First, but not Last
A Message for Women’s History Month from our CEO Anna Beth Gorman
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This Women’s History Month, I reflect on my time with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. This month marks nine years since I was entrusted with the role of Executive Director, embarking on an incredible journey with an organization dedicated to empowering women and girls across our state.
The Foundation’s journey began with 100 remarkable women who set out to make history. While they represented varying industries and backgrounds, they were united by one mission: pave the way for women and girls in Arkansas to succeed.
That legacy endures today with our key programs – from Girls of Promise to WEM Hub and Power of the Purse – and our continued relationships with women who are trailblazers in their field. Women like WFA founding member Dr. Lee Lee Doyle, who pushed to ensure the future of WFA right before I was offered the job. And Dr. Constance Meadors, the first woman associate director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, and a panelist at our First, But Not Last Club 99 Rotary Panel next week. We are privileged to work with women across Arkansas who are committed to ensuring the path is clearly marked for the next woman coming behind her.
I often think about our founders — Jane Saunders McMullan, one of the first women in Club 99 Rotary; Olivia Farrell, one of the first women in our state to own a publishing group; and the late Dr. Mary Lowe Good, whose legacy lives on through the Dr. Mary Good Scholarship, supporting EAST students pursuing degrees in STEAM fields.
Hear their stories and what inspired them to establish WFA in these powerful interviews captured by the Central Arkansas Library System.
I don’t just owe it to these remarkable women — I owe it to the next generation of young women, and I’m committed to ensuring they not only have a seat at the table but the opportunity to lead.
The fight for women’s futures is ongoing, and we can’t do it without you. Programs, initiatives and funding for women are under threat, making our work even more critical. This Women’s History Month, I invite you to take action — make a donation on International Women’s Day, attend an event featured below, register to volunteer at the Girls of Promise conference or share our mission with your network.
Help us continue building on the legacy of our Founders to disrupt the status quo and create economic mobility for all Arkansas women.
Best,
Anna Beth
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Senator Hattie Caraway
"Hattie Caraway, [from Jonesboro,] set a number of firsts for women. In 1933 she was named chair of the Enrolled Bills Committee; the first woman ever to chair a U.S. Senate committee, she remained there until she left Congress in 1945. Caraway became the first woman to preside over the Senate, the first senior woman Senator (when Joe Robinson died in 1937), and the first woman to run a Senate hearing."
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Betty Dickey
Betty Dickey was appointed to the Arkansas Public Service Commission in 1999 by Governor Mike Huckabee, who later, in 2003, named Betty his chief legal counsel, the first woman to hold that role in Arkansas history. Betty Dickey was appointed twice by Governor Mike Huckabee to serve stints on the Arkansas Supreme Court, one as Chief Justice (the first woman ever to serve in that role). During her time on the state’s highest court, she authored a notable case involving the First Amendment and freedom of the press.
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Laura Landreaux
Laura Landreaux serves as Entergy's first female chief executive officer, making her the first woman CEO of a major utility company in Arkansas. A graduate from University of Arkansas, Landreaux is a former officer and founding member of Arkansas Women in Power and belongs to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. She was honored with the Women in Business Award in 2019 by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas.
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Dr. Carolyn Blakely
Dr. Carolyn Blakely became the first woman to serve as chancellor of a publicly supported, four-year institution of higher education in Arkansas. Dr. Carolyn F. Blakely is a lifelong educator and chancellor emeritus at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She developed the Honors College at the university and served as Dean. At the request of students, it was renamed in her honor. Her contributions to the community, education, and civic organizations have impacted countless individuals in Arkansas and beyond.
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Cathy Owen
Cathy Owen is currently Chair, President & CEO of State Holding Company, which is the holding company for Eagle Bank & Trust Company, Little Rock, AR. She is the first woman ever to hold this position. She is also Executive Chair of the bank, which is 105 years old, $490 million state bank, with 13 branches in central Arkansas, and Mortgage Loan Offices in Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
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Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the 47th Governor of Arkansas. Inaugurated on January 10, 2023, she is the first woman to serve as governor of the state and currently is the youngest governor in the country. Sarah served as White House Press Secretary from 2017 to 2019. Sarah was only the third woman – and the very first mom – to ever hold the job of White House Press Secretary.
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Chief Justice Karen Baker
Chief Justice Karen Baker is the first woman to be elected to serve as the Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Baker was first elected to the state Supreme Court in 2010. Prior to serving as justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court, Baker served as associate judge for the Arkansas Court of Appeals from 2001 to 2010.
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