Staff

Bri Clark, a native of North Little Rock, has extensive experience working with companies in Central Arkansas on broadcast and digital marketing campaigns. She is deeply committed to empowering individuals to reach their full potential through targeted business strategies.

Previously, Bri worked at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, where she played a crucial role in establishing strategic partnerships by organizing and hosting their Women Empowering Women series. It was during this time that her dedication to supporting women’s economic growth in both personal and professional spheres took root. Bri has emerged as a staunch advocate for providing resources to women, particularly women of color, in line with our mission of bridging the wealth gap for women throughout Arkansas.

In her new role as Programs Coordinator, Bri will bring her passion, planning, and exceptional communication skills to oversee WFA’s programs and initiatives. She will be responsible for planning, managing, and executing recruitment and outreach strategies as well as general project management for all of our programs and initiatives. If you have any questions in general regarding the Women Empowered or Girls of Promise® Initiatives, please contact her at [email protected]. 

Kennedy Kasten has dedicated the start of her career to advocate for increased opportunities for women in Arkansas. She recently graduated from the University of Arkansas in May 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She has extensive experience working with nonprofits and has held positions involving project management, recruitment and retention, strategic field plan design and execution, people leadership, and political campaigns. During her time in Fayetteville, Kennedy served as an economic policy and education ambassador for Free the Facts, a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega and served as a Panhellenic Recruitment Chair for her chapter in 2022. She was always engaged in various student life activities and has been known to never miss the kickoff of a Razorback football game.

She currently serves as a founding board member of the Arkansas chapter of the National Organization for Women (Arkansas N.O.W.). She is an experienced political and judicial campaign staffer, working on multiple local and statewide campaigns while specifically seeking out women candidates to support. She recently volunteered as the Pulaski County leader and state-wide volunteer trainer for a ballot referendum in 2023, serving as a trailblazer of grassroots momentum in the state. She continues to grow her political experience as an active member of multiple political groups in Arkansas.

She has been working part-time with the WFA since September 2023 helping in Development and Communications. She will now serve as the full-time Development & Communications Coordinator and will be strategically managing and executing WFA’s social media presence, planning stewardship events for donor groups, and overall developing donor communication and engagement. She is very excited to join the team full time and eager to meet all of you! If you have any questions regarding general communications or development engagement, please don’t hesitate to contact her at [email protected].

Kris graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in Journalism (News/ Editorial) and African/African-American Studies. While on the U of A’s campus Kris studied music and stayed involved in the arts. She believes in the transformative power it holds and regularly participates in any capacity she can throughout her community. This manifests itself as performing, philanthropy, and partnership.

Kris’ passion for social and racial justice sparked her interest with all things communication and digital marketing after witnessing the impact and reach that social media had when the Black Lives Matter movement began in 2014.

She believes that it is so important that the personalities behind profiles are amplified so that real-life connections are being made, even through a screen. Kris is excited to be able to continue life changing work through the scope of empowering and uplifting Arkansas’ women and girls as she continues to journey forward with the WFA.

As SAVE10 Project Coordinator, Megan facilitates WFA’s initiative to empower Arkansas women to save for life and retirement. With her background in public education and her fierce commitment to expanding opportunity, Megan brings passion and purpose to her role of leading the SAVE10 for Arkansas Educators initiative and elevating the life-changing message of improved financial security for women across Arkansas.

Her primary mission in life is one that is inspired by her father: to make a positive impact on every person and every place she encounters. She currently serves on the Vera Lloyd Foundation Board and previously served as Chair of the board for the Arkansas Minority Film and Arts Association. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and an advisor for the L.O.V.E. Gospel Choir at UA Little Rock.

A native of El Dorado, Arkansas, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees from UA Little Rock. She and her husband Jonathan are the proud parents of two children, Jillian and Jonathan II.

As the Women’s Economic Mobility Hub Coordinator, Kara helps to lead the WFA’s ongoing efforts to garner additional support and resources for women entrepreneurs in Arkansas, particularly Black women owned businesses. In her spare time, she is a co-host of the Blackbelt Voices podcast, which has been featured in national publications such as Vanity Fair and O (Oprah) Magazine and was recently named one of Arkansas’ 250 Most Influential Leaders by Arkansas Business.

Madeline is a second-year master’s student at the Clinton School of Public Service. Her areas of interest are economic development and social justice. She graduated from the Donaghey Scholars Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. While earning her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in Legal Studies, Madeline also received research grants and published several papers examining different legal or policy issues. After graduation and prior to attending the Clinton School of Public Service, she worked as a journalist covering stories on local politics and businesses at a media company in Little Rock. Madeline loves spending time with her mom, friends, and rescue pup Tinkerbell. She also enjoys painting, traveling, and going on walks.

Anna Beth Gorman, CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, has committed her professional life to public service with a specialized focus on advancing the status of girls and women in our society. In her tenure with the Women’s Foundation, she is leading the effort for the Foundation to be the leading equity partner in building women’s economic security across the state of Arkansas. The Foundation has seen tremendous growth under her leadership while focusing on two signature initiatives, Girls of Promise and Women Empowered. 

In 2022, she was the Democratic Nominee for Arkansas Secretary of State. In the same year she was recognized as one of the 250 most influential leaders in Arkansas by Arkansas Business. She is widely recognized as a business and community leader, practitioner of economic development and is a sought after expert on the value of including women in the economy.

Prior to her tenure with the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas she was the Chief Membership, Volunteer, Program Officer for Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, serving as an executive with the Girl Scout organization for several years. She began her career in Public Service working for the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, as well as a Master of Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is a past chairman of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, active in Club 99 Rotary, board member of Arvest Bank Little Rock, Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame, and founding board member of the Southern Capital Project.