The University of Central Arkansas Alumni Association has appointed four new members to its board of directors. Carolyn Floyd Ishee ’75, Aaron King ’07, Jeremy Owoh ’03 and Keith Svagerko ’91 will each serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2022.
“We’re excited to add four outstanding members to our board of directors,” said Alison Taylor, executive director of alumni relations. “They each add unique insight and exceptional experience to the board. But perhaps even more important is the tremendous enthusiasm each has for UCA, which will undoubtedly prove to be an asset to the board and to the university.”
The UCA Alumni Association Board of Directors develops and oversees the association’s programs and budget in an effort to help former students stay connected to the university and enhance the lifelong UCA experience.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Carolyn Floyd Ishee
Carolyn Floyd Ishee ’75 is a retired higher education administrator with more than 30 years of experience in fundraising and development. She worked in development at UCA on three separate occasions. She first served as director of development from 1986-2002 before returning as a major gifts officer and director of planned giving from 2014-2016. Most recently, she was the senior development officer for the UCA College of Education from 2019-2020.
Among her other positions, Ishee also had fundraising roles at Arkansas Tech University, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Texas Women’s University and Georgia College and State University.
Ishee earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UCA’s College of Liberal Arts (now the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences) in 1975 before completing a master’s degree in liberal arts at Southern Methodist University in 1990. While a student at UCA, Ishee was a member of Delta Zeta sorority, served as a Bear cheerleader and was a member of the Homecoming Court.
“I bleed purple,” Ishee said. “I am honored to continue my service to UCA as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors.”
Ishee is a life member of the UCA Alumni Association and has served on the UCA College of Education Advisory Board.
Aaron King
Aaron King ’07 is currently the House Assistant Dean at Cornell University. During a nearly 15-year career in student services, he’s held positions at several prestigious universities, including Princeton, Stanford, Harvard and New York University.
King earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and counseling from UCA in 2007. He added a master’s degree in higher education from NYU in 2009 and a master’s of education in human development and psychology from Harvard in 2012. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in developmental psychology at Cornell.
While at UCA, King was a member of the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College and served in several leadership roles, including senior class president of the Student Government Association, co-director of the UCA Student Orientation staff and vice president of Psi Chi, the international honorary society in psychology.
Additionally, King was a member of the Association of Future Alumni, served as a UCA Admissions Ambassador in 2003 and 2004 and was on the Hall Council for Hughes Residential College. A member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, King served as the organization’s vice president of finance and was named Outstanding Greek Man in 2005 and 2006.
“Due to the impact of my own student experience at UCA, I’ve made a career in higher education supporting college students across the nation,” King said. “Serving on the Board will allow me, even from a distance, to formally engage and give back to the place that continues to be my college home.”
King is a life member of the UCA Alumni Association.
Jeremy Owoh
Jeremy S. Owoh ’03 currently serves as the superintendent of the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. He began his career teaching English and creative writing before beginning a nearly 15-year career as an administrator.
Owoh earned a bachelor’s degree in English education from UCA in 2003 before earning his master’s in secondary education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2005. He added an educational specialist degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2008 and his doctorate in educational administration in 2015.
As a student at UCA, Owoh was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Bear Marching Band, the Student Orientation Staff and served as a resident assistant for three different residence halls. He was also a UCA Ambassador, participated in Army ROTC and was inducted into the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.
“UCA has given so much to me, personally, professionally and socially,” Owoh said. “It is without any hesitation that I look forward to giving back to my UCA community!”
Owoh is a life member of the UCA Alumni Association and the UCA Black Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Dean’s Council for the UCA College of Education and serves as the chapter advisor for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also a speaker for the Minority Mentorship program and a member of the College of Education’s Educational Leadership capstone project committee.
In 2021, Owoh received the UCA Alumni Service Award.
Keith Svagerko
Keith Svagerko ’91 is the vice president of administration and business development at CorInnova. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the health care business development field.
Svagerko earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from UCA in 1991, graduating with magna cum laude honors. He completed a master’s in health administration from the University of Indiana in 1994 and earned an MBA from the University of Texas-Arlington in 1998.
During his time at UCA, Svagerko was a student in the Schedler Honors College and served as junior class vice president for the Student Government Association. He was a member of the Student Orientation staff, selected as a University Ambassador and was a class representative on the University Undergraduate Council.
Svagerko was chosen as president of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity and was named UCA’s Greek Man of the Year in 1991. He finished as runner up for Sigma Tau Gamma National Man of the Year honors in 1991. He was also one of just two students to speak at then-Governor Bill Clinton’s televised press conference supporting a college bond issue.
“I’ve kept a connection to UCA throughout my life and have valued and enjoyed staying involved as an alumnus, first in establishing an alumni chapter in Dallas several years ago, and currently serving in the Schedler Honors College chapter of the association,” Svagerko said. “I am excited to join the Board to contribute to the development of stronger relations between the university and its past students and to play an active role in all of its efforts.”
Svagerko is a lifetime member of the UCA Alumni Association and is currently serving as treasurer and secretary of the UCA Honors College Alumni Board of Directors.
The four new appointees replace board members Ann Hoy, Rickela Mayo, Marilyn Porterfield and Aaron Knight, who have each completed their three-year terms. Knight will remain in an ex-officio role as immediate past president.
Board members Corey Parks, Blake Robertson and Sue Voegele are all returning for their second term.
For more information about the UCA Alumni Board of Directors, including a complete list of board members, visit uca.edu/alumni/board-of-directors.
By Philip Allison
