Governor Sanders Appoints Ashley Caldwell to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced that she has appointed Ashley Caldwell to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. She is replacing Kelly Eichler, and her term will expire in 2036.

"Ashley has proven herself as a talented leader in business and philanthropy and is uniquely qualified to serve on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. As my administration reforms and improves our state's higher education system, I am confident Ashley will be a tremendous asset to the UA board as we work together to build a better Arkansas for generations to come," said Governor Sanders. "I'm grateful to my good friend, Kelly Eichler, for her service to the university and our state, and look forward to her continued work on behalf of the people of Arkansas."

"I am honored, humbled, and energized for the opportunity that Governor Sanders has bestowed upon me to serve our state and our students as part of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees," said Ashley Caldwell. "In 1998, I took my first steps on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus, and those steps changed my life. I developed enduring relationships with individuals from across the state and country. I met my husband on Garland Avenue, was baptized at University Baptist Church, and received an excellent education from the Walton College of Business, positioning me for a fulfilling career. I welcome the responsibility of contributing to the institution and system that has given so much to me, and I am dedicated to supporting its continued growth and innovation for future generations, including my own children."

Ashley Caldwell Bio:

But the role that Ashley holds most dear is that of being a mom. Together with her husband Chris, she is raising two children-Harley, 12, and Amelia, 10 -who love little more than to call the Hogs! Like countless other Arkansans, some of their most treasured memories as a family have been created at Razorback games and events.

Ashley graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas Sam Walton College of Business in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Having been awarded both the Chancellor's and Governor's Distinguished Scholarships, she was the first member of her family to earn a traditional four-year degree. During her time at the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville she was also a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and served as the organization's philanthropy chair.

Ashley learned a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial mindset from her father as she watched him open and manage Waffle Houses across the state and later his own restaurants, where Ashley grew up working. And Ashley's mother instilled in her the value of higher education, enrolling in college at age 27 while Ashley was in second grade and her brother was in kindergarten. Despite balancing the responsibilities of raising two young children and managing their household, her mother completed a Bachelor of Science in Education within three years and subsequently pursued a career in education. Witnessing this achievement firsthand inspires Ashley to advocate for a continued wide range of academic pathways for University of Arkansas students.

A native of Jacksonville, Arkansas and a 1998 graduate of Mount St. Mary's High School, Ashley and her family reside in Little Rock where they are members of Fellowship Bible Church and active in their school and community.

###