Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast is the University of Central Arkansas’ official platform for deepening its presence and building relationships in Northwest Arkansas. Hosted by Paul Gatling, UCA’s Senior Director of Northwest Arkansas Engagement, the show connects alumni, business leaders, and community partners through interviews and relevant conversations.
Some guests will be UCA graduates making an impact in the region. Others will include industry voices, institutional partners, campus leaders in Conway, and community leaders in Northwest Arkansas, all of whom are shaping this region from different perspectives. Each episode explores how leadership, workforce and education intersect in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions.
The goal is straightforward: listen, connect and make sure UCA has a stronger, more visible presence in Northwest Arkansas.
If you want to stay plugged into the people and ideas defining Northwest Arkansas, this is the channel.
Meet your Host
Host, Central to NWA: A UCA Podcast
Paul Gatling is the University of Central Arkansas’ first Senior Director of Northwest Arkansas Engagement. He leads UCA’s efforts to build a lasting presence in one of the country’s fastest-growing regions.
The University of Central Arkansas, founded in 1907 and based in Conway, is a public institution with nearly 150 degree and certificate programs across the colleges of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Behavioral Sciences; Science and Engineering; and the Graduate School.
A Bentonville resident for 25 years, Paul spent more than a decade as editor of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, where he covered the people and projects shaping the region’s rise. Since joining UCA in 2024, he has focused on connecting alumni, businesses and community leaders to the university.
His LinkedIn posts (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgatling/) reach more than 11,000 professionals and have generated more than 2.4 million impressions in 2025, establishing him as a trusted voice for Northwest Arkansas leadership and progress.