Ouachita Stories

Jason Tolbert, controller for the Arkansas Baptist Foundation since 2004, has been named chief financial officer for Ouachita Baptist University effective March 30. He succeeds Dr. Brett Powell who recently was named director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

Other roles held by Powell as vice president for administrative services have been reassigned to current university administrators, including Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president for institutional advancement, also supervising student financial services, and Bill Phelps, director of IT services, being named assistant to the president for IT services and facilities management.

Tolbert, a 1998 Ouachita graduate, holds a Master of Business Administration degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He also holds an Arkansas license as a certified public accountant.

Serving as the controller for the Arkansas Baptist Foundation for the past 11 years, Tolbert has handled charitable trusts and investments for Arkansas Baptist churches and institutions, including some endowment funds for Ouachita. During his tenure at the Foundation, total assets under management grew from $128 million to more than $230 million.

“I am pleased to have Jason Tolbert come serve with us at Ouachita,” said President Rex Horne. “His devotion is clear. His ability is proven. Jason is a difference maker and will be a great asset to our university and to all of us.”

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to officially rejoin the Ouachita family although like most alumni I feel like I never left,” Tolbert said. “I am delighted to share in the vision Dr. Horne has for the university. We have exciting days ahead of us, and I am privileged that God is allowing me to be a part of it.”

Tolbert previously served in assurance services for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Little Rock, in international accounting for Alltel Information Services and as an office manager for the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council. He also is chairman of the legislative committee for the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Tolbert and his wife, Kathy, are active members of First Baptist Church of Benton where he serves on the budget and finance committee. Mrs. Tolbert, also a 1998 Ouachita graduate, teaches second grade at Howard Perrin Elementary School in Benton. They are the parents of two sons, Luke (10) and John (5.)

 

By Trennis Henderson, OBU Vice President for Communications