The AICU President

Photograph of Andy Goodman

Andy Goodman, president of Arkansas Independent Colleges and Universities

Andy Goodman, who served as legislative director for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, became the president of Arkansas’ Independent Colleges & Universities in July 2019.

Goodman replaced Rex Horne, who had served as the AICU president since January 2015.

“Andy Goodman is not only a graduate of one of our Arkansas independent colleges, he brings extensive administrative and legislative experience to the position,” said Richard Dunsworth, president of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and chair of the AICU search committe. “Andy will be a strong spokesperson and staunch advocate for the value of private education. His experience with the state legislature and with public policy, as well as being a collaborative and influential leader, will enhance the contributions that Arkansas’s private colleges and universities make to a broad set of stakeholders, including the citizens of Arkansas, students and alumni of the member campuses. We are excited about the experience he brings and his commitment to Arkansas.”

Goodman, a graduate of Harding University, has served as a senior legislative aide since 2015. He has been the chief legislative aide to Senate President Pro Tempore Jim Hendren since 2018 and served the same position for Senate President Pro Tempore Jonathan Dismang from 2015-18. Goodman also was  the legislative director for Gov. Hutchinson in 2018.

Prior to his legislative aide positions, Goodman worked with the Commissioner of State Lands from 2009 to 2015, serving as the agency’s director of real estate for the final two years.

“I am honored and excited to be selected as the next president of the AICU,” Goodman said. “I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the board of directors for this opportunity. I truly believe we have a wonderful and convincing story to tell. I appreciate the diversity of our member institutions, and have confidence in the strength we create together.”

AICU represents the state’s 11 accredited private institutions of higher education. It operates from offices in North Little Rock, specializing in governmental affairs and public affairs for private higher education.

Members of AICU are the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education in Fort Smith, Central Baptist College in Conway, Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, Harding University in Searcy, Hendrix College in Conway, John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Lyon College in Batesville, Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Philander Smith College in Little Rock, University of the Ozarks in Clarksville and Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge.

What’s now AICU was founded in the spring of 1954. Charter members of what was then known as the Arkansas Foundation of Associated Colleges were Arkansas College (now Lyon College), College of the Ozarks (now a university), Harding College (now a university), Hendrix College, John Brown University, Ouachita Baptist College (now a university) and Southern Baptist College (now Williams Baptist College).

During the organization’s more than six decades of existence, more than $20 million has been raised and distributed to member institutions. In the early years, the funds distributed were unrestricted and used for a variety of purposes. Now, all money raised is used for student scholarships.