« Home« About Us

MEET OUR STAFF

Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families employees a staff of highly skilled professionals. The staff has extensive experience in data analysis, policy research and community network building. Feel free to phone or e-mail staff for information you may need concerning the work of Arkansas Advocates.

Executive Director - Rich Huddleston
rhuddleston@aradvocates.org

Rich Huddleston became the Executive Director of AACF in July 2004. Previously, Rich served as the Research & Fiscal Policy Director for AACF for nine years and was the lead program staff for our SFAI project. Rich has an extensive background in research and public policy and has worked on a variety of public policy issues affecting children. Rich has a Masters of Public Administration from West Virginia University and a BA in Political Science from Carroll College. Rich and his wife Janie live in Little Rock with their daughter Lauren.

Deputy Director – Jennifer Keith Ferguson
Jferguson@aradvocates.org

Jennifer Ferguson rejoined AACF in June 2005.  From 1996 to 1998, Jennifer served as Financial and Legal Director for AACF and served on the Board from 2001 to 2005. Previously, she served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer for the Arkansas Community Foundation.  Ferguson is a native of Hope, Arkansas, and has a BA in Business and Economics from Hendrix College and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas Law School at Little Rock. 

Research and Fiscal Policy Director - Ginny Blankenship
gblankenship@aradvocates.org

Ginny Blankenship joined AACF as Research and Fiscal Policy Director in 2007. Her previous experience includes serving as Director of Policy and Research for the Charter School Policy Institute in Austin, TX; research associate for the University of Arkansas’ Office for Education Policy; and communications director in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ginny is a native of Pine Bluff and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas. She also earned a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and a doctorate in education policy from The George Washington University.

State Tax & Budget Outreach Director - Pat Bodenhamer
pbodenhamer@aradvocates.org

Pat Bodenhamer joined AACF as State Tax and Budget Outreach Director in March of 2008. Pat is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She has previously served in local church settings as well as serving as the Arkansas Conference Minister with Mission and Outreach. During her time with the Arkansas Conference Pat was instrumental in starting over 30 food pantries throughout the state. She also helped organize Arkansas United Methodist Churches during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Because of her efforts in disaster response, she was awarded the Volunteer Coordinator of the Year in 2006. Pat is a native of Mountain Home and received a bachelor's degree from Arkansas State University. She also earned a master's degree from Memphis Theological Seminary.

Health Policy Director - Elisabeth Wright Burak
eburak@aradvocates.org

Elisabeth Wright Burak joined AACF in May 2008. Elisabeth previously served as the Arkansas DHS Director of Policy and Planning, where she created and led a central office dedicated to improved policy decisions. She gained national- and state-level policy experience on range of children's issues at the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices and The Finance Project. A native Arkansan, Elisabeth received Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees from the University of Michigan and a BA in Social Psychology from Smith College. Elisabeth lives in Little Rock with her husband Joe.

Senior Policy Analyst - Paul Kelly
pkelly@aradvocates.org

Paul Kelly has been with AACF since 1995 and currently serves as the Senior Policy Analyst. Paul provides technical expertise, research and policy analysis on a variety of children's issues including early care and education, juvenile justice, child welfare and family self-sufficiency. He is currently working on a project to develop an out-of-school network to prevent juvenile crime. Paul has a Masters of Social Work from the University of Arkansas and a BA in Sociology from Benedictine College. Paul has two sons, Matthew & Paul and four grandchildren.

Development Director - Nancy Leonhardt
nleonhardt@aradvocates.org

Nancy Leonhardt joined AACF in November 2006 as the Development Director. Nancy's previous nonprofit and association work includes the Arkansas Flower & Garden Show, Women's Foundation of Arkansas, Tree Streets, and the Inland California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Nancy has a BS in Urban Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She lives in Roland with her husband Darrell and they have two children, Jason and Christy.

Communications Director - Tara Manthey
tmanthey@aradvocates.org

Tara Manthey came to AACF in June 2008 from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where she wrote about K-12 and higher education. Prior to that, she worked at newspapers in the Pacific Northwest covering education and local and state government. A native of Colorado, she has degrees in journalism and music from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Tara lives in Little Rock with her husband and son.

Administrative Assistant – Malisa Morris
Mmorris@aradvocates.org

Malisa Morris joined AACF in May 2005. Previously, Malisa worked as a secretary at Baptist Health's Corporate office in Little Rock. Currently, Malisa serves as administrative assistant for AACF and helps coordinate meetings and outreach activities. Malisa and her daughter Alana live in Bryant.

Federal Tax & Budget Policy Director - Candice Smith
csmith@aradvocates.org

Candice S. Smith joined AACF in March 2008 as the Federal Budget and Tax Policy Director. From 2006 to 2008, Candice practiced law in the commercial litigation department with Quattlebaum, Grooms, Tull & Burrow PLLC in Little Rock, Arkansas. Previously, she worked as a policy analyst on the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee in Austin, Texas. Candice serves on the Board of Directors for Argenta Community Development Corporation in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Candice is a native of Goodwin, Arkansas, and she has a BA in Politics with a minor in Spanish from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas and a J.D. from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas.

Health Outreach Coordinator - Kara Wilkins
kwilkins@aradvocates.org

Kara Wilkins joined AACF in May 2008 as the Health Outreach Coordinator. She is committed to expanding health insurance for children by organizing outreach efforts throughout the community and networking with various local partners and organizations in the Central Arkansas area. Prior to working at AACF, she served as an admissions counselor for Philander Smith College. A native of Little Rock, Kara attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas where she majored in Africana Studies.

Intern - Will Brown
wbrown@aradvocates.org

Will is a summer intern doing web design and communications work for Arkansas Advocates. Will is studying politics at Hendrix College, and is a graduate of Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona.

Intern - Chris Burks
cburks@aradvocates.org

Chris Burks is the Kids Count Coalition Coordinator for summer 2008. He brings his prior work experience with the Arkansas Democratic Party, the AFL-CIO, and the John Edwards for President campaign to bear in helping organize public policy outreach and advocacy. Chris is a native Arkansan and has BA in Political Science from Davidson College. He is now attending the University of Arkansas School of Law.

Intern - Yann Tientcheu
ytientcheu@aradvocates.org

Yann is helping Arkansas Advocates staff draft a State of Working Arkansas report. He is a native of Cameroon, Africa, and is studying economics and mathematics at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Little Rock Christian Academy and has previously studied at the University of Dayton in Ohio.