Dr. Charles Pollard

Since Dr. Pollard’s presidency began in July 2004, the university has received over $365 million in gifts, grown its endowment from $50 million to over $185 million, and completed 23 major building projects. JBU started new academic programs in play therapy, nursing, computer science, data analytics, and cybersecurity, and enrollment has grown to over 1,900 students. The Wall Street Journal has named JBU the #1 school in Arkansas (2021, 2022, 2024) and the university has received “High Honor Role” status in the “Great Colleges To Work For” survey (2015-2021, 2023-2024) by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Dr. Pollard teaches in the undergraduate program regularly and speaks frequently in chapel and other venues. 
Dr. Pollard was elected to the board of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities in 2009 and served as chair from 2013-2018 and as immediate past chair until 2022. He was elected to serve on the Council for Independent Colleges board in 2021 and on the executive committee of the CIC board in 2024. He also serves on the boards of Wheaton College, Arvest Bank in Siloam Springs, and Mercy Northwest Arkansas Community Board.

He received his undergraduate degree in English from Wheaton College in 1985, a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1988, a master’s degree in English from Oxford University in 1990, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia in 1999. He also practiced law at Latham & Watkins for three years and taught English literature at Calvin College for seven years before coming to JBU.

His wife, Carey, works in the Office of the President, and they have four children: Chad, married to Anna, Benjamin (deceased), Emma, married to David, and James married to Annika. They also have seven grandchildren. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Siloam Springs.

Authored by Dr. Pollard