UALR announces that Ryan Davis has been named the new director of UALR Children International.

Davis begins his job on June 16, bringing with him extensive professional and personal experience in the nonprofit sector, as well as academic and community-based organizations.

He currently serves as pastor of Mt. Pleasant Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church in Hope where he helped restructure the church’s debt and created and revitalized ministries for youth and homebound elderly members.

The programs give personalized assistance to students who are either failing school or in danger of failing. At PARK, Davis also manages and guides a staff of tutors and group leaders in addition to managing all budgets, acquisitions, and grants connected to the academic program.

Outside of his professional experience, Davis is a founding co-coordinator of the Supplementary National Black Male Development Symposium, helping to create literature, secure donations, and recruit experts for the public health portion of the symposium.

He is also an alumni board member of the Lake Forest College Interfaith Center, chaplain of the Arkansas Region of the 1st Episcopal District of the C.M.E. Church Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and advisory board vice chair of the Central Little Rock Promise Neighborhood.

He received a B.A. degree in liberal arts from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill.

“Mr. Davis offers a wealth of experience in working with youth in Arkansas, a passion for addressing the needs of underserved youth and their families, and an understanding of the hard work and dedication it takes to bring about change,” said Dr. Lillian C. Wichinsky, interim executive director of the UALR Community Connection Center.