Dr. Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service, has been selected as one of America’s 250 Public Service Champions.
The honor, awarded by Local Gov 250 in partnership with the National Academy of Public Administration, recognizes 250 public servants nationwide who have had an exceptional impact on their communities as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. Dean DeFrancesco Soto is the only Arkansan named on the list.
Local Gov 250 is a national initiative led by local governments and associations to elevate the role of government and celebrate the public servants who shape American democracy from the ground up. Winners were selected based on their outstanding records of service, innovation, and leadership.
“I am deeply honored to be included alongside such a remarkable group of public service leaders from across the country,” Dean DeFrancesco Soto said. “At the Clinton School, we believe that public service is the heartbeat of a strong democracy. This recognition shows the power of applied research in action and strong community engagement, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue cultivating the next generation of leaders who will carry this mission into America’s next 250 years.”
As a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Dean DeFrancesco Soto has spent more than two decades bridging the gap between academic research and practitioner realities. Her work focuses on civic engagement, women’s leadership, and political psychology, with an emphasis on making rigorous research applicable to real-world policy.
Since arriving at the Clinton School four years ago, Dean DeFrancesco Soto has immersed herself in the state’s public service landscape. She recently gave the keynote address to nearly 100 emerging AmeriCorps leaders at the American Connections Corps (ACC) Winter Institute in Little Rock. Additionally, she was named one of the Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas 2023 by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and remains active in national service organizations, including the Volcker Alliance and KFF.
Dean DeFrancesco Soto will be officially recognized during a celebratory reception in Philadelphia on May 12, held in conjunction with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Reimagining Government Conference.