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Ouachita alumnus Rex Nelson named president of AICU
January 06, 2011 - OBU News Bureau
Rex Nelson, a 1982 alumnus of Ouachita Baptist University, has been named president
of Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, an association of the state’s
private accredited institutions of higher education.
Kearney Dietz, who has served as the AICU president for the past 22 years, will move into the role of senior adviser to the organization.
AICU Chairman Ken Hoppe, president of Crowley’s Ridge College at Paragould, made the announcement Thursday afternoon, Jan. 6, at a press conference in Little Rock.
“All of the AICU presidents join me in thanking Kearney Dietz for his exemplary leadership of our organization during the past 22 years,” Hoppe said. “We acknowledge with grateful appreciation the valuable service and organizational oversight he has provided.
“Kearney has long represented and promoted the 11 private colleges and universities,” Hoppe added. “We’re excited about the appointment of Rex Nelson as his successor. Rex brings valuable experience and a well-deserved reputation to the job.”
"Rex Nelson is a proud graduate of Ouachita and an active friend with our university,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “I am pleased that Rex will lead our Arkansas independent colleges and universities. His experience in journalism, public policy and business make him a natural to give leadership at this time. Rex is another Ouachita graduate who is making a major difference."
AICU colleges and universities enroll almost 10 percent of those pursuing baccalaureate degrees in the state and produce almost 19 percent of the graduates. AICU was formed in 1954.
In addition to Ouachita Baptist University and Crowley’s Ridge College, AICU member institutions include Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Central Baptist College in Conway, Harding University in Searcy, Hendrix College in Conway, John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Lyon College in Batesville, the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Philander Smith College in Little Rock and Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge.
“Those who know me know that I have a passion for Arkansas,” Nelson said. “Nothing is more important to the future of our state than increasing the percentage of the population with college degrees.
“The 11 institutions represented by AICU play a vital role in improving Arkansas,” Nelson emphasized. “I’m proud to be a graduate of an AICU institution and look forward to working with Kearney as we ensure that Arkansans understand the importance of private higher education.”
Nelson, 51, has served since June 2009 as the senior vice president for government relations and public outreach at The Communications Group, a Little-Rock based marketing, advertising and public relations firm. Prior to that, he spent 13 years in government. He was named Gov. Mike Huckabee’s director of policy and communications when Huckabee took office in July 1996 and was a member of the governor’s senior management team for more than nine years. Nelson was named by President George W. Bush in 2005 as one of the president’s two appointees to the Delta Regional Authority, a regional planning and economic development agency that serves 252 counties and parishes in parts of eight states. He served at the DRA for almost four years and became a leading spokesman on Delta issues.
Nelson had a long career in journalism prior to entering government service. He was the political editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette during President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign and Clinton’s first term. He earlier had served as the Washington bureau chief and the assistant sports editor of the Arkansas Democrat. Nelson still writes a weekly column for the Democrat-Gazette and is the author of a blog known as Rex Nelson’s Southern Fried at www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com.
Nelson is an Arkadelphia native and a summa cum laude graduate of Ouachita.
Kearney Dietz, who has served as the AICU president for the past 22 years, will move into the role of senior adviser to the organization.
AICU Chairman Ken Hoppe, president of Crowley’s Ridge College at Paragould, made the announcement Thursday afternoon, Jan. 6, at a press conference in Little Rock.
“All of the AICU presidents join me in thanking Kearney Dietz for his exemplary leadership of our organization during the past 22 years,” Hoppe said. “We acknowledge with grateful appreciation the valuable service and organizational oversight he has provided.
“Kearney has long represented and promoted the 11 private colleges and universities,” Hoppe added. “We’re excited about the appointment of Rex Nelson as his successor. Rex brings valuable experience and a well-deserved reputation to the job.”
"Rex Nelson is a proud graduate of Ouachita and an active friend with our university,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “I am pleased that Rex will lead our Arkansas independent colleges and universities. His experience in journalism, public policy and business make him a natural to give leadership at this time. Rex is another Ouachita graduate who is making a major difference."
AICU colleges and universities enroll almost 10 percent of those pursuing baccalaureate degrees in the state and produce almost 19 percent of the graduates. AICU was formed in 1954.
In addition to Ouachita Baptist University and Crowley’s Ridge College, AICU member institutions include Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Central Baptist College in Conway, Harding University in Searcy, Hendrix College in Conway, John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Lyon College in Batesville, the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Philander Smith College in Little Rock and Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge.
“Those who know me know that I have a passion for Arkansas,” Nelson said. “Nothing is more important to the future of our state than increasing the percentage of the population with college degrees.
“The 11 institutions represented by AICU play a vital role in improving Arkansas,” Nelson emphasized. “I’m proud to be a graduate of an AICU institution and look forward to working with Kearney as we ensure that Arkansans understand the importance of private higher education.”
Nelson, 51, has served since June 2009 as the senior vice president for government relations and public outreach at The Communications Group, a Little-Rock based marketing, advertising and public relations firm. Prior to that, he spent 13 years in government. He was named Gov. Mike Huckabee’s director of policy and communications when Huckabee took office in July 1996 and was a member of the governor’s senior management team for more than nine years. Nelson was named by President George W. Bush in 2005 as one of the president’s two appointees to the Delta Regional Authority, a regional planning and economic development agency that serves 252 counties and parishes in parts of eight states. He served at the DRA for almost four years and became a leading spokesman on Delta issues.
Nelson had a long career in journalism prior to entering government service. He was the political editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette during President Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign and Clinton’s first term. He earlier had served as the Washington bureau chief and the assistant sports editor of the Arkansas Democrat. Nelson still writes a weekly column for the Democrat-Gazette and is the author of a blog known as Rex Nelson’s Southern Fried at www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com.
Nelson is an Arkadelphia native and a summa cum laude graduate of Ouachita.
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