Pamela Ashcraft
Dr. Ashcraft is a Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Central Arkansas, where she also serves as the Research and Scholarship Coordinator, the Nursing Honors Program Coordinator, and serves of many different committees at the departmental, college and university levels. Dr. Ashcraft received her BSN from the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences, her MSN from the University of Central Arkansas, and her PhD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Ashcraft’s interest and specialty areas include research, population health, epidemiology and pediatrics. Her PhD research was in the area of adolescent obesity, focusing on inner-city African-American adolescent males. Her most recent research interests involve self-care behaviors of undergraduate nursing students and practicing RNs, effects of simulation on student learning, and building a culture of PhD and DNP collaboration. She has published numerous manuscripts and has delivered presentations at state, regional and national meetings/conferences. In addition, Dr. Ashcraft serves as a journal reviewer for several peer-reviewed nursing journals.
Curtis Barnett
Curtis Barnett serves as president and chief executive officer for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
which serves nearly 2 million members nationwide. As president and CEO, Barnett is leading Arkansas
Blue Cross’ efforts to help transform healthcare, striving to make it a more affordable and
compassionate system. He has a distinct passion for improving awareness, access, and outcomes in
behavioral health, and has spoken locally and nationally on such subjects as the importance of changing
how healthcare services are reimbursed, the role of health plans in addressing the social determinants of health, and the need for a whole person approach to health care.
Prior to his election as president and CEO in 2017, Barnett served as senior vice president of Internal Operations for Arkansas Blue Cross and as president and CEO of its wholly-owned subsidiary company, USAble Corporation.
On the national front, Barnett serves on the boards of directors for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, the National Institute for Healthcare Management (NIHCM), and BCS Financial. He also serves as co-chair of the Roundtable on Innovations in Mental and Behavioral Health for the Health Evolution.
In Arkansas, Barnett serves on several industry and community boards of directors, including the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees, the dean’s executive advisory board for the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business, the Arkansas Research Alliance, and the executive committee for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, where he serves as vice chair.
Barnett actively supports many charitable organizations. In 2015, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation named him their Breath of Life honoree. His alma mater, the University of Central Arkansas, presented him with their Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2018.
April Bennett
Baptist Health named April Bennett, MSN, CHFP, RN, as the president of Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway in November 2022. Serving as the hospital’s chief nursing officer since 2020, Bennett has supported the opening and expansion of multiple specialties including the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, intermediate care unit and medical/surgical unit as well as the opening of a new intensive care unit and medical/surgical unit. Her successes also include decreasing bedside RN turnover, recruiting and replacing RN travelers with full-time staff and growing the inpatient census by 20 percent.
In 2020, Bennett joined Baptist Health after working for Freeman Health System in Joplin, Missouri, where she served as the vice president of nursing services for seven years.
Bennett received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Missouri Southern University and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Bennett is married to her husband, Ryan, and has two sons, Aiden and Alex. She is a member of Conway’s First Baptist Church.
When Bennett is not at work, spending time with family or at the baseball field, she also finds time to be actively involved in the Conway community. She serves on the Conway Public Schools Foundation Board, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce Board, and University of Central Arkansas College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board.
Additionally, Bennett has served as Northeast Regional Chair for the Arkansas Nurses Association and as a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
Jessica Dewberry
Jessica Dewberry is the Director of Therapy Services at Conway Regional Health Systems. She has been with Conway Regional since 2005, starting as a speech language pathologist at the Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. She earned her Master of Business Administration-Healthcare Management in 2022. She lives in Conway with her husband and two children, one of which will be attending U of A in the fall of 2025. Jessica enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with her family.
Gloria Ealy
Reading and traveling have always been on Gloria’s list of things she enjoys doing. While most of her traveling has been domestic, she has found that she could travel world-wide through reading. Some years ago, after matriculating through UCA for a third degree, reading for pleasure was put on hold. Seventeen years ago, retirement brought a pivot in her role as a teacher and administrator after 33 years.
Time can bring about a change though. Now, she has a renewed spirit to read, travel world-wide through my reading, and to actually teach again. A virtual book club found her prior to COVID and they continue to meet on-line on a weekly zoom. Also, prominent in her life is a spiritual journey that allows her to read, learn and teach some teens about Christ. They are all cultivating their relationship with Christ and learning together. As for traveling, Gloria and her husband Clifton always revisit favorite travel spots or find new unchartered territories to add to their travel list.
Emogene Fox
Bio Coming Soon
Anna Hall
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Trey Hankins
Trey Hankins (2003) is the Director of Customer and Digital Experience & Design at Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Since beginning his career at the company as a Web Content Specialist in 2006, Trey has held various roles across the Digital Solutions, Group Marketing, Design and Customer Experience teams. The CX/DX/Design teams are responsible for managing and optimizing the company’s websites; overseeing the development and maintenance of the member portal; enhancing the tool that helps members find healthcare providers and estimate costs; implementing and managing the program to gather and analyze member feedback; and ensuring that all design elements are consistent and adhere to brand guidelines. In addition to the CHBS Advisory Board, Trey also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Arkansas. He’s an avid UCA fan and returns to campus frequently to cheer on the Bears and Sugar Bears.
Shannon Hendrix
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Jim Hoyme
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Georgia Johnston
With over 35 years of experience in health care, Georgia has built a career defined by compassion, innovation, and advocacy. A Registered Nurse by training, she has worn many hats over the course of her career, ranging from bedside nurse and nurse consultant to business developer and founder of a multi-state health care organization.
Georgia’s educational journey reflects her dedication to growth and lifelong learning. She earned her Registered Nurse Diploma from the Baptist School of Nursing in 1992 and obtained her Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification in 1995. In 2015, she returned to academia, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, an achievement that speaks to her commitment to continually advancing her knowledge and skills.
Her leadership has extended beyond clinical and operational roles. Georgia has actively served on numerous boards and committees, always championing the well-being of others. Her passion lies in promoting holistic health, mind and body alike. She is especially devoted to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, a mission that drives her most recent venture: The Gardens of Arkansas. This organization represents her lifelong commitment to addressing the shame often associated with mental illness and bringing these conversations to the forefront of health care.
Georgia has been married to her high school sweetheart, Billy, since 1989. Together, they share one son, Kyzer. Both Billy and Kyzer are proud alumni of the University of Central Arkansas, where Georgia fondly credits UCA as “changing the course of our lives and I love it.”
Through every chapter of her professional and personal life, Georgia has remained a steadfast advocate for compassionate care, community empowerment, and the belief that every person deserves access to mental and physical health resources without shame or stigma.
Mallory Lefler
Mallory Lefler is the Fitness Manager at Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science.
Mallory has been a part of Conway Regional since 2005 and currently oversees the fitness and aquatic departments, including personal training, medical fitness programs, private and group swim lessons, aquatic classes, and all fitness and aquatic staff. She also manages the internship program for Exercise Science students and is passionate about community wellness initiatives such as Get Moving Arkansas and Kids Run Arkansas, both sponsored by the Health and Fitness Center.
Mallory is a certified Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise and serves as the Head Coach for the Rock Steady Boxing program, which supports individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. She also holds certifications as a Functional Training Specialist, Diabetes Training Program (Levels 1–3), and American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor.
A Conway native, Mallory and her husband, Chance, are proud to call the community home. Together they have three children — a daughter, Lakyn, and twin boys, Logan and Lucas.
Colonel Addie Morris
Colonel Addie Morris is a 27-year U.S. Army veteran, led the Youth Enrichment Program under the late Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller. She is recognized for founding the Ralph Vines Public Speaking Contest and playing a pivotal role in establishing the Hat & Gloves Society. Known for her servant’s heart, Col. Morris is passionate about community engagement, especially in minority and youth outreach.
Krista Tapp
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Sharri Thielke
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