Walton Arts Center announces new board members, officers

The Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville on Tuesday (Sept. 15) named Mervin Jebaraj, Charles F. Robinson and Laura Jacobs to its board of directors.

Jebaraj has served as director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas since 2017. He joins the board on appointment from the city of Fayetteville.

Robinson is the vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas, a position he has held since 2016. He joins the board on appointment from the University of Arkansas.

Jacobs is chief of staff for Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz and associate vice chancellor for the University of Arkansas. She also joins the board on appointment from the university.

Two members were also reappointed to the board, according to a news release: Casey Hamaker, representing the city of Fayetteville, and Matt Trantham, representing the University of Arkansas.

Walton Arts Center also announced Anne O’Leary-Kelly as the new board chair, replacing Mike Johnson who has served on the board for nine years. Hamaker will continue to serve as secretary and treasurer. The vice chairs are Mark Henneberger, Barbara Taylor, Marti Sudduth and Nate Hodne.

The board also formalized a standing committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Co-chaired by Anne O’Leary-Kelly and Lia Uribe, the new committee is comprised of Hamaker, Tony Waller, Jody Dilday, Marti Sudduth and Cal Rose. This board committee will complement and coordinate with the existing staff DEI Committee to further Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Walton Arts Center.