The Clinton School of Public Service honored civil rights icon Carlotta Walls LaNier and Restore Hope Executive Director Paul Chapman with honorary Master of Public Service (MPS) degrees during the school’s 20th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 2.
These honors represent only the second and third honorary degrees awarded in the school’s two-decade history.
A Legacy of Courage and Education
Dean Emeritus James L. “Skip” Rutherford III introduced Walls LaNier, describing her as a woman whose “courage nearly 70 years ago reshaped America.”
As the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, Walls LaNier integrated Central High School in 1957 at just 14 years old. Despite the “Lost Year” of school closures and the bombing of her family home, she became the first Black woman to receive a diploma from the historic institution in 1960.
“Such an award that acknowledges public service, what I’ve seen myself doing for at least the past half century, means a great deal,” Walls LaNier said. “I was born right here in Little Rock. Its people and its geography and its ways of being shaped who I have become. Outside the Congressional Gold Medal, to be honored in my hometown, I’m not sure what award could be more meaningful.”
Her lifelong commitment to service includes founding her own brokerage and leading the Little Rock Nine Foundation, which established a scholarship endowment at the Clinton School in 2008.
Walls LaNier underscored her commitment to the next generation by making a personal donation to the Little Rock Nine Scholarship, which supports second-year MPS students.
“Bestowing these degrees upon Carlotta Walls LaNier and Paul Chapman is a profound highlight of our 20th Commencement,” Clinton School Dean Victoria DeFranceso Soto said. “Carlotta’s presence reminds our graduates that public service often requires a determined bravery to open doors for others. Her personal generosity toward our students ensures that the path she blazed continues to be widened by the public service leaders we train here today.”
Innovation in Systems of Care
While Walls LaNier’s work opened doors to education, Chapman was recognized for his work in reforming the systems that support Arkansas families. Under his leadership, Restore Hope has developed a nationally recognized model that utilizes advanced case management and real-time data to improve outcomes in child welfare and criminal justice.
Chapman’s data-driven approach is currently being evaluated by the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities as a potential national model for anti-poverty programming. Beyond his operational leadership, Chapman serves as the Executive Producer of Smart Justice, a media platform dedicated to highlighting evidence-informed solutions to social challenges.
“This honor means a great deal to me,” Chapman said. “You built the first graduate program of public service in the country around a clear belief that our common humanity is a powerful force for transformative and sustainable change. That is a conviction that me and my team share.”
The recognition of both Walls LaNier and Chapman highlights the Clinton School’s dual focus on honoring the pioneers of history while empowering the innovators of tomorrow.
To relive these historic moments, you can watch the awarding of these honorary degrees on the Clinton School YouTube channel.