Palm Beach Atlantic University trustees appoint Lu Hardin 7th president

Jul 1, 2009

WEST PALM BEACH (PBA)-Palm Beach Atlantic University trustees June 30 voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the presidential search committee to appoint Lu Hardin, J.D. as PBA’s seventh president. President Hardin begins his term of service begins July 1.

An educator who became a state senator, Hardin, 57, is the former president of the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). During his six-year tenure, enrollment at UCA increased from 8,000 to 13,000 and the average incoming student ACT score rose from 22.1 to 23.5. Graduation rates increased from 47 to 55.4 percent. Hardin championed the UCA athletic program’s successful bid to obtain National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I status.

Photo courtesy of PBAU

Previously, Hardin taught at Arkansas Tech University – his alma mater – for nearly 20 years, achieving tenure and the rank of Professor of Legal Studies and Business. He was named an outstanding faculty member and was a member of the faculty senate.

His career in government service began in 1983 with his election to the Arkansas State Senate. His committee assignments included chairing the Senate Education Committee and the Arkansas Advisory Committee for Vocational Education. After 13 years in the Senate, he became director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, a post he held for five years.

“Lu is a person of great character and ability as well as a man of great faith. Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate of Christ-centered higher education,” said R. Marshall Jones, Palm Beach Atlantic trustee and chairman of the presidential search committee. “Lu Hardin has vision and leadership to take PBA to the next level of excellence and make it a top-tier Christian university.”

Jones noted that the presidential search committee reviewed credentials of more than 75 men and women in the initial candidate pool. Based on his strong career credentials and leadership experiences, Hardin emerged as the leading candidate to succeed PBA’s retiring President David W. Clark, 69, who served six years.

“The trustees were impressed by President Hardin’s proven record of success,” said John P. Greene III, chairman of PBA’s board of trustees. “He has demonstrated the abilities to foster relationships with students, alumni and university friends.”

“I am humbled, honored and energized by the board's confidence in me to lead and serve PBA as its new president,” Hardin said. “I feel truly blessed.”

Presently, Hardin is of counsel with the Bullock Law Firm in Russellville, Ark. He served on the boards of Friendship Services for the Handicapped, the Salvation Army, the Wesley Foundation, and TNT Ministries, Inc., all in Russellville. In addition, he has chaired the United Way of Pope County Fund Drive and the Russellville Planning Commission. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and the American Association of University Professors. He is a former member of the Russellville, Ark Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Hardin and his wife of 33 years, Mary, are members of Second Baptist Church in Conway and attend the Church at Rock Creek when they are in Little Rock. They are parents to Scott Hardin, director of marketing for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Mallory Hardin, a reporter for KARK Channel 4 in Little Rock.

Hardin earned his juris doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arkansas Tech.

Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, independent university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees, with campuses in West Palm Beach, Orlando and Wellington. The University is dedicated to the integration of Christian principles to prepare students for lifelong learning, leadership and service. For more information, go online to: http://www.pba.edu.

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