Bentonville think-and-do tank Heartland Forward announced Tuesday (Aug. 12) that Zoe Maddox, Ph.D., has been named director of the Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice.
“Zoe is the ideal person to lead this critical work for the heartland,” said Angie Cooper, president of Heartland Forward. “She brings the perfect blend of real-world economic expertise and a deep passion for improving health outcomes for moms and families across the region. Her leadership will be transformative for our Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice, and we’re thrilled to welcome her to the Heartland Forward team.”
According to a news release, Maddox previously worked within the University of Arkansas’ Division of Economic Development and Sam M. Walton College of Business, working on entrepreneurship and outdoor recreation initiatives. Her earlier career included roles in investment management, fintech and investor relations.
The center was announced at the 2025 Heartland Summit with an initial investment of $10 million, the release shows. Heartland Forward was joined in the announcement by founding partners Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, the Centene Foundation, Walton Family Foundation and Walmart.
Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice, which is not a physical building, operates within Heartland Forward, and some of its staff are working to support the center’s efforts, led by Maddox and Osborne.
According to Heartland, the center will be a convener and provide technical guidance, supporting initiatives like reopening labor and delivery units through midwifery-led care and addressing regulatory, staffing and reimbursement challenges. The center will begin in Arkansas and has plans to expand across the central United States, including all 20 states in the heartland region.
Maddox will help the center implement Arkansas’ maternal health plan, build on Gov. Sarah Sanders’ executive order and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act, and collaborate with health leaders to expand access, especially in rural areas.
“The heartland isn’t just where I work — it’s where I’ve chosen to build my life and put down roots,” Maddox said. “Healthy families are the foundation of thriving communities, and I’m committed to serving as a trusted partner to help drive lasting improvements across a region I’m so proud to call home.”
Maddox earned a doctorate in history from Princeton University and an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.