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Armstrong to join U of L faculty
When you see mayor Dave Armstrong strolling through the U of L campus in January, simply yell, “Hey, Dave!” According to the mayor, that’s the way he wants it.
After vacating his position as mayor in January 2003, Armstrong will begin his two-year faculty position at the university teaching courses in the urban and public affairs department and seeking grants for research projects related to urban renewal and revitalization policies.
In returning to the university where he obtained his law degree, Armstrong said, “I hope to help the university leverage its strengths to expand its urban initiatives.”
Former president John Shumaker was quoted in the Courier-Journal as saying, “It will be a good opportunity for our students to learn about the leadership challenges of public office and the skills needed to build consensus among diverse constituencies.” Shumaker originally offered the job to Armstrong in late March, but the mayor only recently settled an agreement with U of L about his new full-time profession.
Armstrong previously taught classes at U of L, Spalding, and Bellarmine during his time as county judge-executive from 1990 to 1998 and received a salary allotted to him by local business leaders. However, he will now annually receive $100,000 as an executive in residence with the College of Business and Public Administration from the university, surprisingly more than the $88,943.40 salary he received as mayor.
Already he has set goals that would revolutionize the infrastructure and face of the university.
On his agenda are plans to create a foundation that would promote “ideas and visions for developing urban centers.” (Courier-Journal) He also would like to see ground broken for a 615-room Marriott Hotel downtown and the redeveloping of Fourth Street into an entertainment zone.
Armstrong has served the public for the past three decades. During that time, he has served as an assistant police court prosecutor, juvenile court judge, a twice-elected Jefferson County commonwealth attorney, Kentucky attorney general, and a twice-elected Jefferson County judge/executive before being elected mayor in 1998.
He attended Hanover College and Murray State University, where he earned his bachelors degree.
