The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA), a public-private partnership working with the state’s research universities and Arkansas corporations, is expanding its board of trustees.

New members include:

  • Ritter Arnold, Ritter Agribusiness Holdings, Inc.
  • Steven A. Cossé, Murphy Oil Corp.
  • Ray C. Dillon, Deltic Timber Corp.
  • Jeffrey R. Gardner, Windstream Corp.
  • Carol Johnston, Walmart
  • Charles Nabholz, The Nabholz Group
  • Reynie Rutledge, First Security Bank
  • Steven R. Smith, Verizon Wireless, South Central Region 

The ARA was founded in 2007 with start-up funding from the Arkansas Legislature. It works to foster university research that could lead to private sector job creation.