Meet Your OLLI at UA Director

Josh Raney

In March 2016, Josh Raney was named the interim director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute based in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas.

Raney has primarily worked in the college since 2004. He formerly directed the Razor C.O.A.C.H. program that provides counselor education graduate students as college and career planning coaches at local high schools. Before that, he was coordinator of graduate student services in the college’s Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders.

“Josh has proven himself to be a creative and effective leader in our college, and we are pleased to have him take on this interim role,” said Tom Smith, dean of the college. “OLLI is an integral part of our college’s effort to encourage lifelong learning and helps us reach a larger community of people who are interested in knowing more about the world around them.”

The director manages every facet of the institute with concurrence on many issues with the dean of the college. This includes conceptualizing, planning, development, marketing and coordinating the programming offered each semester. The director also oversees the institute’s advisory board.

Raney has made presentations and published research results on college and career readiness on the local, state and national levels.

More information about him can be seen at Raney’s UA profile page.