Meet our staff

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families employs a staff of skilled professionals. We have extensive experience in data analysis, policy research and community network building. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Executive Director - Rich Huddleston

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 State Fiscal Analysis Initiative 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

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. Jennifer is a native of Hope, Ark., 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.

State Tax and Budget Outreach Director - Pat Bodenhamer

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 and Legislative Affairs Director - Elisabeth Wright Burak

Elisabeth Wright Burak joined AACF in May 2008. Elisabeth previously served as the Arkansas Department of Human Services Director of Policy and Planning, where she created and led a central office dedicated to improving policy decisions. She gained national- and state-level policy experience on a 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.

Northwest Arkansas Director - Laura Kellams

Laura Kellams joined AACF as its first Northwest Arkansas director in August 2008. Before that, she was a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more than 11 years, covering politics, government and regional affairs in a 12-county region. Laura has a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas and has lived in the northwest corner of the state for 20 years. She and her husband Kyle live in Fayetteville.

Senior Policy Analyst - Paul Kelly

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.

Administrative and Special Events Director - Nancy Leonhardt

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

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. She serves on the board of advisors of the Osage News in Pawhuska, Okla. Tara lives in Little Rock with her husband and son.

Administrative Assistant – Malisa Morris

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.

Senior Policy Analyst – Kim Reeve

Kim Reeve joined AACF as Senior Policy Analyst in November 2009. Her previous experience includes serving as Senior Policy Analyst for Southern Good Faith Fund and Service Corps Fellow for the City of Bloomington, Indiana in their Latino Outreach project. Kim received her bachelor's degree from Alma College in Michigan and her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Indiana, Bloomington. Kim lives in Little Rock with her husband Oscar and their dog Suzie.

Federal Budget and Tax Policy Director - Candice Smith

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 Little Rock Planning Commission and on the Board of Directors for Argenta Community Development Corporation in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In November 2009, Candice was named among the twenty most influential Arkansans in their twenties by Arkansas Business. 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

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.

NWA Intern - Amanda Crandall

Amanda Crandall, a second year Master in Social Work intern from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, has worked for three years with Arkansas Voices for Children Grandparent Project. She graduated from Hendrix with a degree in Comparative Religion and lives in Fayetteville with her dog, Cody. She is passionate about the potential impact of policy formation on social issues.

Intern - Rachel Sandy

Rachel Sandy is an intern from the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Arkansas - Little Rock. She is in her second and final year of the program. Rachel completed a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and English in 2006 at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville. She is originally from Van Buren, AR and currently resides in Downtown Little Rock. Rachel is passionate about social justice issues and is excited about her time at AACF.

Intern - Ashley Wright

Ashley Wright is a second year Master in Social Work intern from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Ashley is originally from Augusta, AR and currently resides in Maumelle with her husband, Dylan, and their two dogs, George and Chachi. She is passionate about human rights, social justice, and equality.