August 12, 2026 – The Hendrix
College Board of Trustees Executive Committee unanimously approved a five-year
contract to retain President Karen Petersen through May 31, 2031. Appointed by
the Hendrix trustees in January 2023, Petersen has strengthened the College’s
competitive position, financial health, and integration of the liberal arts and
career preparation since her June 2023 arrival.
“Our Board has strong
confidence in President Petersen and her exceptional leadership as we build the
next chapter of Hendrix College,” said Board Chair Walter Pryor ’87, chief administrative
officer and general counsel at Southern Bancorp, Inc. “Her guidance, vision,
and initiative drive our dynamism as a community, and the entire Board is
tremendously grateful that she accepted our invitation to extend her tenure.”
Under Petersen as its 13th president,
the 150-year-old liberal arts college is sharpening traditions of academic
excellence, innovation, and value to anticipate students’ changing needs. Her
approach champions the enduring value of the liberal arts while strengthening
student preparation for the opportunities and challenges of the future.
“President Petersen’s
reappointment represents continuity and stability at a pivotal moment for
Hendrix and for higher education overall,” Pryor added. “We have accomplished a
great deal together in a short time, introducing fresh momentum for our
strategic direction and key initiatives.”
In April, Petersen introduced a
new cornerstone with Via Hendrix, a
flagship initiative to incorporate holistic career preparation throughout the
undergraduate curriculum. The program positions Hendrix as the only college or
university in Arkansas, and the only liberal arts college in the region, to
require all students to complete cooperative education, or co-op, which
involves professional work or research placements as part of degree programs.
A growing roster of employers
has shown interest in hosting and mentoring co-op students—a reflection of
mutually beneficial relationships that Petersen is fostering across the region.
The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce named her its 2026 Business Executive of the Year.
“As Hendrix’s sesquicentennial
celebrations approach this fall, President Petersen has deepened our roots in
Conway and across Arkansas and led the College to new ways of serving students
and the region,” said Board Vice Chair Eric Jackson ’72, a senior vice
president and board member at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. “The College’s
enthusiastic engagement as an active member of the community boosts Conway,
opens more possibilities for our students, and contributes enormously to the
future we all share.”
Among the achievements that
Petersen has led:
- A
surge in institutional philanthropy, with more than $45 million raised in three
years. Major new support includes a $10 million endowment challenge grant from Little Rock’s Windgate Foundation—among the largest
single investments in Hendrix history—and numerous scholarship endowments. The
Windgate challenge funds strengthen the College’s long-term foundation,
creating a more robust, sustainable endowment that bolsters scholarships and
financial aid, faculty excellence, and distinctive programs.
- The multi-million-dollar restoration of Galloway Hall, the oldest women’s residence
hall at Hendrix and an architectural gem listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Supported by a $2 million challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, the refurbished
landmark will reopen to students for the upcoming fall semester.
- Expanding
student opportunities and access. New opportunities include a partnership with
the University of Central Arkansas to create pathways for students interested
in graduate study or teacher education. A
separate partnership with the Arkansas Colleges of Health
Education expands prospects for students
interested in healthcare careers, creating new routes for education in medical
and allied health fields. Further, Hendrix now participates in the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship Program and the National
Guard Tuition Waiver. These state programs
improve higher education access for Arkansas service members, veterans, and
their relatives. Petersen was an instrumental advocate for the programs’
expansion to include private institutions.
- Hendrix’s
return to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and the addition of women’s flag football. The SCAC, of which the College was a member from 1992 to
2012, aligns with the geographic region of Hendrix’s student enrollment,
student-athlete recruitment, and alumni base. In advancing women’s flag
football, the College is an early leader—and the first in Arkansas to offer it
as a varsity sport.
- Creation
of a city-approved entertainment district in The Village at Hendrix,
enhancing the community-focused neighborhood development as a vibrant gateway
to downtown Conway. The hub supports entrepreneurs and establishes a gathering
space that promotes sustained growth in Conway. Founded by the College, The
Village also highlights Petersen’s emphasis on local investment and
strengthening relationships between Hendrix and its neighbors.
These and other milestones
position Hendrix to keep growing student opportunities, faculty support, and
the College’s overall vibrance.
“Higher education as a whole is
under significant pressure. Demographic trends, generational shifts in
workforce needs, and economic realities present challenges to every
institution,” Petersen said. “Hendrix turns these challenges into
opportunities—and thrives in the process—which reflects the College’s historic
spirit and character. We have always been about excellence and innovation with
a willingness to adapt while staying true to our mission.”
Petersen will center the next
several years on building Hendrix’s position locally and nationally, with
particular attention to modeling the integration of the liberal arts and career
preparation, she said. Continuing robust fundraising to secure resources for
the College’s long-term future is her other key priority.
“I’m excited to build on our
accomplishments together, extend my partnership with the trustees, and continue
the campus-wide collaboration that is preparing Hendrix for its next 150
years,” Petersen added. “As a community, we’ve demonstrated exceptional creativity
and capacity when we work in tandem. I look forward to another five years of
effective and creative shared work.”
About Karen Petersen
A native of northwest Arkansas,
Petersen took office at Hendrix following a comprehensive national search that
included participation by College alumni, trustees, faculty, staff, and
students.
Petersen came to the College
from the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she was a professor of
political science and dean of the Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences.
Earlier, Petersen served 16
years at her undergraduate alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University.
There, in addition to being a faculty member, she served in progressively
responsible leadership roles culminating with her tenure as dean of the College
of Liberal Arts.
Petersen earned her master’s
degree and Ph.D. in political science from Vanderbilt University. She and her
husband, Joey Keasler, a northeast Arkansas native, are the parents of two.
About
Hendrix College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is
featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 45 Schools That Will Change the Way You
Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts
colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career
preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors
compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the
United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the
classroom with the world, and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice,
and sustainable living, the Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives
of accomplishment, integrity, service, and joy.” –Hendrix College Statement of
Purpose