Eleven teams of first-year students from the Clinton School of Public Service are launching Arkansas-based public service projects as part of their 2025-26 academic year Practicum experience. These projects are conducted in partnership with organizations across the state, including nonprofits, government agencies, foundations, and community-based organizations.
Practicum is the first of three field service experiences required of Clinton School students. It pairs teams of first-year students with partner organizations to address real-world challenges, build capacity, and improve outcomes for Arkansas communities.
Through this work, students strengthen their skills in areas such as research, communication, project development, and stakeholder engagement.
This year’s projects span a wide range of critical needs in Arkansas from food insecurity and disaster preparedness to youth education, economic development, and civic engagement.
Students will collaborate directly with local leaders and community members to co-create solutions that are practical, sustainable, and grounded in community needs.
“The Practicum experience is at the heart of the Clinton School’s mission to connect learning with service,” said Dr. Nichola Driver, Assistant Dean of Impact. “By working alongside Arkansas organizations on issues that matter deeply to our communities, our students help build lasting solutions that strengthen our home state.”
“As we begin this year’s Practicum, we are proud to collaborate with organizations across Arkansas that are driving sustainable social change,” said Rachel Norris, Director of Domestic Programs. “This program provides our exceptional cohort of students with the opportunity to apply their learning in meaningful ways, turning knowledge into lasting impact.”
Arkansas Capital Corporation Foundation
Key Topic Areas: Entrepreneurship, economic development
Team: Luke Cantrell, Reagen Davis, Robert Lowry, Nugget Settles
The Arkansas Capital Corporation Foundation operates with the mission to expand access to education and capital, build institutional capacity, and drive economic opportunity across Arkansas communities.
Under the supervision of Tiffany Henry, the Clinton School team will conduct a needs assessment of current entrepreneurship education and support services in Arkansas through local organizations and within higher education. The team will identify gaps in training, knowledge, and available resources, and develop recommendations to strengthen support systems for new and existing entrepreneurs.
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Key Topic Areas: Health, youth and family, nursing
Team: Juliana Alvarez, Eleanor Barker, Melanie Bright, Camila Morales
For many children, especially in rural Arkansas, school is the frontline of healthcare. Students often face complex medical and social challenges that affect their ability to learn, yet many school nurses lack pediatric or public health training, and access to continuing education is limited.
Under the supervision of Laura Taylor, the Clinton School team will assess the effectiveness and return on investment of Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s continuing education programs for school nurses, with a focus on rural communities. The team will examine the impact of school nurse knowledge and training on student health outcomes and provide recommendations to bridge identified gaps in student health support.
Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Key Topic Areas: Domestic violence education, prevention, and policy
Team: Kathleen Barnes, Alic Brown, Alejandro Jorge, Kennedy Kasten
With Arkansas ranking fourth in domestic violence homicides nationally, this project aims to improve law enforcement training and collaboration with domestic violence shelters.
Under the supervision of Ashley Walker, the Clinton School team will conduct a statewide needs assessment with law enforcement and shelter staff to identify areas of concern and opportunities for stronger collaboration. The results will be used to provide insight into training improvement and needs
Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
Key Topic Areas: Poverty, food insecurity, agriculture
Team: Daniella Ayala, Drew Frasure, Jami Harrison, Zayd Kelley, Madison Tucker
Food insecurity remains a critical issue across Arkansas and beyond, disproportionately affecting under-resourced communities and widening disparities in health, opportunity, and economic mobility. At the same time, many local farmers and producers face systemic barriers to market access and sustainability.
Under the supervision of Jennifer Owens Blue, the Clinton School team will explore how local food systems can be strengthened to support community resilience and hunger relief efforts. The project includes assessing existing models, identifying system gaps, and proposing scalable strategies to enhance collaboration between producers and food assistance organizations statewide.
Arkansas Office of Outdoor Recreation
Key Topic Areas: environment, education, outdoor recreation
Team: Nick Cartwright, Erica Kriner, Gino Obaseki, Abby Swartz
Arkansas’ outdoor recreation economy contributes significantly to local communities, small businesses, and tourism efforts. A key factor in continued growth is the development of a strong and well-prepared workforce.
Under the supervision of Becky Flynn, the Clinton School team will engage with industry leaders to analyze Arkansas’s outdoor recreation workforce development landscape and develop a strategic roadmap to strengthen the industry’s economy and ensure a well-trained workforce for the future.
Get Loud Arkansas
Key Topic Areas: Civic education and engagement, community building
Team: Gretchen Berry, Niki Brunson, Xanterra Burkes, Harry Ferguson, Emily Temple
Arkansas has one of the lowest voter registration and participation rates in the country, with only 17 in 100 Arkansans between ages 18 and 29 registered to vote. Comprehensive research is needed to understand the factors behind low civic engagement among young adults in Arkansas.
Under the supervision of Kathy Webb, the Clinton School team will investigate the barriers to civic engagement for 18-to-29-year-olds. The team will engage with young adults across Arkansas to explore the factors contributing to low civic engagement and identify effective strategies to increase participation in civic life and voting throughout the state.
Girls Inc. of Fort Smith, Arkansas
Key Topic Areas: Education, youth and family, community building
Team: Harry Cracknell, Chelcie Crutch, Aiyla East, Jenna Schaffer
Founded in 1864 and serving young women for more than a century, Girls Inc. provides mentorship, environments, and research-informed programs to prepare girls to realize their full potential.
Under the supervision of Amber Daniels, the Clinton School team will conduct a landscape analysis and develop a program expansion plan to help Girls Inc. reach more girls with its after-school programming in Northwest Arkansas. The team will identify gaps in services related to advocacy, civic leadership, and mental health education, as well as partnership opportunities with schools, districts, and other nonprofits.
Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
Key Topic Areas: Environment, education, public perception
Team: Luke Antesberger, Abbie Asher, Grace Maddox, Hunter Moffett
The Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority serves the Little Rock community by protecting public health and leading the industry by reclaiming water for a more sustainable tomorrow.
Under the supervision of Kenneta Ridgell, the Clinton School team will gather insights from stakeholders and community members to understand knowledge gaps, concerns, and perceptions around water reuse for non-potable purposes in Little Rock.
University of Arkansas System Office
Key Topic Areas: Safety and security, disaster relief, sustainability development
Team: Joshua Archer, Sadie Chavers, Pashion Israel, Olivia Parker
Emergency response preparation and training is a critical component in health and safety of students and employees across college campuses.
Under the supervision of Ben Beaumont, the Clinton School team will review and analyze emergency preparedness plans across the University of Arkansas System campuses. The team will identify gaps in institutional preparedness and response efforts. The goal is to develop strategies that improve institutional readiness and resilience, minimize the impact of natural and man-made disasters, and accelerate recovery to protect student and staff well-being.
Village Public Health
Key Topic Areas: Health, youth and family
Team: Grace Carmack, Hazel Jovicich, Maddie LaRosa-Ray, Sydney Roulhac
There is limited data in Arkansas on how prepared, knowledgeable, and supported parents feel when navigating conversations about sexual health, consent, boundaries, and emotional development with their children.
Under the supervision of Dr. Quinyatta Mumford, the Clinton School team will assess how informed and supported Arkansas parents and caregivers feel in navigating adolescent sexual health conversations. The team will explore best practices, identify resource gaps, and offer programmatic recommendations to inform public health programming and policy advancement.
Women’s Foundation of Arkansas
Key Topic Areas: Education, community building
Team: Cheyanne Davis, Emma King, Mitch McAlister, Carly Riggins
Women’s Foundation of Arkansas has a growing network of alumni, including programs like Girls of Promise, the Tjuana Byrd Summer Internship Program, and Women’s Economic Mobility Hub. WFA aims to build a long-term engagement strategy that fosters continued connection, leadership, and mutual support.
Under the supervision of Anna Beth Gorman, the Clinton School team will focus on conducting a best-practice review of alumni engagement strategies among similar mission-driven organizations and provide a roadmap for sustained engagement.
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