糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is ranked No. 107 in the nation for public affairs in the 2026 rankings. The recognition reflects the program鈥檚 continued focus on preparing students to lead in public service and nonprofit sectors.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 public affairs programs, including the MPA, emphasize hands-on learning and applied research. 

Students gain real-world experience through community partnerships, internships, and applied projects that address challenges facing Arkansas and beyond. Graduates are equipped with the management, analytical, and leadership skills needed to serve in government agencies and nonprofit organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

鈥淏eing recognized by U.S. News & World Report speaks to the strength and consistency of our programs,鈥� said Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Public Affairs. 鈥淥ur faculty and students are deeply engaged in work that matters鈥攆rom community partnerships to applied research鈥攁nd these rankings reflect that ongoing commitment to public service and leadership development.鈥�

Slagle noted that contributing factors to the rankings include continued growth in faculty and student publications, conference presentations, service, excellence in teaching recognized through accreditation, and strong community partnerships.

Graduates of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 public affairs programs go on to serve in a wide range of roles across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based initiatives, helping drive meaningful change across Arkansas and beyond.Learn more about the MPA at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock by visiting, /academics/graduate/public-administration/

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鈥淎irports are more than a place to start or end travel,鈥� White said. 鈥淭hey are job creators, incubators of entrepreneurs, and quality-of-life multipliers within a community.鈥�

White, who earned his master of public administration from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, said he was drawn to Columbia, S.C., for many of the same reasons he once chose Little Rock. Both are capital cities with strong educational, medical, and cultural institutions 鈥� and both are large enough to generate opportunity while still maintaining a sense of community. With major economic investments in the Columbia area, including the Scout Motors plant set to open in 2027, White sees CAE positioned to play a central role in the Midlands鈥� next chapter of growth.

鈥淎 thriving region needs strong connectivity,鈥� he said. 鈥淎irports bring people, ideas, and products together. When the airport succeeds, the community succeeds.鈥�

White joked that he has 鈥渏et fuel in my veins,鈥� after working in aviation for more than 35 years in aviation, and through time has acquired both technical expertise and a public-service mindset to his leadership. His 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock education, he said, helped him understand the broader economic and human impact of infrastructure and public institutions.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock expanded my perspective,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 learned more about leadership, economics, and the responsibility we have as public servants to improve the communities we serve.鈥�

White鈥檚 long-term vision for CAE centers on making the airport a catalyst for regional growth, from attracting airlines and cargo operations to supporting aviation-related businesses that create hundreds of high-quality jobs.

鈥淪uccess means full planes, thriving businesses, and an economy buzzing with opportunity,鈥� he said.

That growth depends on people, he added. Throughout his career leading airports, White has seen firsthand how a dedicated team includes everyone 鈥� from public safety officers to maintenance crews to operations staff 鈥� to keep airports running safely and smoothly.

鈥淎n airport is just concrete and steel,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he heartbeat comes from the people who make the controlled chaos work every day.鈥�

As a licensed pilot, White also brings a cockpit-level perspective to airport leadership, emphasizing safety, communication, and planning.

鈥淪eeing an airport from the pilot鈥檚 seat changes how you think,鈥� he said. 鈥淧erspective matters.鈥�

White credits his time in Little Rock with shaping that perspective. From mentors and professors at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to leaders like former Mayor Mark Stodola, he said the relationships he built during graduate school still guide him today. He also reflected on the June 1, 1999 crash of American Airlines Flight 1420 at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport as a moment that reinforced the importance of safety and preparedness in aviation.

Looking ahead, White sees both challenges and opportunities across the aviation industry 鈥� from aging infrastructure and workforce shortages to emerging technologies like electric aircraft, sustainable fuels, and advanced cargo systems.

鈥淭he airports that embrace innovation and invest in training the next generation will have the brightest futures,鈥� he said.

For 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students and alumni considering careers in public administration or aviation, White offers simple advice: choose service.

鈥淲hether you鈥檙e solving community problems or helping bring new jobs to a region, public service is deeply rewarding,鈥� he said. 鈥淎irports give you a front-row seat to innovation and community impact. You go home every day knowing you made a difference.鈥�

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Lenora Jackson-Ayers, who works as a regional team leader and child welfare trainer at MidSOUTH, leveraged the knowledge and training she gained through her coursework to successfully write and receive a $150,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Management for her church, Evangelist Temple Church in Little Rock, where she is a longtime volunteer.

Her work with Evangelist Temple began when she was pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2005. She completed a community assessment for the Southwest Little Rock area as part of her program, and her church started an outreach center with a food pantry and Clothing closet in 2005 to help the community.

Fast forward to 2023 and Jackson-Ayers began pursuing a MPA and a nonprofit management certificate, which she will earn in the spring 2025 semester.

鈥淚 am a volunteer program coordinator at my church, and my motivation for furthering my education is to learn more about how to run a volunteer program and manage a nonprofit organization,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 took a grant writing class, and the class helped me learn how to research what grants I can apply for and how to formulate answers for the application. This is only the second grant I鈥檝e ever applied for, and it was so rewarding to have the grant approved.鈥�

The Nonprofit Security Grant provides funding for Evangelist Temple to purchase fencing and security cameras for the church, as well as for church members, and community members to undergo active shooter training. The Nonprofit Security Grant program supports the security and resilience of eligible non-profit organizations that may be at a higher risk of violence by providing financial assistance to improve physical security infrastructure and security enhancements.

鈥淗aving the skills to go out and secure grants for my church has been amazing,鈥� Jackson-Ayers said. 鈥淚 think everybody should have the right to feel safe and secure, and sometimes you can鈥檛 do it without external funding. I feel that if I hadn鈥檛 had the formal training in the classroom, I might still be trying to figure out how to write that grant.鈥�

This achievement underscores the strength of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 MPA program in fostering leaders committed to serving their communities with purpose and passion.

鈥淟enora鈥檚 work embodies the mission of the MPA program鈥攖o prepare public service leaders who are ready to solve real-world problems,鈥� said Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the School of Public Affairs. 鈥淗er achievement showcases the positive impact our students are making in the community every day.鈥�

Additionally, Jackson-Ayers wrote another successful grant for $3,700 from the Arkansas Foodbank that will allow Evangelist Temple to buy refrigerators to store fresh food for use in their food pantry. She remains dedicated to using the skills she鈥檚 learned in the MPA program to help secure more grants to help Evangelist Temple continue their work of helping people in Little Rock.

鈥淕rowing up in the small town of Helena, Arkansas, where there were not a lot of resources but a lot of people in need was my motivation to want to help others,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith my acquired classroom skills and training, I feel more confident about my abilities to secure funding to continue to play a role helping to secure financial resources for the church that serves the community. I hope to be able to make a bigger impact in the future.鈥�

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U.S. News rankings are widely recognized as symbols of excellence in higher education that are conferred by an unbiased trust agent. With more than 15 measures of academic quality, the U.S. News Best Colleges report provides data-driven information and guidance to help prospective students and their families understand their higher education options.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 academic rankings in U.S. News and World Report 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings include 99th in public affairs and 120th in social work.

Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Public Affairs, said that there are many factors contributing to the Top 100 ranking, including an increase in publications and conference presentations by students and faculty, increased service in the department, recognition for excellence in teaching through our accreditation processes, and continued participation in community programs.

鈥淚t is great to see our program being recognized by U.S. News and World Report,鈥� Slagle said. 鈥淭he top 100 ranking for the School of Public Affairs for two consecutive years is a credit to our faculty and teaching staff, our school鈥檚 academic scholarship and applied research impact, and the students in our programs. Our program ranking has steadily been increasing year to year regarding reputation and impact.鈥�

The MPA program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provides professional management, analytical, and leadership skills, as the understanding of public policy issues needed for management and policy positions in national, state, regional, and local government, and the nonprofit sector.

鈥淲e are glad for the increasing recognition of what our MPA program alums have long known, that the MPA program prepares students for success in a wide variety of administrative professions,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. 鈥淜udos to the faculty and staff for their consistent excellence.鈥�

The Master of Social Work program is a 60-hour program that focuses on clinical social work practice. Students learn contemporary, evidence-informed practice approaches that can be used across a wide range of settings and with diverse individuals, families, and groups.

鈥淲e are pleased with our ranking,鈥� said Dr. Kim Jones, interim co-director of the School of Social Work. 鈥淥ne of the things that makes our program unique is our well qualified faculty who bring real world social work practice experience into the classroom. We also offer two concentrations: one clinical and one macro-oriented. We pride ourselves on our excellent faculty and fully accredited programs.鈥�

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Bryan Day, executive director of has made a planned gift, estimated to be worth $150,000, to create the Bryan M. Day Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will provide assistance for education-related expenses, such as tuition, books, fees, and room and board, for students in the MPA program.

In addition to his planned gift, Day has made another $5,000 donation that will provide a $1,000 scholarship to an MPA student for the next five years.

鈥淚 have been very blessed in my career,鈥� Day said. 鈥淥ne of the fundamental reasons I have been so successful is because of the education I received at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Both my undergraduate and graduate programs were exactly what I needed at the time and helped further my career. My hope is that students down the road will have the same experiences I had 鈥� a good career in local government and the ability to give back to their community.鈥�

Day is a leader who has worked in state and local government for 35 years. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice in 1986 and a Master of Public Administration degree in 1994 from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. This year he earned a certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education program.

He spent 20 years working for the City of Little Rock, including roles as the assistant city manager and director of Little Rock Parks and Recreation. He was appointed executive director of the Port of Little Rock in 2014, where he works closely with industries located in the 4,000-acre industrial park. He oversees the Port Authority Railroad, which is served by the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroads, as well as the industrial and slackwater harbors.

鈥淎t the end of the day, I am simply an economic developer trying to sell the value of Little Rock to the world so that people will choose to locate their businesses here in our great community,鈥� Day said.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Day, Day is an adjunct professor in the MPA program where he teaches a graduate course called Urban Management, a member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Heritage Society, and a former member of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors. He also serves as a member of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Transportation Advisory Council, the executive committee of the National Waterways Council, a charter member of the Arkansas State Parks and Recreation Foundation, and a board member of the Arkansas Oklahoma Port Operators Association.

鈥淎s a local government official, having a university in our town is a very valuable and very much appreciated asset,鈥� Day said. 鈥淲e support students, businesses, communities, and the local economy. I hope as the community continues to grow and evolve, that we as a community will have a better appreciation for everything 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock brings to Central Arkansas.鈥�

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The MPA program was in the U.S. News 2023-2024 Best Graduate Schools list for Best Public Affairs Programs. This is the highest ranking the program has ever received from U.S News, moving up from the 111th ranking in 2022.

Dr. Derek Slagle, director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Public Affairs, said that there are many factors contributing to the move up in rankings, including an increase in publications and conference presentations by students and faculty, increased service in the department, and more participation in community programs.

鈥淚t is great to see our program being recognized by U.S. News and World Report,鈥� Slagle said. 鈥淭he top 100 ranking for Schools of Public Affairs, Public Administration, and Public Policy is a credit to our faculty and teaching staff, our school鈥檚 academic scholarship and applied research impact, and the students in our programs. Our program ranking has steadily been increasing year to year regarding reputation and impact.鈥�

The MPA program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provides professional management, analytical, and leadership skills, as the understanding of public policy issues needed for management and policy positions in national, state, regional, and local government, and the nonprofit sector.

鈥淲e are glad for the increasing recognition of what our MPA program alums have long known, that the MPA program prepares students for success in a wide variety of administrative professions,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. 鈥淜udos to the faculty and staff for their consistent excellence.鈥�

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Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I鈥檓 originally from El Centro, California, and lived in various parts of the United States. I was a stay-at-home mother for 14 years and raised five sons. During high school, I was passionate about becoming an opera singer and participated in numerous productions. However, my aspirations came to a halt in college when I realized that my talent was limited to a small scale and changed my major to fine arts.

Why did you choose 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock?

We relocated to Little Rock in 2011. After my children were in school, I decided it was time to complete my undergraduate degree and majored in ASL/English because I knew sign language. I also joined the university choir and participated in the annual opera gala.

How did you get interested in sign language and interpretation?

Following the birth of my last child, I experienced postpartum depression. Fortunately, two deaf women at church taught me sign language and interpretation, which led to my appointment as the church interpreter. This role helped ease my depression and prompted me to pursue a degree in this field.

Why did you decide to get a graduate degree in public administration?

As a requirement for their degree program, ASL/English students are required to undergo hearing evaluations. Regrettably, my results indicated that I was hard of hearing because I cannot hear high-frequency sounds. I continued interpreting for a few years, but since interpreters are bound by a strict code of ethics, I recognized when my hearing loss impacted my ability to deliver high-quality interpretation of the messages. As someone who is passionate about disability rights, I made the decision to shift my career focus and pursue a master’s degree in public administration.

Initially, my classes were all online due to COVID. When I returned to class, everyone was wearing masks, and I couldn鈥檛 identify who was speaking and missed much of what was said, due to my hearing loss. The cognitive load was too much. I then reached out to the university鈥檚 disability services and asked for accommodations, and they immediately assigned interpreters to my class.

What were some of your favorite courses?

In a course instructed by Dr. Kirk Leach, I learned about “wicked problems” – societal issues that are challenging to address due to their complexity. The course was rigorous and stretched me academically. Another course I enjoyed was Dr. Jerry Stevenson’s organizational theory class; I was so fond of it that I purchased the textbook. The most demanding course I took was public policy with Dr. Derek Slagle, which encompassed statistics, public policy, public records, and trends. The knowledge I gained from this course has proven beneficial in my current role at the Department of Energy and Environment.

What accolades have you received for your public speaking abilities?

I have shared my research from a public policy analysis class at two academic conferences, and I also had the opportunity to represent 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock at the NASPAA (Network of School of Public Affairs, Administration & Policy) student wildfire emergency simulation competition. Our team won first place among all graduate student teams in the south-central region. Additionally, I was honored to receive the Outstanding Delegate award at the Bilateral Chamber Regional Model Arab League Conference and Distinguished Delegate award at the National University Model Arab League while representing 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

Tell us about your presentation at the 2023 Research Expo.

In my presentation, I address the issue of the digital equity gap in the disability community. To bridge this gap, affordable access to internet or phone services needs to be provided, in addition to  interpreter-operator services or speech-to-text features, specialized equipment, and training. In my project, I specifically focused on the provision of specialized telecommunication equipment through state programs. I compared the scope of disability populations served, funding sources, and availability of advanced technology (such as smartphones and tablets). In all areas, my data showed Arkansas met or exceeded offerings available in other states, which was an encouraging find.

You are a published author where the protagonist is a person with a disability.

The title of the novel is “Unravel,” featuring a deaf princess as the main character who possesses magical embroidery powers. Despite the exclusion of the deaf community from her society, the princess learns to stop masking her disability and fully step into her identities. My intention is to showcase disabled individuals (myself and others) as powerful, capable, and heroes of their own stories.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

During this summer, I plan to work on a new fantasy manuscript featuring a legally blind girl who teams up with a hard of hearing boy. They are on a quest to bring back evidence of dragons – recently sighted in their land – before a rogue crew of explorers get there first. The storyline is a bit of Indiana Jones blended with Dragonriders of Pern, with strong disability representation. Also, I鈥檝e recently been asked to join JustServe.org in a role that promotes more volunteering and service in central Arkansas and I am excited to get started with that. After spending several weekends helping with tornado clean-up, I wanted to get more involved with hands-on community service.

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Judy Thompson, Meriwether鈥檚 widow, has made a gift of $110,000 to create the John Thompson (Jack) Meriwether Endowed Scholarship in memory of her late husband who passed away in 2013. The endowment will be used to assist Master of Public Administration students at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

After interning at the city manager鈥檚 office in Little Rock, Meriwether developed a love of public administration. He received a master鈥檚 degree in public administration from the University of Kansas at Lawrence and served as a successful city manager to both Texarkana and Little Rock.

鈥淚 think Jack would be very pleased and would feel like this scholarship is paying it forward,鈥� Thompson said, adding that Meriwether first mentioned starting a scholarship at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock some 25 years ago. 鈥淛ack was very appreciative of the jobs he had. He loved being city manager. The City of Little Rock helped him get his master鈥檚 degree, and now he鈥檚 helping other people get their master鈥檚 degree with this scholarship.鈥�

His interest in higher education arose after Gov. Dale Bumpers appointed him chairman of the Governor鈥檚 Task Force on Education in 1974. The committee recommended and the state legislature approved a state-supported kindergarten program, free high school textbooks, expanding degree programs for the University of Arkansas as well as state colleges, and the possibility of a community college system.

鈥淭his experience stayed with him,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚n 1982, Jack was hired by the University of Arkansas System as vice president for university relations to lobby for a tax program specifically for a special school fund. He persuaded the Joint Budget Committee to give $50 million a year to the state colleges and universities.鈥�

In later years, Meriwether worked to secure $120 million from the federal government to support higher education in Arkansas, first obtaining a Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation grant to study ways in which government aid might improve research and development in Arkansas universities.

鈥淛ack wanted faculty to be able to travel to Washington, D.C. to talk with Sen. Bumpers鈥� staff and for Bumpers鈥� staff to go to universities to talk to the faculty about what they could do to help,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淛ack felt it was important to talk with faculty and find out what they really needed to make universities successful.鈥�

The scholarship will provide education-related expenses for part or full-time graduate students in the Master of Public Administration program in the School of Public Affairs. The scholarship recipient will be chosen based on financial need and/or merit.

鈥淲e are grateful to Mrs. Thompson for creating a student scholarship that allows 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to honor Mr. Meriwether鈥檚 long-term commitment to education in the state of Arkansas,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock supporters can learn more about helping support students through scholarships by visiting the Centennial Campaign website.

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