CONWAY, Ark. (February 9, 2016) – Hendrix College alumnus Randolph L. Peterson ’89 has been named the College’s first full-time Director of Institutional Research.
In his new role, Peterson will be responsible for collecting information for external accountability and reporting; providing information and analysis related to institutional outcomes and effectiveness; developing internal assessment tools and surveys; and conducting
special research projects for strategic planning.
“Having a Director of Institutional Research will enable us to make decisions using centralized data and will give us a point person to help us collaborate across the institution,” said Hendrix Provost Dr. Terri Bonebright. “Randolph Peterson's experience in
institutional research makes him a tremendous asset to the college, and we are delighted to have someone of his caliber as part of our team.”
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Peterson served as Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky, and as Director of Institutional Research and Accreditation Liaison at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, where he also taught
undergraduate composition and grant writing courses in the University’s Division of Humanities and Fine Arts.
Peterson is a 1989 graduate of Hendrix, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English. In 1991, he completed his master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he also served in research roles for the University’s Office of Institutional Research
and the University’s Institute for Economic Advancement. He also taught in the University’s Department of Rhetoric and Writing as an adjunct instructor.
“It’s deeply gratifying as an alumnus to return to Hendrix to serve the college as Director of Institutional Research,” said Peterson. “Throughout my career, I’ve found that my Hendrix education uniquely prepared me for the demands of this profession.
Institutional Research is rapidly changing, interdisciplinary, and requires effective and creative communication with diverse audiences. It’s the kind of work for which Hendrix graduates are ideally suited. It’s thrilling to be able to bring those skills home to provide information and analysis that helps the
faculty and staff continue to grow the college and plan for the future.”
Peterson began his new role at Hendrix in late fall 2015.
About Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Founded in 1876 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884, Hendrix is featured in Colleges That Change Lives:
40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges and is nationally recognized in numerous college guides, lists, and rankings for academic quality, community, innovation, and value. For more information, visit
www.hendrix.edu.