Joanna and Richard Hudson bequest $100,000 to University of Arkansas

Richard Hudson, vice chancellor for government and community relations, and his wife, Joanna, have made a $100,000 bequest to the University of Arkansas.

The gift, which will provide unrestricted funding to the university’s areas of greatest need, is what Richard calls a “gift of appreciation” for the time he and Joanna have been affiliated with the university.

“When our own faculty and staff make commitments like this, it speaks highly of our campus culture and their confidence in the university,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “Richard has been a friend and colleague of mine for 15 years, and I was touched when he told me he wanted to make this gift. He has already given the university almost 20 years of service and has been a valuable part of our success. We are very appreciative of Richard and Joanna for their generosity.”

Richard and Joanna are natives of Warren, Ark. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, Richard became involved in education. In 1969, he and Joanna moved to Fort Smith, where Richard taught political science at what was then Westark Community College, and Joanna worked as an elementary teacher in the public schools and was an adjunct faculty member at Westark.

They moved to Fayetteville in 1994 when Richard took the job of director of government relations. In his current role as vice chancellor for government and community relations, Richard acts as the university’s lobbyist and connection to the Arkansas legislature.

“I’ve seen the importance of unrestricted gifts over the years,” Richard said. “Since this gift is being made in the form of a bequest, it seemed necessary to give the university some flexibility in how it is spent, because you never know what the needs will be at that particular time.”

The Hudsons are members of the Arkansas Alumni Association and Heritage Society and will be inducted into the Towers of Old Main this spring.