Arkansas Humanities Council promotes Clements, Jones

The Arkansas Humanities Council, an Arkansas non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for Humanities, announced the promotion of Ann Clements to Director of Education and Adrienne Jones to Associate Director.

Clements is promoted from the role of Education Outreach Coordinator and Jones is promoted from the role of Coordinator for Community Engagements Special Initiatives. The promotions of Clements and Jones will position them in elevated and broader leadership roles to further the mission of the Arkansas Humanities Council to connect Arkansans to the humanities throughout the state, according to a news release.

“Ann and Adrienne’s commitment as champions of the humanities are evident in their passions for education and history preservation,” Arkansas Humanities Council Executive Director Jama Best said. “They will both make a tremendous impact in their new roles as they work to promote a richer understanding of the humanities and contribute to a more vibrant future for Arkansas.”

In her new role as Director of Education, Clements will oversee the creation of humanities-based educational programs, events and resources for teachers, students and community members throughout the state. In her new role as Associate Director, Adrienne Jones will serve as an advisor and co-strategist to the Executive Director, overseeing the broader mission of the council within external programming and internal culture.

Clements joined Arkansas Humanities Council in 2020 as the Education Outreach Coordinator with a 30-year history in state government, which includes serving as the first Arkansas State Capitol Historian. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the North Little Rock History Commission and is an active member of Preserve Arkansas. Clements holds a degree in history and political science from Ouachita Baptist University.

Jones joined Arkansas Humanities Council in 2022 as the Coordinator for Community Engagement Special Initiatives. Jones previously worked as the Research and Scholarly Communications Archivist at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Center for Arkansas History and Culture. Jones holds a master’s degree in arts and public history from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The Arkansas Humanities Council is a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The council focuses on promoting the understanding, appreciation, and use of the humanities in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Humanities Council awards grants to educators and non-profit groups that allow them to plan and conduct projects in the humanities for Arkansas audiences. The council’s mission is to empower Arkansans to connect with the humanities by encouraging the discovery and understanding of diverse and mutual experiences.