For Caroline Sykes, the path to becoming the first Philanthropy Officer at the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine was paved with international entrepreneurship, a passion for community, and a transformative stop at the Clinton School of Public Service.
A Little Rock native and University of Arkansas graduate, Sykes spent 15 years in Oslo, Norway, where she owned and operated a successful balloon and event company.
“While party stores are very common here, they didn’t have anything like that in Norway in the 1990s,” Sykes recalled. “So, a lot of Americans started these types of businesses. The business of balloons is very American. We would deliver balloon bouquets, decorate events, sell advertising on balloons, and start party and event stores. It was extremely hard work, but it was a lot of fun, and it became a big thing in Oslo.”
While her career began in the fast-paced world of startups, her return to Arkansas with two children to raise sparked a desire to pivot her business knowledge toward the greater good. She credits Dr. Walter Roettger, the late President Emeritus of Lyon College, and his wife Peggy for encouraging her to join the Clinton School.
“I came back here to be closer to family, and I wanted to give back,” Sykes said. “I wanted to do something related to service, and the Clinton School of Public Service seemed perfect. I hadn’t been in school for 20 years, and I was a little unsure, but everyone at the Clinton School was so supportive. It was a very nice experience.”
A Startup Mindset for Expanding Dental Care in Arkansas
The new year has brought a new career for Sykes, who now works as the Philanthropy Officer for the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine, the first dental school in the history of Arkansas. The first cohort in 2025 consisted of 80 students from more than 1,200 applicants.
In her role as Philanthropy Officer, Sykes is responsible for fundraising and donor relations to further develop the school. For her, the work is about building long-term community health for Arkansans as well as providing scholarship and additional opportunities for the future dentists of Arkansas.
Sykes has been applying the “outcome-focused” mindset that she credits to her Clinton School education to her work at the Lyon College School of Dental Medicine. Working in a brand-new institution feels familiar to Sykes since it mirrors the entrepreneurial pathway she navigated in Norway.
“It’s like a startup. No matter what position you have, everyone steps up to do whatever it takes to get the mission accomplished,” Sykes said. “There is a lot of passion and excitement. Arkansas students had to go out of state before if they wanted to attend dental school. Now, we are focusing on students from rural areas so they will go back to their hometowns and fill that gap that is affecting dental care in our state.”
Sykes has big plans to support the growth of dental education and health in Arkansas. Plans for new dental clinics that the students will provide are in the works. The hope is that these clinics will provide access to dental care for Arkansans who lack access to regular dental care. She is also working to further develop a mentorship program to connect the state’s experienced dentists with the students who will join the workforce after the completion of Lyon’s three-year program.
Redefining Public Service
Sykes believes her Master of Public Service degree gave her a “bona fide foundation” that allows her to connect big ideas with actionable steps. Before joining Lyon College, she served as the Director of Operations for the Center for Arkansas Legal Services, where she helped “right the ship” after the rapidly changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, she views her work in philanthropy as a direct extension of the public service values and skills she honed at the Clinton School.
“To me, public service means showing up with the intention to make life better for others, especially those who may not have a voice or access,” Sykes said. “People often assume public service is limited to government work, but I believe it applies to any role where you are using your strengths and skills to strengthen your community. In my current role, it’s meaningful because it directly shapes the next generation of dental professionals. It’s not just fundraising. It’s helping people invest in something bigger than themselves.”