New McLarty Fellowship Offers an Inside Look at the U.S. Presidency

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty III and his wife, Donna Cochran McLarty, both of Little Rock, have made a $15,000 gift commitment to the Washington, D.C.-based Center for the Study of the Presidency to establish a new opportunity for University of Arkansas students.

The Donna C. and Thomas F. McLarty III Fellowship will qualify UA students for the Presidential Fellows Program, a program within the Center for the Study of the Presidency, which allows students from participating colleges and universities to attend workshops twice a year in Washington.

The workshops are designed to study the U.S. presidency, the public policymaking process and the chief executive’s relations with Congress, allies, the media and the American public. Fellows discuss national issues with presidential scholars and White House Fellows, are briefed by senior government officials and nationally recognized public policy experts and prepare and present an original research paper. Fellows also attend the center’s annual awards dinner, and they are eligible to participate in two essay contests and compete for publication in the annual anthology of the best “Center Fellows Papers.”

The goal of the Presidential Fellows Program is to develop a new generation of national leaders committed to public service. Students from each eligible school are nominated by the chancellor of their school, and 85 undergraduate and graduate students are selected annually for this opportunity.

Dave Gearhart, the vice chancellor for university advancement, said: “The University of Arkansas is thrilled to be able to participate in the Presidential Fellows Program, and I am thankful to Mack and Donna McLarty for adding this valuable experience to the list of opportunities available to our students. Learning how things are run in the nation’s capital will provide priceless non-classroom training for the deserving students who are chosen for this program. The McLartys have supported the university for many years, and this gift is a wonderful act of generosity that proves their dedication to our mission.”

“Donna and I are delighted to establish this fellowship,” said Mack McLarty. “It’s a meaningful way for us to show our pride and continued commitment to our alma mater and to enhance the educational opportunities for talented young Arkansans; to help bring Arkansas values and perspective to Washington; and to deepen understanding of the U.S. policy process back home. As a Trustee of the Center for the Study of the Presidency, I know first hand what good work they do and what an opportunity it can be for students at the University.”

Mack McLarty (B.S.B.A., 1968) is president of Kissinger McLarty Associates, a partnership with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Washington; leads the Little Rock-based McLarty Companies; and most recently formed the partnership McLarty-Landers Automotive Group. Additionally, he serves as senior adviser of the Carlyle Private Equity Group and as chairman of Randall and Dewey, a leading global energy industry advisory firm. Between 1993 and 1998, he served as the White House chief of staff, special envoy for the Americas and counselor to the president, and as a member of the National Economic Council. Currently, McLarty serves as a board member to numerous other companies and non-profits including Acxiom Corp. and the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund. He was also a member of the University’s Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee. A native of Hope, Ark., McLarty served as student body president before graduating with honors in 1968 from what is now the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Donna Cochran McLarty (B.S.B.A., 1968) is a founding member and vice chair of Vital Voices Global partnership; a member of the International Council of Trustees World Conference on Religion and Peace; and serves on the board of Blair House — the president’s guest house. Mrs. McLarty formerly served on the boards of the Kennedy Center, as board chair for the Arkansas Center for Youth and Families, and as a member of the Little Rock Airport Commission. She is a recipient of the Arkansas Community Service Award. A native of Texarkana, Mrs. McLarty also graduated from the Walton College with honors. During her time at the University, she served as President of Chi Omega and as a member of Mortar Board.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization based in Washington, and is led by President David M. Abshire, a former NATO ambassador and special counselor to President Reagan. Inspired by Dwight Eisenhower's 1969 call for programs on the American presidency for "students old and young," the center focuses on educating young leaders. Over the years, the center has increasingly engaged in programs that study, inform and advise the federal government. Trustees of the center include former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former U.S. Sen. Chuck Robb, and Mr. McLarty.