned to Harding in 1987 as the executive vice president. "Coming [back] to Harding was a big change from Florida," Carr said. "I had to adjust from a larger school. "My father had been in university administration all his li fe and I decided to follow in hi s footsteps ," Carr said. "I enjoy wo rking here and I always want it to be a cha ll enge." As Harding Universi ty celebrated 75 years of service, Carr refl ected on the changes over the yea rs . "As I have watched Harding grow dur ing the last 25 years, I am unab le to dream the dream ofwhere Harding is desti ned to go." - Remie Beaulieu r • Photo by Salomon Pineda Lott Tucker and Latina Dykes discuss their schedules for the day. Tucker took on a different role this year as he entered semi-retirement. • 138 A CADEMI CS
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