Hallie Shoffner (’11) has been selected as one of 60 honorees in the latest class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS), a unique leadership development program and partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
For nearly a decade, PLS has served as a catalyst for a diverse network of established leaders brought together to collaborate and make a difference in the world. Scholars are presented with unique opportunities to hone their leadership abilities through interactions with former presidents, key administration officials, leading academics, and business and civic leaders.
Scholars are selected based on their leadership growth potential and their personal leadership projects aimed at improving civic engagement or social good by addressing a problem or need in their community, the country, or the world.
Shoffner is the CEO of SFR Seed, a 2,000-acre seed production farm growing rice, corn, wheat, and soybeans. A sixth-generation farmer and vocal climate activist, Shoffner advocates for more awareness of climate extremes and their detrimental effects on modern farmers and the food chain.
Over the course of several months, Shoffner and others will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from key former administration officials, business and civic leaders, and leading academics. They will study and put into practice varying leadership principles and exchange ideas to help maximize their impact in the communities they serve.
As a Clinton School student, Shoffner was part of a team that worked with the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence to create a handbook about nonprofit advocacy in Arkansas.
Shoffner completed her International Public Service Project and Capstone in Peru. For her IPSP, she developed a fundraising strategy for a Peruvian nonprofit focused on promoting gender equality. As part of her Capstone, she coordinated a cross-cultural program that educated Arkansas college students on social change, women’s rights, and the indigenous culture of Peru’s Amazonian region.
In addition to earning a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School, Shoffner earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Vanderbilt University.
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