Dean's Executive Advisory Board

Susan Patton
Advisory Board Chair
Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas Eleanor Mann School of Nursing
Austin, TX

Susan Patton, Ph.D., has served the nursing profession in several capacities. She holds a doctorate in Community Health Promotion from the University of Arkansas and is a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, a certified clinical nurse specialist, and a certified nurse educator. Patton holds a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Patton served as an associate professor of nursing and director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas. Before her teaching career, Patton served as a chief operating officer for Austin Regional Clinic in Texas, director of Girling Home Health in Austin, director of clinic operations for Northwest Health Systems and Schmieding Center for Senior Health in Springdale, AR, and project coordinator for a Robert Woods Johnson Maternal Child Health Grant. Her research focuses on the prevention of falls among the elderly and on using evidence to improve health behaviors in vulnerable populations. In 2024, Susan and her husband, Robert, established the Patton Nursing Science Day endowment to support the annual Nursing Science Day event. Patton serves on the Board of Directors for Circle of Life Hospice and has an appointment as adjunct faculty at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing.

John L Colbert
Immediate Past Chair
Superintendent, retired, Fayetteville Public Schools
Fayetteville, AR

John L Colbert, a native of Rondo, AR, graduated from Barton (AR) High School in 1973. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1976 followed by a Master of Education in 1982 and a Doctor of Educational Leadership in fall 2017. He has worked as an educator for 47 years. He serves on the board of the Arkansas Athletic Association and Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. He serves as a deacon and trustee at St. James Missionary Baptist Church. Colbert has been actively involved in several civic and professional groups over the years. He is the advisor and founder of the Northwest Arkansas MLK Dream Keepers, a member and founder of the Northwest Arkansas MLK Council and NAACP, and a 33rd-degree Mason where he serves as grand treasurer. Colbert is a member of the Special Olympics Area 3 Management Team. He is very active with his fraternity where he is a member of the Kappa Kappa chapter and Omicron Zeta Lambda chapter. Among his personal accomplishments, Colbert includes his 42-year marriage to his late wife, Cheryl, two lovely daughters, J’onnelle and Janneesa, and two beautiful granddaughters, Sy’Ree and Serena.

Meredith Brunen
Chair-elect
Senior Consultant, Gonser Gerber LLP
Maumelle, AR

Meredith N. Brunen is a senior consultant with Gonser Gerber LLP, providing advancement and leadership consulting services to higher education institutions, arts and cultural organizations, health care systems, K–12 schools, foundations, and other mission-driven nonprofits. With more than 20 years of experience in advancing and leading organizations, Brunen has served in both public and private higher education and in the arts and cultural sectors. Most recently, she was chief development officer for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Momentary. She has previously held advancement roles at Hendrix College, the University of West Georgia, the University of South Carolina Upstate, the University of West Florida and Northwest Arkansas Community College. Brunen holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Arkansas. She is the author of Raising the Bar: The Modern Community College Presidency, which examines how advancement strengthens leadership in externally facing roles. She and her husband, Kyle Brunen, a fellow University of Arkansas alumnus, have two sons, Jude and Beau.

Anne Hart Allen
Dean’s Executive Advisory Board Past Chair
Principal, retired
Little Rock, AR

Anne Allen comes from a long line of Razorbacks. She received her B.S., M.S. and Ed.S. in Elementary Education at the University of Arkansas. She would go on to receive her Ph.D. in Education Leadership at Ole Miss. For more than 35 years, Allen served in multiple teaching and administrative positions in the state of Arkansas. In addition, she has served as the staff development coordinator for the Arkansas Department of Education and as the education administration supervisor for Southeastern Arkansas schools. Committed to best practices in the field of education, she is certified to serve as a reading recovery trainer. As an adjunct professor for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Graduate Education School, she brought this expertise to Arkansas schools. An important cause for her has been serving the U of A College of Education and Health Professions as a member and co-chair of the former Dean’s Advisory Council with an earlier administration. In 2009, Anne and her husband, Charles Allen, created the Charles F. and V. Anne Allen Endowed Scholarship in Education to support Arkansas students pursuing careers as math or science educators..

Charles F. Allen
Chief Administrative Officer, retired, Arkansas Corrections School System
Little Rock, AR

Charles Allen received his B.S. in Education and M.S. in Secondary Principalship from Arkansas State University. Soon afterward, he earned a School Administrator’s Certificate from the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. He would go on to earn a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Ole Miss in later years. He has served as superintendent for three Arkansas school districts. The Arkansas Department of Education asked him to serve as education administration supervisor for the western region of Arkansas and supervise 25 North Central Association schools and 56 school districts within six counties. Following that, he was transferred to Southeast Arkansas to supervise 24 school districts in six counties. During that time, while serving both areas, he chaired the National Committee on Accreditation Evaluation Committees for 18 school districts. He agreed to serve as superintendent of schools for 16 schools in the Arkansas Department of Corrections School District for five years and then was named the chief administrative officer of the newly organized Arkansas Corrections School System for the next 21 years. In 2009, he and his wife, Anne Allen, created the Charles F. and V. Anne Allen Endowed Scholarship in Education to support Arkansas students pursuing careers as math or science educators.

Steve M. Barnes
Registered Nurse, retired, Parkland Hospital
Dallas, TX

Steve Barnes was born in Farmington, New Mexico, but his father’s job brought the family to Hot Springs, AR. That led him to the University of Arkansas, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Walton College of Business and was a proud member of the Razorback Marching Band. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University and served as a critical care nurse at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for more than 20 years. Barnes believes passionately that access to health care is critically important. To promote health through education, tools and improving access to care, Barnes and his wife, Kelly Barnes, funded the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Fund through Walton College. The program engages students by activating multidisciplinary design teams that focus on developing new models of delivery, services, products and policies in the health and wellness industry. In 2005, the couple created the Steve M. and Kelly Easter Barnes Endowed Doctoral Fellowship in Walton College. Barnes and his wife are also life members of the Arkansas Alumni Association.

Joshua Barnett
Chief Executive Officer, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
Scottsdale, AZ

Joshua Barnett, Ph.D., serves as chief executive officer of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, a national non-profit organization with a mission to build educator excellence to give all students the opportunity for success. In this role, he leads NIET’s work to support nearly 300,000 educators impacting more than 3 million students. His work throughout his career has explored how to improve educator quality in all schools for all students by addressing two related issues: examining how aspiring, new, and veteran teachers and principals are supported and how resources are distributed to and used within schools. Prior to joining NIET, he served as an assistant professor of Education Policy and Evaluation at Arizona State University, a visiting scholar at Massey University in New Zealand and a research associate in the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas. Barnett has taught courses in research methods, school finance, evaluation, and educational psychology. He has also served as the principal investigator on more than a dozen federal grants and is the co-author of the book A Straightforward Guide to Teacher Merit Pay: Encouraging and Rewarding Schoolwide Improvement.

Larry Brown
President, Harbor Footwear
Dallas, TX

Larry Brown is a 1976 graduate of the University of Arkansas. He played for the Razorback football team in 1972-76. He majored in banking and finance. He has served on the Steering Committee for the 2010-2018 Capital Campaign and is a member of the Razorback Foundation and Arkansas Alumni Association.

Patti Brown
Distribution Committee Member, A.L. Chilton Foundation
Dallas, TX

Patti Brown graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1975. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and majored in Elementary Education. Brown has served on the Steering Committee for the 2010-2018 Capital Campaign and is a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association. Brown, along with her sister Bonnie Harding, serves on the Distribution Committee for the A.L. Chilton Foundation. Under their leadership, the foundation established a special education fellowship in support of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Arkansas and has been avid supporters of the department's EMPOWER program.

Jared Cleveland
Superintendent, Springdale Public Schools
Springdale, AR

Jared A. Cleveland, Ph.D., is the superintendent of the Springdale School District. Cleveland has worked in public education for 29 years and previously served as Springdale deputy superintendent for seven years. He is married to Cristi Cleveland, and they have three sons, Crason, Callen and Camden. Jared Cleveland holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Arkansas Tech University and a master’s, Educational Specialist and doctorate in P-20 Education from Harding University. In 2005, Cleveland served as Arkansas commissioner for the Education Commission of the States. He has served on the national steering committee for ACT State Organization, the Arkansas Activities Association Board of Directors and the Arkansas Association of School Administrators Board of Directors. Cleveland was recently named to the prestigious American Association of School Administrators Board of Directors. He was recognized as the 2009 Outstanding Early Childhood Professional of Arkansas and as the 2020 Arkansas Association of School Personnel Administrator of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. Most recently, Cleveland was named the 2023 Arkansas Superintendent of the Year. Cleveland is passionate about preparing students to enter the global workforce by integrating technology, rigorous instruction and real-world application of learning.

Deven Daehn
Chief Impact Officer, Granted
Bentonville, AR

Deven Daehn, M.S., is a native Arkansan who has dedicated her entire public health and nonprofit career to serving her community. Prior to Granted, Deven served as associate vice president for community engagement at Heartland Whole Health Institute, and before that, Daehn served as Northwest Arkansas executive director of the American Heart Association. In her various roles at the association, she helped build powerful community partnerships and trailblaze innovative public health strategies. Daehn earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Health Science, specializing in Community Health, from the University of Arkansas. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her outstanding leadership and strategic thinking. Notably, in 2019, she received the prestigious national Dot Connector award from the heart association — an award reserved for one individual who exemplifies the mission of the organization. This distinguished honor was given in recognition of her advocacy efforts to improve hydration in Arkansas public schools, resulting in the state becoming the first to implement policies ensuring students have adequate access to water through bottle-filling stations. Daehn’s endeavors have consistently led to sustainable community impact and policy change, including healthier vending practices and cardiac emergency preparedness.

Ro DiBrezzo
University Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

University Professor Emeritus Ro Di Brezzo, Ph.D., served as a faculty member at the University of Arkansas for 37 years. During that time, Di Brezzo served on numerous departmental, college and university committees. She was recognized with awards for teaching, research, and service. Di Brezzo also held leadership roles within the university’s administration, including co-founder and co-director of the Wally Cordes Teaching and Faculty Support Center, president of the Teaching Academy, Faculty Senate chair, and co-director of the Office for Studies on Aging. Di Brezzo served as vice provost for academic affairs in 2012-2013, vice provost for faculty development and enhancement in 2014-2017, and vice provost for faculty affairs in 2017-2019. Di Brezzo returned to the faculty as a university professor of Exercise Science in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation in 2019 and retired in 2020. To honor Di Brezzo’s impact on the University of Arkansas, a faculty member is awarded the Ro Di Brezzo Service to Teaching Award each year for those who provide substantial service to teaching. In 2023, the Di Brezzo Endowed Scholarship in Exercise Science was launched in her honor to support undergraduate students who are pursuing a degree in Exercise Science at the U of A.

John Donaldson
Senior Sales Analyst, retired, Hormel Foods
Bentonville, AR

John Donaldson is a retired businessman following a 40-plus--year career in the consumer-packaged goods industry. After high school, Donaldson elected to join the Marine Corps, where he distinguished himself by earning three meritorious promotions over two years. Answering his country’s call to duty, he served a tour of duty with the 1st Marine Air Wing in Danang, Vietnam. Upon his return, Donaldson began his studies at Little Rock University, now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Arizona State University, where he studied business with an accounting focus. As vice president of grocery sales for a firm in Little Rock, Donaldson saw the need for a presence in Bentonville to facilitate business. Donaldson and his wife, Eileen, moved to Bentonville in 1996 with their daughters Katie and Kelly Jane. John serves as the family liaison and spokesperson for the Col. John H. and Jane W. Donaldson Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund at the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions. Donaldson spent the last 15 years of his career with Hormel Foods. He and Eileen are now enjoying retirement at their home in Bentonville, where they enjoy traveling and watching Razorback sports of all kinds.

Devan Ford
Director, Workforce Communities and Connections, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX

Devan Ford, Ed.D., joined the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in April 2019. She leads initiatives focused on employee engagement, workforce development and organizational culture for MD Anderson's 27,000-plus employees. In addition to her role at the center, Ford is a lecturer in Women’s Studies at the University of Houston and owner of Now Let’s Thrive Coaching & Consulting. With over 15 years of professional experience across higher education and health care, Ford brings a deep understanding of organizational dynamics and inclusive leadership. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Communication from Texas Southern University, a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas. Ford is also a certified life and wellness coach, cultural intelligence facilitator, and insight coaching practitioner. Her extensive training also includes a certificate in Cultural Competence, Interpersonal Communication, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, and Leadership. Outside of work and community service, Devan enjoys cooking, reading, writing poetry and short stories, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

G. David Gearhart
Chancellor Emeritus, University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

G. David Gearhart served as chancellor of the University of Arkansas from 2008 to 2015. Prior to this role, he held positions in academia and consulting, including at Penn State University and Grenzebach Glier & Associates, Inc. He holds degrees from Westminster College and the University of Arkansas. During his tenure, Gearhart oversaw significant achievements, including leading a billion-dollar fundraising campaign, implementing a tuition freeze and spearheading campus sustainability efforts. Under his leadership, enrollment and diversity increased, earning national recognition for the university. Gearhart prioritized student success and transparency, implementing cost-saving measures and advocating for undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students. Following his retirement, the university honored him by naming a building and a food pantry after him and his spouse, Jane Brockmann Gearhart. Gearhart was a tenured professor at the university until his retirement in 2022. He has received numerous awards and authored multiple books and academic articles. He and his wife, Jane B. Gearhart, have been married for over 50 years and have two children and five grandchildren. In 2023, Dave and Jane established the G. David and Jane B. Gearhart Endowed Scholarship to support graduate students seeking degrees in Higher Education within the Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods, as well as a Land of Opportunity Scholarship.

Erin Goodwin
Vice President of Clinical Services, NWA, Arisa Health
Fayetteville, AR

Erin Goodwin, M.S., LPC, is vice president of clinical services for the northwest region of Arisa Health where she supports a range of behavioral health programs throughout Northwest Arkansas. Goodwin grew up in Forrest City, AR, and attended the University of Arkansas for both her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling. Most of her career has been focused on improving the well-being of children, adolescents and their families. While completing her degrees, she worked in early childhood education. Upon obtaining clinical licensure, Goodwin began working as a school-based therapist with the local non-profit Community Mental Health Center, then known as Ozark Guidance and now Arisa Health. Throughout her time working in school-based services, she has taken on leadership roles and worked on collaborative partnerships with local school districts. She enjoys staying engaged in the community by participating in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Health Equity and Access Community Action Board and the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ Strong Families Coalition. A resident of Fayetteville, Goodwin loves spending time outdoors with her husband and young son.

Al Gordon, M.D.
Physician, Chairman of the Board, Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas, MANA Family Medicine North
Fayetteville, AR

Al Gordon is a native of Helena, AR. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College, a Master of Science from the University of Central Arkansas and an M.D. from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He served his residency at UAMS Northwest. He was part of the original team of three that organized a primary care system for University of Arkansas student athletes in 1994. Gordon was voted Top Family Practice Physician by his colleagues in a survey conducted by Arkansas Life Magazine and Best Primary Care Physician in Northwest Arkansas by the public in Citiscapes Magazine. Gordon served as the head team physician for the University of Arkansas Department of Athletics for 30 years and was honored as the 2012 SEC Conference Team Physician of the Year. In addition to continuing to care for Razorback Athletes, Gordon serves as medical director for the graduate program in Athletic Training at the U of A and currently chairs the board for Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas, having previously served as vice chairman. Gorden established the Dr. A.Y. (AJ) Gordon Jr. Endowed Scholarship in Athletic Training in 2014 to support graduate students in the Athletic Training Program.

Meredith Green
Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Washington Regional Medical Center
Fayetteville, AR

Meredith Green, M.S.N., APRN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, has worked for Washington Regional Medical Center since 2007. She has served in various leadership roles, including as the administrative director in Women and Infants Services, where she played an integral role in the planning, design, and staffing of Washington Regional’s Women and Infants Center that opened in 2016. Green earned both a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Arkansas and received credentialing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult and Geriatric Health in 2014. Green was voted by her peers to be honored as Washington Regional’s 2009 Nurse of the Year and the 2016 and 2017 Director of the Year. She received the ANGELS Award for Outstanding Service to Obstetrical Nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Green was honored as a finalist for the Nursing Compassion Award from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing. Green was also recognized as the 2018 C.E. Melville Young Administrator of the Year Award by the Arkansas Hospital Association.

Reed Greenwood
Dean and Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

Reed Greenwood is dean and professor emeritus of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. He earned his bachelor’s in Education in 1961, master’s in Counselor Education in 1962 and doctoral degree in Educational Administration in 1974 from the U of A. During his career, he served as a high school mathematics teacher, rehabilitation counselor and administrator before serving as dean for eight years. Under his leadership, the college experienced more than 50 percent enrollment growth, secured the largest private gift in university history, created and endowed seven faculty chairs, expanded its endowment to over $34 million, and recruited more than 50 new faculty members. Dean Greenwood is also a productive scholar with numerous publications and presentations in counseling, rehabilitation and education. He has held significant leadership roles statewide, including service on the Arkansas Blue Ribbon Commission for Public Education, the Fayetteville Board of Education and a committee developing joint academic programs with Northwest Arkansas Community College. Reed and his late wife Mary Ann Greenwood created several scholarships at the university, including the Greenwood Master of Science in Economic Analytics Scholarship and the Mary Ann Greenwood Endowed Scholarship in the Walton College of Business and the M. Reed Greenwood Endowed Scholarship that supports a student in the College of Education and Health Professions at the U of A.

Fran Hagstrom
Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

Fran Hagstrom joined the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions in 2002 and retired in 2024. Most recently, she served as the founding department head of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy in the college. During her overall tenure, Hagstrom served in multiple leadership roles, including interim associate dean for international education, head of the former Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders, assistant dean, and interim dean for health within the college. Hagstrom was deeply involved in international education, most notably leading the Health Teams Abroad program in Sweden for 14 years. She was also a founding member of the Honors College International Education Advisory Council. Her scholarship includes publications and presentations on sociocultural approaches to cognition and communication, as well as identity issues for individuals with communication differences. She has served on the editorial boards of two international journals and as a reviewer for two additional journals in the field of communication disorders. Her clinical experience spans adult and pediatric rehabilitation at Fresno Community Hospital in California and home-based services through the California-Hawaii Elks Major Project and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. In 2025, Hagstrom and and her husband, Bill, established the Fran W. Hagstrom Endowed Award to support students pursuing a master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Laurie Black Hamilton
Community volunteer
Lake Village, AR

Laurie Black Hamilton was born in Little Rock, AR and raised in Pickens, AR. She graduated from Dumas, AR, High School and William Woods College. Hamilton began her graduate studies at the University of Arkansas shortly after earning her Missouri lifetime teaching certificate. She taught special education in Dumas before moving to Lake Village and completing her master’s degree in Special Education. After earning an additional certification in Early Childhood Education, Hamilton taught kindergarten. She recently earned an Arkansas lifetime teaching certificate and is now enjoying her retirement from teaching in Arkansas. Hamilton has served more than 23 years on the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission and over 20 years on the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association, for which she currently serves as vice chairman. She has also served as the treasurer, secretary, president and southeast district director of the Arkansas Federation of Garden Clubs. Hamilton has also served on the Southeast Arkansas Regional Library Board for over 10 years. Two years ago, Hamilton married the love of her life, Hartford Hamilton, a former Razorback football player.

Bonnie Harding
Distribution Committee Member, A.L. Chilton Foundation
Dallas, TX

Bonnie Harding grew up in Dallas and earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She and her husband, Ed Harding, served on the steering committee for Campaign Arkansas, the university’s capital campaign. They are active supporters of the institution as members of the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Towers of Old Main, a giving society recognizing the university’s most generous benefactors. Harding has been engaged in numerous charitable organizations in the Dallas area, including the Junior League of Dallas, the Crystal Charity Ball and the Dallas Women’s Club. She also has served on the President’s Advisory Board at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. As a member of the distribution committee for the A.L. Chilton Foundation, Bonnie, along with her sister Patti Brown, has supported U of A faculty and students through fellowships and scholarships. Under their direction, the foundation established a special education fellowship in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and has been a strong supporter of the EMPOWER program. In 2019, Bonnie and Ed created a university scholarship in her name to support undergraduate education majors.

Ed Harding
Corporate Account Manager, retired, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.
Dallas, TX

Ed Harding graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. During his time at the U of A, he was an active member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Harding went on to build a distinguished 50-year career with Phillips Petroleum and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., serving in a variety of roles. Ed and his wife, Bonnie Harding, have been married for more than 53 years and have two children and four grandchildren. They have lived in Dallas for the past 50 years and are members of Bent Tree Country Club. Together, the Hardings have been dedicated supporters of the U of A. They served on the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and are members of both the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Towers of Old Main, a giving society recognizing the university’s most generous benefactors. Ed has also served on a College of Education and Health Professions campaign committee. In 2019, the Hardings established the Bonnie Harding Scholarship to support undergraduate students pursuing degrees in education.

Ashlie Hilbun
Dean’s Executive Advisory Board Past Chair
Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Little Rock, AR

Ashlie Hilbun earned a doctorate in Education from the University of Arkansas, holds an M.S.W. from Tulane University and is a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport. She currently serves on the Easter Seals Board of Directors, the HealthTech Arkansas Strategic Advisory Board and the Sam M. Walton College of Business Executive Education Advisory Board. She serves as chief strategy officer and senior vice president of strategic marketing at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. In her role, she reports to the president and chief executive officer and guides the implementation of Arkansas Children’s strategic goals and objectives. She is responsible for new business development and outreach focused on advancing child health initiatives as part of Arkansas Children’s bold new promise — Unprecedented Child Health: Defined and Delivered. Hilbun previously served as vice president of philanthropy at Arkansas Children’s Foundation, co-leading the system’s overall fundraising strategy and crafting external messaging and storytelling. Before joining the Arkansas Children’s team, she led the development and external relations for the U of Arkansas J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

Sharon Hunt
Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

Sharon Hunt earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physical Education from the University of Arkansas. She earned her doctorate from the University of Georgia in 1977 and began her career as an assistant professor in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion. During her 13 years at the University of Kentucky, Hunt advanced through several roles and served as the director of graduate studies. In 1990, she returned to the U of A and served as head of the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation from 1990 to 2011. From 2000 to 2001, she served as interim dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. After stepping down as department head, she resumed full-time teaching, research and institutional service. She served six years on the Arkansas Alumni Association board of directors and was appointed by the chancellor to serve as faculty athletics representative to the SEC and NCAA from 2010 to 2017. Hunt retired in 2019 as professor emeritus of kinesiology after a distinguished 42-year career in higher education. She and her husband, David Hunt, have been married for over 50 years. They enjoy traveling, fly fishing, golf and cheering on their two children and four grandchildren, all Fayetteville natives.

Kelly Vowell Johnson
Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

Kelly Vowell Johnson, Ed.D., M.S.N., RN, is a nurse educator, academic leader and researcher with extensive experience in higher education leadership and curriculum development. She served as an associate professor of Nursing at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas, where she held multiple leadership roles, including associate director of nursing, undergraduate coordinator, clinical coordinator and founding director of the online RN-to-B.S.N. program. Johnson earned her B.S.N. from Arkansas Tech University, a Master of Nursing Science in Maternal Child Nursing and a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Arkansas. Her academic and clinical expertise spans women’s health, neonatal intensive care, medical-surgical nursing and community health. She completed a research fellowship in community-engaged research with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and is the co-founder of Tiny Tusk Breastfeeding and Infant Support. In addition to her institutional leadership, Johnson served as 2012-2018 chair of the Northwest Arkansas Education Consortium, leading regional collaboration to strengthen clinical education and placement standards. Her leadership and contributions to nursing education have been recognized with the national DAISY Nurse Educator Award. Now retired from full-time academia, Johnson continues to contribute her expertise through board service, mentorship and advocacy focused on education, maternal health, and community engagement.

Nikki Lawson
School board member and teacher, retired
Cammack Village, AR

Nikki Lawson received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas. After earning her degree, she taught social studies, civics, Arkansas history and geography at Pulaski Heights Jr. High in Little Rock. Lawson has since retired from teaching. Lawson served on the Paragould Board of Education in Northeast Arkansas from 1984 to 2001. She has also served the state as a friend of the Old State House and chair of the Old State House Commission. She currently presides as secretary of the Old State House Commission. Since earning her degree, Lawson has remained an active alumna and has stayed connected to the campus community. She has served on the University of Arkansas Development Council, two terms as an alumni board member, and served on the Committee to Save Old Main. Lawson is also the namesake of the Nikki Lawson Endowed Scholarship at the University of Arkansas, which supports students pursuing a degree in education who are Greene County, AR, residents.

Derek Lee
Owner of Rise Physical Therapy
Fayetteville, AR

Derek Lee is a Fayetteville native and alumnus of the University of Arkansas. Lee earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the U of A in 2007. In 2011, he earned his doctorate in Physical Therapy at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri. After five years of practice in the field of outpatient orthopedic physical therapy with Mercy Health Systems, he co-founded Rise Physical Therapy to serve the Northwest Arkansas community. While opening Rise Physical Therapy with his business partner, Tyler Green, Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma and underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment. Being a cancer survivor has given him a newfound look at life and an appreciation of health and wellness. Since its opening, Rise Physical Therapy has expanded to five locations throughout Northwest Arkansas. Rise Physical Therapy is also now offering continuing education opportunities for other physical therapists in the Northwest Arkansas community. Lee and his wife, Erin, have two children, Isaiah and Josephine. In his free time, Lee enjoys spending time with his family, running and fly fishing.

Laura Beth Lindsey
Real Estate Agent, Lindsey & Associates,
Fayetteville, AR

Laura Beth Lindsey’s educational roots run deep, following in the footsteps of her father, mother and sister, who collectively devoted over 100 years to the field of education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 1990 and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education in 1995 and spent over two decades as a classroom and substitute teacher. At the heart of Laura Beth’s work as an English educator was a passion for helping students connect meaningfully with both the written and spoken word. During her tenure at Don Tyson School of Innovation, she gained experience creating, developing and implementing innovative, student-centered curricula designed to prepare learners for an evolving academic experience. Currently, Laura Beth serves as a sales agent with Lindsey and Associates, where her background in education continues to shape her work through mentoring, advising and guiding clients in the buying and selling of homes. She remains actively engaged in service through children’s ministry at Cross Church Fayetteville and PEO, where she supports and empowers women in education. Laura Beth and her husband, Lyndy — both University of Arkansas graduates—are proud parents of four adult children and a growing family that collectively holds seven U of A degrees, underscoring their commitment to education and lifelong learning.

Warren McDonald
Provider Network Manager, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield
Springdale, AR

Warren McDonald earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry. He then completed the first Master of Business Administration program for non-business undergraduates at Walton College of Business. In 2000, he received a Master of Science in Health Science Administration from the College of Education and Health Professions. Prior to joining Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1994, he served for 20 years as the founder and executive director of the Central EMS paramedic ambulance and 9-1-1 dispatch center in Washington County, AR. McDonald is the provider network manager in the northwest and west-central regions for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. He has responsibility for provider relations, business relationships and administrative support for health care providers in 27 counties with a focus on costs, quality, access, utilization and value-based reimbursement. McDonald is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Council, chair of the Fayetteville Civil Service Commission, past president of the Fayetteville Downtown Rotary Club, a member of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas chapters of the Healthcare Financial Management and Medical Group Management associations, the Lambda Chi Alpha alumni board and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Charlotte Meredith
English teacher, retired
San Antonio, TX

Charlotte Meredith taught grades seven through college and served in administrative roles in numerous educational institutions across America. Although she was born, raised and started her college journey in Oklahoma City, OK, a move to Arkansas allowed her to attain, while working full time, her doctorate in Education Administration from the University of Arkansas. After her marriage to retired Air Force Col. J. Conley Meredith, she taught or served in public school administration in seven states, including Arkansas, Virginia, Colorado, California, Alabama and Texas. As she looks back at the cultural and academic challenges of many inter-state experiences, studies of the concepts of inclusion and small group problem-solving communication techniques learned in classes provided opportunities for outstanding educational success. For example, while teaching in Santa Maria, CA, she was the recipient of the 1st place Golden Bell Award selected by the California School Boards Association for a Performing and Communication Arts Inclusion Program. Her professional experience in Arkansas began with practice teaching at Little Rock Central High School. Finally, living in San Antonio, she considers it a delight to serve on the Dean’s Advisory Council (now the Dean's Executive Advisory Board) created by then-Dean Reed Greenwood in 2011. In 2007, Meredith and her husband established the Charlotte and Conley Meredith Endowed Scholarship in Education and the Charlotte and Conley Meredith Endowed Scholarship in the School of Law.

Malachi Nichols
Director of Division Operations, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Bentonville, AR

Malachi Nichols holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Arkansas. Nichols began his professional career as an elementary robotics teacher, probability and statistics teacher, and AmeriCorps service member at Prism North America. Nichols also has served as the senior director of data and strategy at Forward Arkansas, a nonprofit that works to improve access to education and policy for Arkansas students. While at Forward Arkansas, Nichols led the launch of the Data and Policy Symposium to bring stakeholders together to discuss data and policy related to health, artificial intelligence governance and fostering innovation. Nichols is currently the director of division operations at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. At Crystal Bridges, Nichols supports the operational capacity, fiscal management and impact measurement of the learning and engagement division. Nichols has remained involved in research, and his research can be found in several published journals, including Politics and Policy, PLOS ONE, Economics of Education Review and the Journal of School Choice.

Claude J. Pirtle, M.D.
President, Heartland Whole Health Institute
Bentonville, AR

Claude Pirtle, M.D., M.B.A., MSACI, FACP, FAMIA, joined Heartland Whole Health Institute as chief digital and informatics officer in 2024 and was named interim executive director at Heartland Whole Health Institute in January 2025. He leads initiatives to enhance patient care through advanced information technology and data analytics. Before joining Heartland Whole Health, Pirtle served as Walmart Health’s chief medical informatics officer and senior director. Before Walmart Health, he served as vice president and chief medical information officer for West Tennessee Healthcare and assistant chief medical officer for Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Pirtle earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University, and his medical doctorate at LSU Health and Science Center in New Orleans and completed his internal medicine residency also at LSUHSC. He completed his clinical informatics fellowship and a Master of Science in Applied Clinical Informatics at Vanderbilt University. He completed his M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration and Management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Pirtle is board-certified in internal medicine and clinical informatics. He is a fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Informatics Association.

Jim Rollins
President, retired, Northwest Technical Institute
Hindsville, AR

Jim Rollins served as president of Northwest Technical Institute in Springdale, AR, from 2020 to his retirement in 2024. Before NWTI, he served as superintendent of the Springdale School District for 38 years. Under Rollins’ visionary leadership, the schools, students and educators of Springdale achieved both state and national honors, and the Springdale School District has been a leader for other districts across the country. Throughout his career, Rollins has served on several state boards and committees and has received multiple honors and recognitions. These include being the only school superintendent in Arkansas to be named superintendent of the Year twice and being named one of the 40 Years/40 Leaders for Arkansas by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, as well as serving on the board of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators and the Board of Directors of the Northwest Arkansas Educational Service Cooperative. Rollins was presented with the 2009 Humanitarian Award by the Northwest Arkansas chapter of the National Federation for Just Communities , and he received the 2015 Unity Award from the Arkansas House of Representatives for his service to the Northwest Arkansas community. He was also named the 2020 Alumnus of the Year by the University of Arkansas.

Roman Ruiz
Senior Researcher, American Institutes for Research
Arlington, VA

Roman Ruiz , Ph.D., is a postsecondary education researcher at the American Institutes for Research, one of the nation’s leading behavioral and social science research institutions. At AIR, he leads project teams and conducts applied research on a range of topics including college and career readiness, student financial aid, equity in U.S. higher education, postsecondary data, and policies and practices designed to improve college student success. Current and recent project funders include the federal government (e.g., National Center for Education Statistics), state governments (e.g., Maryland State Department of Education), and foundations (e.g., Gates Foundation). His work has appeared in myriad research products and publications for academic and broad audiences, including peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice), books (e.g., American Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century), reports (e.g., "Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States"), blogs (e.g., Higher Education Today), and data visualizations. He holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.

Judd Semingson
Dean’s Executive Advisory Board Past Chair
Chief Executive Officer, Community Clinic
Rogers, AR

Judd Semingson earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas. He holds a master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio and a Master of Business Administration with a focus in health care management from Western Governors University in Utah. As an Arkansas native, Semingson has served the Northwest Arkansas health care industry throughout his professional career. Semingson is currently the chief executive officer of the Community Clinic, a Northwest Arkansas health care organization with more than 20 locations throughout the region. At Community Clinic, Semingson oversees daily operations and works with the leadership team to drive strategic operational growth. Semingson oversees the Community Clinic's goals as they work to provide primary care, pediatric, women’s health and dental services throughout Northwest Arkansas. Semingson leads a team to expand primary care delivery in a comprehensive, accessible manner. He aims to build a culture of excellence that is focused on patient outcomes while improving patient and staff experiences. Semingson is a family nurse practitioner certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. He also serves as the vice chair of the board of Community Health Centers of Arkansas.

Barbara B. Shadden
University Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

Barbara B. Shadden, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, university professor emeritus, is a former director of the Communication Disorders Program and co-director of the Office for Studies on Aging at the University of Arkansas. During her tenure, she also served as director of the Center for Teaching and Faculty Support. Shadden has an extensive record of scholarship in aging, aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders. Her academic career includes contributions to five textbooks, numerous peer-reviewed and invited articles, book chapters, and more than 150 major presentations. She has served on the editorial boards of two journals, edited three special journal issues, and reviewed seven journals, three publishers, and three funding agencies. Shadden has held leadership roles in several professional organizations, including Aphasia Access, and has supported the development of the speech-language pathology profession internationally. Through a Fulbright award, she mentored the first cohorts of SLP students and faculty in Sri Lanka. In 2025, Shadden received the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Honors of the Association, the organization’s highest distinction. That same year, she established a fund to support the newly named Shadden Symposium for Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Tom Smith
Dean and Professor Emeritus, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions
Fayetteville, AR

Tom E.C. Smith is emeritus dean and university professor of Special Education at the University of Arkansas. He served on the U of A Special Education faculty from 1978 to 1988, then moved to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical School, focusing on research in intellectual disabilities. After four years at UAB, he went to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he conducted disability research and eventually moved to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as a professor of Special Education. In 2002, he returned to the Fayetteville campus as head of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. He was appointed interim dean of the college in 2009 and assumed the full position in 2010, serving until returning to the faculty in 2016 as university professor then retiring in 2023. He authored or co-authored 32 textbooks, served 20 years as executive director of the Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children, and was appointed by President Bill Clinton to three terms on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. He is currently executive director of SEPSEA, an organization that provides support for inclusive postsecondary education programs for students with intellectual disabilities. His wife, Debi Smith, is a retired elementary school teacher, and they reside on the King’s River near Eureka Springs, AR. In 2020, they created the Debi and Tom Smith Endowed Award in Special Education.

Gary Stark
Board chair, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
Bentonville, AR

Gary Stark, Ed.D., serves as chair of the board for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, a non-profit focused on educator effectiveness. He is also a senior advisor for K-12 education with the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group. Stark has worked in schools, the federal government and philanthropic capacities throughout his 30-year career in education. Stark's passion for improving education on a national scale stems from his own experience as an educator in Tennessee and Arkansas. He served as a classroom teacher and assistant principal and received the national Milken Educator Award as a principal in Arkansas in 2001. Stark later became the vice president of the Milken Family Foundation, where he focused on recognizing and supporting educators. In 2010, he became president and chief executive officer of NIET. Stark also served at the U.S. Department of Education and worked as an advisor to a U.S. assistant secretary of education. He holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Arkansas. Stark was honored by College of Education and Health Professions Dean Kate Mamiseishvili as the recipient of the 2025 Dean’s Circle of Care Award. It honors those who exemplify exceptional care for the college and display abundant generosity with their time, guidance and support. Stark is a husband, father of two daughters and a military veteran.

Bill Stovall
Owner, Stovall Insight + Solutions
Charleston, SC

Bill Stovall III, B.S.B.A. ’72, is a second-generation University of Arkansas graduate and a longtime Arkansas business leader and philanthropist whose career spans more than three decades in funeral services, insurance and expert consulting. A native of Blytheville, AR, he began his professional path after earning his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. He later attended mortuary school and assumed leadership of his family’s businesses — Cobb Funeral Home and Memorial Insurance Co. Under his direction, Memorial Insurance expanded from a small funeral insurance provider into one of the largest privately owned insurance companies in Arkansas. Committed to lifelong learning, Stovall returned to higher education more than 40 years after completing his undergraduate degree, earning a Master of Business Administration in 2017. Now residing in Charleston, SC, Stovall is the owner of Stovall Insight + Solutions and serves as an expert witness for attorneys involved in litigation related to funeral homes and cemeteries. Stovall has two children: Bonnie, a U of A graduate with a B.A. in Communication and an M.S.W. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, who lives in Fayetteville; and Adam, a defense attorney in Charleston with degrees from Auburn University and the University of South Carolina School of Law. Bill created the Bill Stovall III Endowed Scholarship in Nursing in 2023.