The Clinton School of Public Service has named Dr. Michael Layton, Esperanza Massana-Crane, and Ambassador David Puyana as Visiting Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The Clinton School Visiting Fellowship program brings distinguished leaders, scholars, and public service practitioners to the Clinton School to engage with graduate students and faculty, contribute to applied research initiatives, and share real-world expertise across local, national, and international domains.
“We are excited to welcome Michael, Esperanza, and David to the Clinton School family this academic year,” said Dr. Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Dean of the Clinton School. “Their collective experience spans community-led philanthropy, statewide economic development, and high-level international diplomacy. Having practitioners of this caliber working alongside our students reinforces our commitment to bridging academic theory with practical, real-world solutions across the public, private, and non-profit sectors.”
In addition to their contributions in the classroom, the Visiting Fellows also serve as mentors and advisors for Clinton School students throughout their academic and professional journeys.
“Our Visiting Fellows represent an extraordinary resource for our students,” said Dr. Lea Metz, Executive Director of the Office of Student Affairs and Admissions. “Whether helping students refine their field service projects or offering career guidance and industry connections as they launch into the workforce, having direct access to leaders of this quality gives our students a distinct advantage during their time at the Clinton School and beyond.”
Michael D. Layton, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael D. Layton brings decades of experience as a researcher, educator, advocate, and consultant dedicated to advancing community philanthropy and community-led development.
Layton currently serves as the W.K. Kellogg Community Philanthropy Chair at the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University, which is the first endowed chair in the U.S. dedicated to advancing community philanthropy. His recent work includes co-authoring In Abundance: An Analysis of the Thriving Landscape of Collective Giving in the U.S. and Patterns in the Tapestry: A Typology of Collective Giving Groups, which examine the growth of collective giving. He also co-authored Connecting Community and Family Philanthropy in Latin America: Mexico, exploring the intersections of community foundations and family philanthropy.
Layton began his career founding and directing the New Kensington Community Development Corporation in Philadelphia. He later founded and directed the Philanthropy and Civil Society Project at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México in Mexico City, launching a pioneering research initiative to strengthen philanthropy across the region. Layton holds a doctorate and master’s degree in political science from Duke University, a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Haverford College, and previously taught at Wesleyan and Yale Universities.
Esperanza Massana-Crane
Esperanza Massana Crane is the Director of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). In this role, she leads the agency’s strategic efforts to foster growth within Arkansas’ small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem, driving initiatives that support innovation, economic development, and statewide business expansion.
Massana Crane began her career at AEDC in 2013 as a project manager on the Business Development team before being named Director of Marketing in 2016. She served as the director of the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division from 2021 to 2023.
She currently serves on the boards of the Central Arkansas Library System and the UA Little Rock College of Business Advisory Council. In 2022, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas selected her as its Woman of the Year in Business for its Power of the Purse Awards. Recognized in Arkansas Business’ 2018 “40 Under 40,” Massana Crane is a graduate of Greater Little Rock Class XXX and Leadership Arkansas Class XII.
Originally from El Salvador, Massana Crane holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Harding University, which recognized her as its 2022 Outstanding Young Alumna. She speaks fluent Spanish and German, as well as intermediate French. She lives in Little Rock with her husband Christopher and son Sebastián.
David F. Puyana
Dr. David F. Puyana is a seasoned diplomat, legal scholar, and international negotiator with 20 years of experience in peacebuilding, human rights, and multilateral governance.
He serves as the Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the UN-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE) to the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, as well as Permanent Observer to UNESCO in Paris. Throughout his career, he has led peace observer missions across 60 countries, facilitated humanitarian discussions, signed more than 50 agreements on peace education, and served as the principal architect of the UN Declaration on the Right to Peace, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016.
Puyana holds a Doctorate in Law with European Mention from Pompeu Fabra University in Spain, an LL.M. in Human Rights Law from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, and master’s degrees in International Relations and Human Rights Protection. He has authored eight books on peacebuilding and diplomacy and has taught at universities and diplomatic academies worldwide.
“It is a privilege to join the Clinton School community as a Visiting Fellow,” Puyana said. “I look forward to engaging directly with students to highlight the vital role and lasting value of the international civil service, demonstrating how multilateralism and diplomatic engagement remain essential tools for building peace, fostering understanding, and addressing global challenges in an interconnected world.”