UA Little Rock Welcomes Four New Members to Foundation Fund Board
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is proud to welcome four new members to the UA Little Rock Foundation Fund Board, a group of distinguished alumni and community leaders dedicated to advancing the university’s mission through philanthropy and strategic engagement.
The newly appointed board members are Christian Gwatney, Karen Kitchens, Stuart McLendon, and A.J. Thomas. They join under the leadership of Board Chair Alec Gaines and Vice Chair J.R. Bizzell, who currently serve as officers of the Foundation Fund Board.
“We are delighted to welcome these talented and accomplished individuals to our Foundation Fund Board,” said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development at UA Little Rock “Each of them brings a unique perspective and deep community ties that will help further our mission of supporting student success and building a stronger UA Little Rock.”
Christian Gwatney is a 2013 graduate of the UA Little Rock School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in economics and a third-generation car dealer and owner of the family business Gwatney Chevrolet. A former small business owner, she brings a strategic and customer-focused perspective to the automotive industry, where she leads initiatives to make the car-buying experience more transparent, efficient, and family-oriented as well as partners with certified child passenger safety technicians for community events.
Gwatney is also active in the community, serving on the boards of Argenta Contemporary Theater and the Arkansas National Guard Foundation in honor of her grandfather, former Arkansas Adjutant General Harold Gwatney. She honors her family’s legacy at UA Little Rock through the Bill Gwatney Memorial Scholarship, named for her late father and the former state senator. Christian is married and the mother of three sons.
Karen Kitchens, vice president in the Emerging Middle Market and Specialized Industries group with JPMorgan Chase, brings three decades of experience in commercial banking to the board. In her role, she is focused on building the JPMC brand in Arkansas, particularly targeting commercial businesses with revenues of $20 million or more.
Based in Hot Springs, Kitchens is well-known for her work supporting mid-sized businesses and her leadership in civic organizations including the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness, and the Oaklawn Rotary, where she was named 2022 Rotarian of the Year. Beyond banking and community service, Kitchens owns a thoroughbred horse boarding facility with her fiancé and is a U.S. Masters Swimming Adult Swim Instructor. She holds an MBA from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mercer University.
Stuart McLendon, chief financial officer of DYNE, manages the company’s financing, investor relations, and business planning activities. He is a UA Little Rock Donaghey Scholar alumnus and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. When not spending time with his wife Mandi and their three children, he has developed the next generation of entrepreneurs by previously teaching finance and management at UA Little Rock as well as mentoring through startup accelerator and incubator programs.
A.J. Thomas, a mortgage professional with Centennial Bank, is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High School and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas and The Centers for Youth and Families and is also pastor of Greater New Hope Baptist Church. Thomas and his wife Devynne have three children: Hailey, Evan, and Elliott.
The UA Little Rock Foundation Fund Board plays a key role in stewarding private support for the university, providing oversight for Foundation Fund activities and serving as ambassadors for UA Little Rock throughout the region. Board members meet quarterly and help champion student scholarships, academic initiatives, and institutional growth.