20 Years of Leadership and $15.8 Million in Economic Impact
The Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas has released its inaugural Impact Report, documenting two decades of action, collaboration, and impact from its students, graduates, and faculty.
The report captures not only unique stories of public service leadership, but also the measurable outcomes behind that work, including:
- Nearly 550,000 field service hours across 100 countries
- 92% of graduates employed within six months
- More than $15.8 million in total economic impact
“The Clinton School was founded on a bold idea – that leadership is best learned through action,” Dean Victoria DeFrancesco Soto said. “We pioneered the nation’s first Master of Public Service degree to prepare leaders who blend academic theory with impactful community work. Our inaugural Impact Report showcases 20 years of the leadership and collaboration our students bring to Arkansas, the nation, and the world.”
Since welcoming its first students in 2005, the Clinton School has pioneered a model of graduate education where the community serves as the classroom. Alongside a unique academic curriculum that combines data analysis with effective communication, Clinton School students complete three for-credit public service projects ranging from local work in Arkansas communities to international projects across the world.
The Clinton School’s curriculum spans nearly 800 community partnerships, providing students with unique experiential-learning opportunities while embodying the University of Arkansas System’s mission.
“A key component of the mission of the University of Arkansas System is public service, and nowhere is that better embodied than the Clinton School,” said Gen. Jay B. Silveria, President of the University of Arkansas System. “The students and faculty at the Clinton School are making an impact on communities across Arkansas, the country, and the world, and I am proud of the work they do and how it reflects positively on the value of public higher education to our state.”
Transformative, Sustainable Change
The Clinton School’s influence is perhaps best seen through long-term community transformations. In Newport, a 2008 student project to revitalize the downtown area evolved into the premiere Delta Arts Festival, which now hosts hundreds of artists and brings significant revenue to the region.
“The Delta Arts Festival was born out of a collaboration between the Clinton School of Public Service and the community of Newport,” said Jon Chadwell, Director of Economic Development for the Newport Economic Development Commission. “We know none of this would have happened without our relationship with the Clinton School and their incredibly talented students.”
In 2018, a team of Clinton School students partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas on an expansion study to identify local hospital needs, the capacity of Ronald McDonald House to help, and the next steps for the growth of its programs. This research ultimately led to the construction of a new Family Room in the neonatal intensive care unit at UAMS. The Family Room was the first of its kind in Central Arkansas and now serves more than 1,000 families each year.
The report also details influence across 100 countries. Last year, the school received the 2025 Senator Simon Spotlight Award for the International Public Service Project (IPSP) program.
International highlights include research in Tanzania to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills and support to launch their own ventures, textile market expansion in Peru, and housing solutions for the homeless in Brussels.
“These team-based, international, and individual projects have resulted not only in strategic learning opportunities for students but in many cases positive and long-term outcomes for community partners and organizations,” Clinton School Dean Emeritus James L. “Skip” Rutherford III said. “From the Delta Arts Festival in Newport to a freshwater well in Tanzania, Clinton School student projects have, are, and will continue to make a difference.”
An Arkansas Economic Engine
The Clinton School’s local success contributes to a broader regional ecosystem where the school serves as a primary driver of talent and professional expertise.
The school attracts talented students from across the world, and alumni carry forward the mission of public service leadership into careers that strengthen their communities and organizations. Many choose to stay in Arkansas and contribute locally, while others lead change nationally and globally.
Today, hundreds of Clinton School alumni serve across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, with nearly two-thirds holding leadership roles in their organizations and communities. More than 9 in 10 secure jobs within six months of graduation, entering the workforce prepared to strengthen the organizations and communities they serve.
“The Clinton School of Public Service is a unique catalyst for the Little Rock economy as well as a premier pipeline for high-caliber leadership,” said Jay Chesshir, President and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “By attracting global talent and embedding it within our local workforce, the Clinton School ensures that our region remains a competitive hub for research, innovation, professional excellence, and community-driven growth.”
A Legacy of Leadership
As the Clinton School looks toward the next 20 years, it remains focused on training nimble, innovative leaders ready to solve the challenges of a new generation.
“As we prepare to graduate our 20th class of graduates in May, this Impact Report serves as a proud reminder of the impact created by our students, graduates, and faculty,” Dean DeFrancesco Soto said. “It is a showcase of how applied public service leadership can create lasting change for the communities that need it the most. Our work is just beginning, and the need for innovative leaders has never been greater.”
To determine the school’s global reach, the Impact Center conducted a comprehensive review of over 1,500 field service projects and surveyed more than 30% of all Clinton School alumni across 28 states and nine countries. This data-driven approach highlights two decades of student service hours, faculty research, and the long-term career success of Clinton School graduates.
The full Impact Report is available on the Clinton School website.