Col. Addie Mae Morris ’80
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA 2026
Service has never been just a chapter in Col. Addie Mae Morris’ ’80 life. It has been the through line.
From her earliest days in Alabama, where she was born to sharecropper parents, Morris understood both the challenges and the possibilities that come with determination and education. At a time when access to nursing programs for Black women was limited, she began her career as a licensed practical nurse, continuing her studies before ultimately finding her way to the University of Central Arkansas, where she earned her Master of Science in nursing in 1980.
Her commitment to learning did not stop there. She later earned a doctorate in educational psychology and a master’s degree in military science, further strengthening a foundation that would support an extraordinary career.
That career defies easy categorization.
In the private sector, Morris has served as president and CEO of Grandville Construction Company in Little Rock since 1968.
In healthcare, she held leadership roles within Arkansas Health Services, including assistant hospital administrator and director of nursing education. At the same time, she built a distinguished military career, serving 27 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, rising to the rank of colonel and serving as inspector general for the 807th MEDCOM.
A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she received numerous military honors, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
Yet titles alone do not capture her influence.
Across Arkansas, Morris has been a trusted voice in public service, appointed by governors from both parties to numerous boards and commissions, including the State Board of Nursing, the Capitol Zoning Commission and the Arkansas Apprenticeship Board.
In the 1990s, she also reached readers across the state through her Arkansas Tribune column, “Moments W/Addie,” where she reflected on everyday life with clarity and compassion.Her philanthropic work reflects that same spirit. Through Drake Nurses Charity, she has led health missions and educational outreach efforts serving communities in the southern United States and abroad, including Jamaica, Haiti and the Philippines.
She has created opportunities for young people through initiatives like the Ralph Vines Public Speaking Contest and has continued to champion civility and leadership as founder of the Hat & Glove Society.
Despite a lifetime of achievement, Morris remains deeply connected to UCA, where she serves on the advisory board for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.
Her life’s work reflects a quiet but powerful truth: meaningful leadership is not defined by recognition, but by service that endures.
In honoring Col. Addie Mae Morris as a Distinguished Alumna, UCA celebrates a legacy built not on a single path, but on a lifetime of lifting others along the way.
Dr. Jeff Standridge ’90
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS 2026
For Dr. Jeff Standridge ’90, success has never followed a single path. Instead, it has been defined by building momentum for people, for ideas and for communities.
A 1990 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, Standridge earned his bachelor’s degree in health sciences. He later completed a master’s degree and earned a Doctor of Education focused on leadership and organizational behavior. That academic foundation would shape a career defined not by one discipline, but by the ability to connect to them.
He began in healthcare, working as a formally trained paramedic and respiratory therapist at Conway Regional Hospital. He later served at Arkansas Children’s Hospital as part of the Angel One Helicopter Team and taught at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Those early roles placed him at the intersection of urgency, service and real-world problem solving, experiences that would influence everything that followed.
Standridge’s career then expanded into the global business arena, where he served as vice president of global operations at Acxiom Corporation. In that role, he led both established and startup business units across North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. His work focused on innovation, strategy, profit growth and organizational transformation, and he became known for his ability to help organizations navigate change and seize opportunity.
At the same time, he has remained deeply committed to service. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the Arkansas Army National Guard, Standridge was recognized as “Soldier of the Year” by the 87th Troop Command.
His civic leadership in Arkansas includes service on the Arkansas Aeronautics Commission, where he served as chair in 2025, and ongoing leadership as chair of the Conway Regional Health System Board of Directors. He also serves on the Conway Development Corporation board, contributing to economic growth and community development.
His connection to UCA has remained constant and deeply personal.
Standridge has served on the College of Business Advisory Board and the Aviation Academy Advisory Board, and he previously served on the UCA Foundation Board of Directors, including as chair from 2020 to 2022 during the public launch of the UCA Now campaign.
Alongside his wife, Lori, he has invested in future generations through the creation of the Lori and Dr. Jeff Standridge Health Sciences Scholarship and the Dr. Jeff and Lori Standridge Innovation & Entrepreneurship Scholarship, the university’s first endowed scholarship in that field. The couple also served as co-chairs of the 2020 Laurels & Stripes gala.
Colleagues and students alike describe Standridge as someone who sees potential where others see limits. Whether mentoring entrepreneurs, advising organizations or engaging with students, he brings a belief that ideas can take shape and that people, when given the opportunity, can exceed expectations.
In honoring Dr. Jeff Standridge as a Distinguished Alumnus, UCA recognizes a career built on innovation, service and an enduring commitment to helping others move forward.