Hendrix President Timothy Cloyd Stepping Down

Dr. J. Timothy Cloyd is stepping down as President of Hendrix College after 12 years in that position, according to a statement from the school.

Cloyd will return to the faculty as a professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations and work in higher education consulting after a sabbatical.

Cloyd became the 10th President of Hendrix in October 2001 after serving as Vice President for College Relations and Development for five years.

During Cloyd’s tenure, the College launched its Odyssey program. The Hendrix student body and faculty grew by almost 40 percent during his term and Hendrix successfully completed a $100 million comprehensive campaign, the largest in the school’s history.

“One thing I have learned is that organizations are living, evolving organisms,” Cloyd said. “Twelve years is a reasonable time to run an organization and, during that time, Hendrix has assumed national leadership among private, liberal arts colleges and has successfully completed a major capital campaign. The time is right to bring in fresh leadership to forge a new strategic direction for the College.”

“I will always be grateful to the Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, and alumni and friends who have invested so much of themselves so generously on behalf of our students,” Cloyd added. “We have carried the legacy of our founders, the United Methodist Church, and our predecessors at Hendrix forward and, with the support of this community, Hendrix will continue to reach new horizons.”

Hendrix alumnus W. Ellis Arnold III, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Dean of Advancement, will serve as Acting President during a national search for Cloyd’s successor.

“President Cloyd’s leadership will always be synonymous with an era of unprecedented progress for the College,” said Arnold. “I look forward to working with Hendrix Trustees, faculty and staff, students, and alumni and friends to continue the advancement of the Hendrix mission.”