Governor Sarah Sanders announced Friday (Aug. 15) that she has appointed Aaron Abbott of Springdale to serve on the Arkansas State Board of Education. Abbott, whose term will expire on June 30, 2032, is replacing Kathy McFetridge.
“Aaron’s extensive background in education and steadfast commitment that every child can learn make him the perfect fit for the Board of Education and to serve the parents, educators, and students of Arkansas as we continue to implement Arkansas LEARNS,” said Sanders. “Education is all about building the future and with people like Aaron advocating for our kids, fighting for parents, and supporting educators, that future is bright.”
Abbott is an Account Manager and Consultant at Halda, where he works with colleges and universities across the country.
Before joining Halda, he served as a Client Success Director and Consultant at Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL), following more than a decade of leading enrollment management efforts at higher education institutions in Arkansas.
These roles included overseeing graduate recruitment for the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas, directing graduate and online enrollment at John Brown University, and serving as Director of Admissions at Williams Baptist University.
“I’m honored and humbled to be selected by Governor Sanders to serve on the State Board of Education,” said Aaron Abbott. “It’s a privilege to be part of education policy and oversight at such an important time for our state and our country. The changes underway are putting parents at the center, raising literacy rates, and building stronger pathways from the classroom to careers or college. I’m especially excited to get involved at a time when more education oversight is being returned to the states by the federal government. I’m looking forward to working with the Governor, my fellow board members, and communities across Arkansas to help ensure every student is set up for success, because when the students win, everyone wins.”
Abbot is a native of Northeast Arkansas. He holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education from the University of Arkansas.