APAC hires highly skilled instructors to offer the best training possible for participants.
Michaela Abbott is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her research focuses on collaborative governance, public trust, and the evolving role of public administration education in preparing the next generation of civic leaders. With a background spanning regional planning, local government, higher education, and nonprofit management, she brings a practitioner-informed perspective to her teaching and scholarship.
Abbott’s current work explores coproduction, social infrastructure, and equitable service delivery, with a particular focus on how public institutions engage diverse communities in problem-solving. She is actively involved in the American Society for Public Administration and serves in leadership roles in both the Section for Women in Public Administration and the Section on Public Administration Education.
Her professional experience includes:
- Working in regional planning and local government, informing community development and public engagement efforts
- Supporting nonprofit management and higher education initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and civic capacity
- Leading research and scholarship that integrate practitioner perspectives into public administration education
- Contributing to national conversations on equity, collaboration, and community-centered governance through her service in ASPA sections
Andrea Alford is a leader, consultant and trainer with 17 years of human resources experience. As Executive Director of the Real Estate Commission, Andrea brings a unique blend of private and public sector experience to her leadership approach. Prior to working for the Commission, Andrea was Staffing Services Manager for a professional staffing firm, where she earned the national Certified Staffing Professional designation.
In 2011, Andrea achieved the national Certified Public Manager® designation in addition to the Arkansas Governmental Manager designation the year before that. In 2012, she served as President of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Managers.
Andrea is also active with the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), having served as Senior District Vice President in 2016 and District Vice President in 2021. She was on the Board of Directors from 2013 to 2016 and 2019 to 2021, and she has also served on multiple committees.
Dr. Joyvin Benton is the Senior Gift Officer at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), where she oversees the cultivation and engagement of major donors. She works closely with the Vice Chancellor of Advancement to cultivate and steward major gifts and partnerships with corporations and foundations. Dr. Benton received her PhD from Rutgers University where she studied systems and policy, with a focus on education policy. During her tenure at Rutgers, she honed her evaluation skills, evaluating several local, state, and national programs. Joyvin believes that research and evaluation are the keys to building a strong organizational infrastructure.
In 2017, she was named one of the top 20 emerging nonprofit leaders by the Little Rock Young Nonprofit Professionals Network and in 2018 she had the honor of being one of twelve emerging leaders from across the country selected for the Independent Sector, Next Generation Fellowship. In 2019, she was selected to participate in the American Express Leadership Academy Global Summit. Participating in the Global Summit allowed Dr. Benton an opportunity to interact with and learn from leaders from all over the world. In 2020, she participated in Leadership Arkansas, where she engaged with nonprofit and business leaders from all over the state. These fellowships have provided her with a greater insight into state government as well as the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, and have increased her leadership skills, expanded her network, and provided opportunities to collaborate and work with people and organizations across the country.
Dr. Bailey Blackburn is an Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She holds a PhD in Human Communication, with a specialization in restructured family communication. Dr. Blackburn is a published researcher and a certified group facilitator whose work centers on conflict transformation and family resilience.
Her professional expertise spans conflict management, emotional intelligence, and facilitating collaborative and resilient work and family environments. As a facilitator and educator, Dr. Blackburn draws on her academic research and practical experience to guide participants toward constructive communication, lasting relationships, and effective teamwork across diverse settings.
Millicent Boykin has an extensive background in nonprofit administration, community engagement, as well as program expansion and strategic partnership development. In 2022, Boykin became the Director of Statewide Initiatives for OneStar. For 20 years prior to that she was Chief Program Officer for VolunteerNow, one of the most active volunteer centers in the country. Boykin serves as a community connector, convener and capacity builder to strengthen the sector. She leads initiatives that leverage the power of volunteerism to improve and sustain communities.
In her spare time, she consults with nonprofits and educational institutions on mission advancement through innovative engagement strategies. Her focus is on shifting client thinking from “obstacles to opportunities.”
Boykin is an active community volunteer and serves on the boards of Reading Partners North Texas, Best Buddies Dallas/Fort Worth and the Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation. In addition, Millicent is a Leadership Dallas alum, member of the Rotary Club of Dallas – Uptown, and past chair of the Diversity Leadership Council of the American Red Cross. She was honored as HOBY Alum of the Year by the Texas North chapter, received a special citation for Volunteer Excellence from the American Red Cross North Texas Region, and has been featured as a “Hometown Hero” with Fox 4.
Boykin was born in East Texas, but ventured north to the “Windy City” (aka Chicago) for college and holds a degree in Psychology from Northwestern University. Boykin’s passion for service and engaging others to positively impact their community is evident through one of her favorite quotes, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do; interfere with what I can do.” ― Edward Everett Hale
Dr. Christopher Tyler Burks is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He teaches in the public administration, nonprofit management, and political science programs. His research focuses on urban policy and regional governance for sustainable development. He is the founder of Urban Analysis, a management consulting firm for changemaking through policy, planning, and politics. He serves the public on the Little Rock Sustainability Commission and he serves his profession as the executive board co-vice chair of the Public Administration Theory Network and as a board member for the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration.
Lisa Carver is the President of Moxie Consulting, Inc., which provides consulting, strategic planning, and training solutions to a variety of organizations from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies across the United States. Lisa also has extensive experience designing and facilitating training for public sector employees.
Dr. April Chatham-Carpenter (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma) is a Professor of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she serves as Department Chair of the Department of Applied Communication. Previous to coming to UA Little Rock, she served as Professor of Communication Studies and Interim Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate College at the University of Northern Iowa. She researches issues such as innovation and change, use of communication to manage difficult dialogues, transformations in online teaching, and assessment of the impact of initiatives to effect change within the higher education industry.
Shelby Fiegel is the Director of the University of Central Arkansas’s Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and the Community Development Institute (CDI). An Honors graduate of Arkansas State University with a degree in public relations, she is a certified Professional Community and Economic Developer (PCED), a designation awarded by the Community Development Council. Shelby is also a 2016 graduate of CDI and a Certified Strategic Doing Workshop Leader.
Shelby currently serves as:
- Active member of Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives.
- Chair of the Community Development Council
- Ex Officio member and former Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Technology on the Arkansas Community Development Society Board
- Co-chair of the Delta Population Health Institute Advisory Board
Her professional contributions extend to authorship and public speaking. Shelby is a regular contributor to Arkansas Municipal League City & Town and a former Conway Historic District Commissioner. She has completed the Mid-South Basic Economic Development Course, and her leadership accomplishments include graduating from the Conway Area Leadership Institute (2017), LeadAR Class 19, and Leadership Arkansas Class 18. She is also a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach.
Shelby maintains an active statewide and regional presence as a speaker and facilitator. Her commitment to advancing the field was recognized in 2017 when she received the New Professional Award from the Arkansas Community Development Society.
Dr. Lauren Geier is the Statewide Behavioral Health Administrator for the Arkansas Administrative Office of the Courts, where she leads efforts to strengthen court responses for individuals and families affected by behavioral health challenges. With more than 17 years of experience in the community mental health sector, she brings deep clinical and systems-level expertise as a Licensed Professional Counselor–Supervisor. Her work focuses on systemic trauma and the intersections of mental illness, substance use, and developmental disabilities.
Dr. Geier earned her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies in 2025, completing a dissertation on how value misalignment in the public sector impacts psychological safety. A Certified Public Manager and adjunct professor at the University of Central Arkansas, she champions trauma-informed, resilience-centered, and justice-aligned approaches across public systems. Her leadership emphasizes psychological safety, workplace clarity, and sustainable strategies for supporting professionals who serve vulnerable populations.
Her professional experience includes:
- Bringing expertise in systemic trauma, co-occurring disorders, and resilience-based strategies to cross-sector partnerships
- Leading statewide behavioral health initiatives and improving court responses to complex mental health needs
- Providing clinical supervision and guidance informed by nearly two decades of front-line and administrative mental health work
- Teaching leadership, systems thinking, and trauma-informed practice as an adjunct professor at the University of Central Arkansas
- Supporting public sector agencies in building psychologically safe, values-driven work environments
Outside of work, Dr. Geier is a Girl Scout troop leader, community volunteer, and lifelong learner. She is a voracious reader and the parent of three kids, three dogs, and one very patient husband. She enjoys exploring new restaurants, spending time in nature, and nurturing resilience, curiosity, and connection in every aspect of her life.
Dr. Peter Gess is the Economic Policy Director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, a leadership, research, and advocacy nonprofit organization. In that role, he promotes fiscal and economic policies that support all Arkansas children and their families, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to thrive.
Gess previously served as Professor of Politics and Environmental Studies, Associate Provost for Engaged Learning, and Director of International Programs at Hendrix College. He has taught courses in public administration and policy. He earned his doctorate in public administration from the University of Georgia, and has worked or consulted for all three levels of government.
Before coming to Hendrix, Gess helped launch the International Center for Democratic Governance at the University of Georgia, a public service unit providing training and technical assistance to subnational governments in developing nations. Gess began his international career through US Peace Corps service. In the mid-1990s, he was an environmental awareness advisor with the Polish national park system.
Dr. Malcolm Glover is a certified conflict mediator and wellness counselor, an educator, and a humanitarian who helps transform teams, organizations, and communities. Dr. Glover is an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton where he supports strategic workforce development initiatives at NASA Headquarters within the Earth Science Division. He also provides operational support for various programs within the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer to aid stakeholder engagement efforts for Transform to Open Science (TOPS), a NASA Open-Source Science Initiative. Before working with NASA personnel, Dr. Glover engaged in efforts that brought about strategic change and improved employee wellbeing as a Program Manager at Booz Allen.
Dr. Glover holds a PhD in Leadership from the University of Central Arkansas where his doctoral research examined the interrelated nature of gendered leadership, conflict management, and cultural identity at global aid organizations and explored the ways leaders manage a multicultural workforce and address humanitarian challenges in an interdependent world. Dr. Glover has worked with PBS, NPR, the United States Agency for International Development, the Kettering Foundation, and several other institutions. In every endeavor, he strives to build coalitions, improve outcomes, and empower people.
Tabbi Kinion has served as an instructor for the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium since 2023, where she brings her extensive leadership experience to the Certified Public Manager program.
Beyond APAC, she runs her own leadership coaching and training practice, is national faculty for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Management Assistance Team, and created the Western Slope (Colorado) Bottom Line Leadership Series, helping leaders across sectors build cohesive, high-impact teams that transform their organizations without burning out.
Before launching her leadership coaching business in 2024, Tabbi served as Education Division Chief for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (2018-2023), where she led a team of 80+ staff across 10 facilities and 12 statewide programs, following 13 years as Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Statewide Education Coordinator. Her approach is grounded in both practical experience and academic excellence, including her own 2023 Certified Public Manager certification through APAC, a Master’s in Biology from Miami University, and a Bachelor’s in Natural Resources Management from Colorado State University. By the end of 2025, she will hold a certificate as an Innate Wellbeing Specialist from the International Guild of Hypnotherapy, NLP, & 3 Principles Practitioners Trainers (IGH3P®) Professional Body.
Dr. Karen Kuralt is Associate Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She also teaches online courses in business and technical writing in the university’s Department of Rhetoric and Writing, where she served as the MA program coordinator for 12 years.
She holds a Ph.D. in English from Purdue University and a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Utah.
A winner of the College of Social Sciences and Communication Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service, Dr. Kuralt has served as a science editor and workplace writing trainer with national and local organizations including the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR), the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Affirmative Risk Management, the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH), the Central Arkansas Library System, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, and Acxiom. She is also a member of the board of directors at Wildwood Park for the Arts, where she serves as the park’s publicity coordinator.
Marie Lindquist is a collaborative leader, consultant, and facilitator. Her passion is building impactful and highly engaged organizations, teams, and events. Her consulting work has included facilitating strategic planning and visioning processes, turning in-person events into engaging online experiences, and instructing online and in-person facilitation training.
Lindquist’s full-time work over the past 30 years has focused on connecting higher education resources with community needs and opportunities. Accomplishments include creating new programs such as APAC’s Professional Development Workshop series; developing policies to meet international standards and increasing field partnerships from 10 to 250 for the Clinton School; creating an award-winning leadership program at Rhodes College; and writing a successful $4 million grant application section.
She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium (APAC). In that role, she builds the management skills of public sector professionals through training and certification programs. In addition to leading the organization, Lindquist serves as the director of the Certified Volunteer Manager, Certified Group Facilitator, and Certified Arkansas Planning Official Programs. She teaches meeting facilitation, group facilitation, and strategic planning.
Prior to APAC, Lindquist worked as Director of Field Service Education at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service for nine years. She directed over 90 field projects each year focused on assessing needs, evaluating programs, leading community conversations, and conducting research. Prior to joining the Clinton School faculty, Lindquist worked at Rhodes College where she began as Director of Orientation and Leadership Programs and became an Associate Dean of Students.
Lindquist graduated summa cum laude from Simpson College and holds a Master of Science in Education degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). She participated in Class XXVII of Leadership Greater Little Rock and as a Memphis Leadership Academy Fellow.
She currently serves as a board member for Jefferson Comprehensive Care System, Inc. (JCCSI), a community health center. She is also the Chair of their Strategic Planning and Quality Improvement Committee.
Her newest personal endeavor is raising two boys that she and her husband adopted in November 2022. The family loves playing board games, playing trivia, watching movies, traveling, and going to local events.
Dr. Liz Lundeen serves as Director of the Arkansas Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program, the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium’s flagship two-year leadership and management development program for public and nonprofit sector professionals. In this role, she oversees curriculum development, program strategy, and statewide partnerships that strengthen Arkansas’s public service workforce. Liz also teaches the Effective Decision Making and Capstone courses within the CPM program and is certified as a facilitator through APAC’s Certified Group Facilitator program.
A Harry S. Truman Scholar, Liz is deeply committed to public service and to expanding opportunities for individuals and organizations to build stronger decision-making, communication, and strategic leadership competencies. Before joining APAC, she served as Director of Strategic Planning for the Glenn Pelham Foundation for Debate Education, where she led the expansion of a workforce development program introducing the concept of productive conflict to public, nonprofit, and education-sector organizations.
Liz earned her PhD in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also served as a field scholar for the Southern Oral History Program. She has taught at Hendrix College and UNC–Chapel Hill and brings extensive experience helping leaders navigate complexity through critical thinking, analysis, and structured decision-making. She also holds an MPhil in Historical Studies from Cambridge University and a BA in History and Political Science from Wake Forest University, where she competed on the policy debate team.
Kathryn Matchett has worked in the fields of international, community and organizational development for over thirty years.
Since 2002, she has provided consulting services to domestic and international organizations, specializing in bringing together key stakeholders to develop shared visions and make decisions through collaborative processes. Areas of expertise include group facilitation, strategic planning, nonprofit start-up, board development, program evaluation, conference planning, team building, training of trainers, cross-cultural training, research and writing.
Kathryn authored Values-based Holistic Community Development, describing Heifer International’s community development model, and was the lead author of Southern Bancorp: Revitalizing the Rural South, of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation’s Partners in Progress series.
Kathryn holds a Master of International and Intercultural Management degree from the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Studies from Duke University.
A native of Little Rock, Kathryn has lived and/or worked in fourteen countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. She is conversationally proficient in French and Spanish and is certified to teach English as a Second Language.
Ashley Matejka has been a professional project manager for over 14 years and an “unofficial” project manager for her entire life. As a consultant for the Department of Defense, she managed projects that evaluated long-term sustainment challenges for Air Force bases around the country. Currently, she is a Senior IT Project Manager for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She works as part of a team managing a software development project to deliver integrated eligibility and benefit management capabilities to the State of Arkansas for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other programs. Ashley is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP ®), with an undergraduate degree from Boston University and a Master of Public Service degree from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. Outside of work, Ashley can be found trying to keep up with her two year old.
Dr. Kristen McIntyre is a full professor in the Department of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She holds a Ph.D. from North Dakota State University and directs both the ACOM 1300: Introduction to Communication program and the UA Little Rock Communication Skill Center. Her teaching and administrative leadership focus on helping students and professionals strengthen their communication competence, confidence, and effectiveness.
Dr. McIntyre’s scholarship centers on communication education, experiential learning, and skill development. Her co-authored publications appear in Communication Quarterly, Communication Teacher, The Communication Centers Movement in Higher Education, Best Practices in Experiential and Service Learning in Communication, and The Handbook of Communication Training: A Best Practices Framework for Assessing and Developing Competence.
Her professional experience includes:
- Leading the university’s introductory communication curriculum and supporting thousands of students each year through communication training
- Directing the Communication Skill Center, which provides coaching and practice opportunities for students preparing for academic and professional presentations
- Publishing and presenting research on communication training, experiential learning, and competency-based education
- Facilitating workshops designed to strengthen presentation skills, communication confidence, and audience engagement
Dr. Julien C. Mirivel is Professor of Applied Communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, an author, and a professional speaker.
Originally from Paris, France, he is “among the founding scholars in the emerging field of positive communication” and an award-winning teacher and scholar. In 2013, he was named a Distinguished Teaching Fellow at UA Little Rock.
Julien has published in the most rigorous journals in the field of communication and is the author of four books on positive communication: The Art of Positive Communication: Theory and Practice and How Communication Scholars Think and Act: A Lifespan Perspective, and Communication and Community (with Kristen Christman). His newest book, Positive Communication for Leaders: Proven Strategies for Inspiring Unity and Effecting Change was released in 2023.
Dr. Mirivel has delivered hundreds of keynotes, training, and workshops on how to communicate effectively. His writing has been featured in FastCompany, CEOMagazine, HRMorning, ChiefExecutive, and more. He is a TEDx speaker whose mission is to inspire individuals and groups to communicate more positively at work and at home. In 2022, he founded the Positive Communication Network. For more information and resources, please visit julienmirivel.com.
Roy Ragland is a contract lobbyist. Ragland previously served as State Representative for District 90 in Arkansas from 2005 through 2011. Subsequent to his legislative service he worked as Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs for Secretary of State Mark Martin from 2011 until December, 2012. He began his career on the House staff in December, 2012 as Director of Member Services. In 2016 he became Deputy Chief of Staff and in 2017 he became Chief of Staff for Speaker Jeremy Gillam. Ragland continued to serve as Chief of Staff under Speaker Matthew Shepherd until his retirement in July, 2024.
Roy graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in History. He earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from UA-Little Rock.
Ragland and his wife Gail live in the Welcome Home community in Searcy County.
Dr. Derek Slagle is the Director of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) School of Public Affairs and a tenured Associate Professor of Public Administration. His public service leadership includes serving as an Arkansas Governor–appointed Commissioner (2019–2022; 2023–2025) on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on National Public Service & Volunteerism, where he provides administrative and fiduciary oversight for Arkansas’s service and volunteerism priorities, including AmeriCorps.
In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Slagle is a Fulbright Specialist, selected by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Commission. This makes him eligible to be matched with host institutions in more than 150 countries to support public administration, public affairs, and public policy projects. He is also the co-owner of DNA Organizational Consulting Services, an internationally recognized firm serving nonprofit and public institutions.
His professional experience includes:
- Working for the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving as a technical expert for the Governor’s Red Tape Reduction Working Group
- Acting as a state lead for the Occupational Licensing Policy Learning Consortium, an initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Labor and managed by the National Governors Association, the Council of State Governments, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
- Partnering with more than 30 state agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations on over 50 consulting, grant-funded, and applied research projects.
- Contributing to over 50 Arkansas acts signed into law and numerous administrative reforms across state government.
Dr. Slagle is also a fine-art film photographer. He was named a 2023 Catalyze Grant Recipient by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. His photography focuses on environmental conservation practices and has been featured in exhibitions and publications across the country.
Dr. Christy Standerfer earned a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Colorado and served as a faculty member at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service (UACS) for twelve years. For three years she was UACS’s Faculty Director of the Office of Community Engagement. She retired from UACS in July 2019 and was granted Emerita status.
Dr. Standerfer has over 30 years of teaching experience both on-line and in the classroom. Courses taught include Communication and Social Change, Advocacy in Public Service, Managing Public Disputes, Political Communication, and Gender Communication.
Her most current work focuses on effective public health and science communication. She has been awarded grants from the Arkansas Department of Health and the Kettering Foundation to conduct qualitative research, including developing protocols for and facilitating focus groups, interviews, surveys and round table discussions with a wide variety of stakeholders to gather and synthesize diverse perceptions of public health issues such as diabetes, breast care, and Alzheimer’s and related dementias and recommend effective strategies to involve communities in addressing these issues. This work has resulted in a number of technical reports as well as academic presentations and publications.
Dr. Standerfer served as a 2012-13 Fulbright Lecturing Scholar in Tirana, Albania. During her time in Albania, she worked with U.N. Women and the U.S. Embassy delivering workshops and reports on public speaking, policy debate, conflict transformation, and effective advocacy.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Standerfer has developed and presented workshops, research, and reports on volunteer recruitment, community capacity building, networking, and effective communication skills. She has collaborated with over 30 nonprofit and governmental organizations designing workshops and community meetings; facilitated more than 20 community meetings on issues such as providing relevant services to homeless populations, addressing racial and ethnic tensions, and building healthy communities; and produced and delivered more than 20 written reports to nonprofit and governmental agencies related to need assessments, evaluations, and recommendations.
In addition, Dr. Standerfer has published articles on nonprofit accountability, the changing nature of civil society, and the importance of understanding the role of public discourse in facilitating social justice.
Regina Taylor serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, where she oversees the operational strategy that ensures girls across a 79-county service area have meaningful access to troops, programs, and outdoor experiences. A committed Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, Regina is passionate about connecting youth with caring mentors who help them discover their strengths and potential.
With extensive experience in program and project management, Regina supports nonprofits and faith-based organizations in building effective, high-impact programs. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to service and a belief in the power of community-centered solutions to improve the lives of children and families.
Regina is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, where she strengthened her expertise in leadership, collaboration, and public service innovation.
Community engagement is central to Regina’s work. She serves on the Kids Count Coalition Steering Committee for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Alpha Alpha Rho Omega Chapter), and participates in the Leadership Greater Little Rock Alumni Association.
Outside of work, Regina enjoys reading, thrift shopping, and spending time with her husband, Kevin, and their sons, Klay and Kanaan.
Hilary Trudell is a facilitator, producer, and educator with more than 15 years of experience in public service and the arts. She specializes in facilitation, community engagement, and creating platforms for storytelling and advocacy around themes of social justice. Hilary currently serves as the Executive Director of Just Communities of Arkansas (JCA), where she leads efforts to advance equity, strengthen community partnerships, and support inclusive practices across the state.
Prior to her role at JCA, Hilary served as the Director of Local Programming and Regional Outreach at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, guiding students through community-based fieldwork and developing partnerships with organizations committed to public service and civic engagement.
In addition to her professional work, Hilary is the Executive Producer of The Yarn, a community-based storytelling initiative that emphasizes partnership, lived experience, and human connection. Since its inception, The Yarn has produced 20 shows partnering with organizations such as The Diversity Booth, the Arkansas Peace and Justice Memorial Movement, and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. Hilary has personally coached more than 250 storytellers, helping them craft and deliver narratives that foster understanding, break down barriers, and spark meaningful dialogue.
Jonathan Wallace serves as Director of Cross-Sector Engagement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national nonprofit organization working to ensure the environments that surround youth provide and promote good health. Jonathan joined Healthier Generation in 2013. He is currently responsible for the strategic development and implementation of community-based, cross-sector engagement across the country with specific emphasis on increasing access to healthy foods and beverages. Jonathan plays a lead role in managing Healthier Generation’s business sector partnerships and developing innovative collaborations and solutions that impact children’s health. Prior to this role, Jonathan led an initiative to increase healthy out-of-school time activity across Arkansas.
Jonathan also serves as an instructor with the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium on topics such as group facilitation and volunteer management. He also serves as a coach with Arkansas State University – Childhood Services, providing training and technical assistance to out-of-school time and early childhood programs across the state. Jonathan lives with his family in Bryant, AR and enjoys hiking in the Ouachita and Ozark mountains across the state.