University announces new leadership for undergraduate enrollment

Aug. 1, 2017 | Admissions | Financial Aid |

Harding University President Bruce McLarty announced that Jana Rucker, vice president for university communications and marketing, will assume responsibility for undergraduate admissions and financial aid effective Aug. 1. In her expanded role, Rucker will lead University offices of admissions and financial aid along with communications and marketing. Her new title will be vice president for university communications and enrollment.

The change in reporting for the offices of undergraduate admissions and financial aid is a result of organizational restructuring to address Senior Vice President Jim Carr’s planned scaling back of his daily responsibilities. Carr has served the University for 30 years.

“When Dr. Carr announced that he would be stepping away from admissions, I thought this would be the perfect time to make a stronger organizational connection between marketing and admissions,” McLarty said. “This is an exciting possibility and is a natural fit because admissions and university communications and marketing both serve the vital purpose of promoting what the University offers.”

Rucker has been with the University as vice president for university communications and marketing since August 2016. She previously served as senior director of global brand and marketing for Satcom Direct, a connectivity provider for aviation. She has held various marketing leadership roles in the insurance industry with companies such as Willis North America and Crump Group Inc. and spent 15 years in marketing leadership roles at Sprint Corp and AT&T. Rucker is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University.

“Jana has impressed everyone during her first year at Harding,” McLarty said. “She is a visionary leader and a great listener. Most importantly, Jana is passionate about the mission of the University. It is amazing how quickly she has learned the people and the culture of Harding. I look forward to seeing how her impressive skill set will positively impact the challenges and opportunities of these new areas of responsibility.”