Employee Spotlight: Paul Edwards Jr.

Corporal Paul Edwards Jr. didn’t want to grow up to be a police officer; no one in his family worked in law enforcement. In his early 20s, Edwards lived in New Mexico for several months, and when he returned to his hometown of Beebe, Arkansas, he felt aimless.

After he saw a job opening in the newspaper for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, he soon began working for the women’s prison in Newport. His girlfriend (now wife) worked as a mental health practitioner in the same facility: “We tell people we met in prison,” Edwards says with a grin.  

A few years later, the couple wanted more opportunities in their careers. After a brief visit in 2007, they decided Northwest Arkansas’ beauty and increasing economic development was the next best step for them. Edwards’ girlfriend encouraged him to apply for a job at the university as a police officer. He passed the training on his first try.

“I am a loyal person, and I’m particularly loyal to our director, Stephen Gahagans,” Edwards said. “He asked if I would give him three years, and I said, ‘Yes, sir. I will.’ Over 15 years later, I’m still proud to serve with him.”

After working the night shift for several years, Edwards now works Sunday through Thursday, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., as the corporal for the day shift. During his career at the U of A, Edwards has twice earned Officer of the Year, and due to applying his CPR skills in emergencies, he received the “Save a Life” award three times. “I feel proud those people are still with their families.”

Edwards said he has a simple answer as to why he continues to work at the U of A: the people. Edwards will sometimes pick up more hours as a security officer for large events on campus, such as the Walmart shareholders’ meeting. He has met Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Beto O’Rourke, John Legend and others.

“I asked my wife if she wanted to see John Legend, and she declined because she was busy. When I showed her the photos of me standing next to John Legend, she was not happy with me!” Edwards chuckled and then continued. “I’ll be driving around and think, ‘Wow, I got to meet these people and shake their hands.’ I can’t find these opportunities anywhere else.”

Edwards said that when he’s on campus, he encourages students to engage him in conversation. “I’m basically a big kid. I love music and video games. I also collect books and want to have a library. If I’m not reading African American literature, I’m reading John Grisham.” Edwards is studying history and hopes to become a history teacher with a focus in African American history. “I think it will be wonderful to be ‘always a Razorback.'”

He advises new employees to “take advantage of whatever the university offers. If you want a degree, go for it. The department will work with you to take classes. Your family can also receive educational discounts. Even if you don’t want to pursue more education, get out and meet people. My favorite part about working at the university is learning about people and hearing their stories.”

Case in point, Edwards met a freshman student when he pulled him over for a traffic violation. Edwards ended up acting as a mentor for the student, and they developed a friendship. “We’ve attended each other’s weddings; it will be a lifelong connection.”

About the Employee Spotlight Series: The employee spotlight series highlights U of A faculty and staff members, the impact they have on campus and the community more broadly, and what makes the university an employer of choice for them individually. Each U of A employee plays a critical role in advancing the 150 Forward strategic priorities: advancing student success, achieving research excellence and enhancing the university’s status as an employer of choice. If you have a recommendation of an employee to interview, contact Rachel Gerner at rgerner@uark.edu.