0... I Cf) er: w 0 <( w _J TES 3 TI O N RS WORDS Olivia Coo I I PHO H arding's senior vice president, Dr. Jim Carr, celebrated his 30th year at Harding in 2017. Carr first started his career during Dr. David Burks' presidency in 1987 when Burks asked Carr to be his executive vice president. After brief consideration, Carr decided to join the Harding community. " fter accepting the position, I thought I would stay at Harding for about four or five years, and now I have been here 30," Carr said. As executive vice president, Carr was in charge of admissions operation , financial aid, the merican Studies Institute, the ~ alton Scholar program and the China Scholar program. He held this position for 25 years. When Dr. Bruce Mclarty became president in 2013, Carr changed positions, becoming senior vice president. Although Carr did not expect to remain for so many years, he stayed because he thought the institution was unique. "I think that Harding, as a small institution which has emphasized character development and Christian commitment, is so special," Carr said. When Carr was not on campus, he kept busy working on his family's tree farm. Carr related growing trees to Harding. "Sometimes we grow a pine tree and put a stake in the ground next to it to help it grow straight," Carr said. "I think that Harding can kind of serve as that stake for so many young people who come here as they grow." Glenn Dillard, assistant vice president of enrollment management, worked alongside Carr for many years and believed Carr's qualifications were unparalleled in the United States. "Dr. arr is one of the most highly regarded experts in the entire in the area of university enrollment and marketing," Dillard said. Dillard went on to mention that even US President George \Y/ Bush recognized Dr. Carr's expertise when he nominated him to serve on a ational Security Education Board for higher education and was then confirmed by the US enate. Jana Rucker, vice president of communications and marketing, took on Carr's previous role, assuming responsibility for undergraduate admissions and financial aid. Carr planned to sc~le back his responsiblities as enior vice president. "1 have only known Dr. Carr for a year, but I think that it i neat that he and his family hm-e dedicated their lives to Harding," Rucker said. I Or. Jim Carr, senior vice president, has seen many successes ,n his career as a higher education administrator and has been an asset to the university. Carr celebrated 30 years as a part of university staff in various positions in financial aid, the American Studies Institute and the Walton Schoia, program.// Photo by Evan Swearingen
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