Staff

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 the immediate 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.

Becky holds a bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Her work in nonprofit began at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, where she spent six years raising money for music and music education throughout the state. During Becky’s time as Director of Development, she helped the ASO surpass its goal on a 3-year, $7 million fundraising campaign; she led the creation of Sharp – Young Professionals of the ASO; and she led ASO’s Arkansas Gives Day to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the organization.

A planner who loves the details and a good checklist, Becky enjoys taking on big projects and events. As the Marketing & Event Manager at War Memorial Stadium and then as the Education Events Lead at Arkansas Business Publishing Group, she had the opportunity to bring together large groups for great experiences. Her favorite events to execute have been the Soiree Women’s Leadership Symposium, WFA’s Power of the Purse, and Arkansas Razorback football games at War Memorial.

In addition to her passion for the work of the WFA, Becky serves on the Hendrix College Alumni Association Board of Governors, the UA Little Rock Alumni Association Board, and she is the Vice President of Membership for the 4300 Club at the Home for Healing. If you would like to join Becky in her work to ensure economic security for Arkansas women and girls by making a contribution of your own time or resources to the WFA, Becky can be reached at bflynn@womensfoundationarkansas.org.

Maddie was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High School and the University of Central Arkansas. She holds a bachelors from UCA in public relations and a masters in public affairs from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs from Indiana University.

Carson is the recipient of the Our Lady of the Holy Souls Monsignor Allen Servant Leader Award and Mount St. Mary McAuley Achievement Award and earned all-conference honors as a freshman member of the MSM varsity basketball team. She competes in top-level club soccer with the back-to-back state champion Arkansas Rising ERNL-RL 07 and KC Athletics ECNL Midwest Super Cup teams.

In her freshman year at Mount, she was recognized as the top student in AP Human Geography, Honors English, Latin I, and the Honors Biology “Einstein Award” winner. As a rising sophomore, she will serve as a Belle Ambassador and looks forward to co-chairing the 25th Power of the Purse luncheon saluting 25 years of generational impact.