Arkansas Baptist College names interim president, new board member

Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock has named Regina Favors as interim president and added former Judge Richard Mays to its board of directors.

Favors will serve in the role replacing Joseph Jones, who was dismissed earlier this summer amid financial concerns. She is a a graduate of Arkansas Baptist College, as were her parents. Her father, the late Dr. W.O. Lindsey, served on the college’s board of trustees and her mother also volunteered as a college librarian.

Mays has a long and distinguished legal, judicial and business career. He has served on the board of trustees of Arkansas Baptist College for nearly 10 years in a previous stint.

“We are so pleased that Regina Favors is assuming the position of Interim President,” said Mays. “Mrs. Favors is extremely well suited for this important leadership role. Regina is a graduate of this institution who has had a distinguished career as a senior business executive. No one could be more passionate about serving our students and this community. She is the right person, at the right time, to help us focus on preparing our students for a lifetime of achievement in their chosen careers.”

Prior to accepting the role of college president, Favors served as President and CEO of Pinnacle Business Solutions, a subsidiary of Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. She had been with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas for 43 years. She previously worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C.

Favors has taught as an Adjunct Professor with her alma mater from 1986 to 2004. She also taught at Philander Smith College and Webster University.

Favors serves on the board for Arkansas Baptist College and has served on 32 other boards, including the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Foundation Board, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Arkansas Coordinating Council, the Quorum Court of the Pulaski County Public Facilities Board and Achieving Leadership Institute in Dallas, Texas.

Favors holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas Baptist College. She earned a Master’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University with a focus in Education. She completed the Duke University Executive Program and is a Certified Health Insurance Executive.

Arkansas Baptist College is a Historically Black College founded in 1884 and built by the children of slaves in order to provide their children an opportunity to pursue educational and aspirational dreams. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.