Two leaders from the Clinton School of Public Service have been named to the prestigious 2026 Top 100 Women of Arkansas list, published by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas (WFA) in collaboration with Little Rock Soirée magazine.
Dr. Nichola Driver, Assistant Dean of Impact and Executive Director of the Office of Field Service, and Visiting Fellow Esperanza Massana Crane were recognized among a distinguished group of executives and community leaders selected from across the state for their exceptional professional achievements and steadfast dedication to their industries and communities.
Originally created as a five-year initiative in the 1990s that laid the groundwork for the founding of the WFA, the Top 100 Women of Arkansas list was revived in 2023 to celebrate the nonprofit’s 25th anniversary. Published every three years, the 2026 cohort will culminate in a dedicated print publication and digital showcase in December 2026.
“I’m very honored to be included on a list of such incredible women in our state,” Driver said. “All of these wonderful women are making an impact in their sectors and working towards a better Arkansas. Thank you to Soirée and WFA for this recognition.”
At the Clinton School, Driver oversees two of the school’s signature field experiences, the Practicum and the International Public Service Project, and teaches Field Research Methods.
A trained evaluator, she also leads the Clinton School Impact Center, providing applied research and evaluation consulting to local, state, and international organizations, including the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Arkansas Department of Health, and Entergy. As a native Arkansan, her research focuses on maternal and reproductive well-being, public health, and driving positive social change within the state.
Massana Crane serves as a Visiting Fellow at the Clinton School alongside her role as Director of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. In this position, she leads strategic efforts to foster growth within Arkansas’s small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem, driving initiatives that support innovation, economic development, and statewide business expansion.
“I am deeply honored to be named alongside an impactful group of female leaders who are shaping the future of Arkansas,” Massana Crane said. “Through my work in economic and entrepreneurial development, I see firsthand how public service and economic growth empower our communities. I am deeply grateful to the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and Little Rock Soirée for this recognition, and I look forward to continuing our shared mission of moving our state forward.”
A former WFA “Woman of the Year in Business” recipient and Arkansas Business “40 Under 40” honoree, Massana-Crane brings extensive expertise in marketing, economic development, and civic leadership to the Clinton School community.