Williams Baptist University adds four board of trustee members

The board of trustees at Williams Baptist University added four new members Tuesday (Dec. 9) during its regularly scheduled meeting. Don Blackmore of Jonesboro, Andy Miller of Melbourne, Tommy Miller of Beebe, and Melvin York of Des Arc joined the board.

“Our new trustees all care deeply about Christian higher education, and they all have a strong connection to Williams,” said WBU President Dr. Stan Norman. “Three of these gentlemen are WBU alumni, and the other is the father of a Williams graduate. We appreciate their commitment to this institution and we look forward to their service on our Board of Trustees.”

In official business, the board approved granting tenure to Dr. Rodney Harris, as well as promoting him in rank to associate professor of history. Harris, who has served on the Williams faculty for seven years, is chair of the Department of History and Political Science. He was recommended for tenure by a faculty committee.

“Dr. Harris has distinguished himself as a scholar in both history and political science,” said Norman. “He is a published author, and he is regarded as a preeminent expert on the Arkansas Constitution, among other areas of historical expertise. He is an asset to Williams in the classroom, and a valued member of our campus family. We are very excited to have him among our tenured faculty.”

The board also discussed a $1.9 million Arkansas workforce grant that WBU will be receiving. The award was announced in November, and Norman said the university is currently finalizing plans on how best to make use of the grant funds.

The board heard from Little Rock attorney Mike Rainwater about the responsibilities of trustees. Rainwater has for years provided such trustee training for institutions of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, which includes Walnut Ridge-based WBU.