Gov. Sanders appoints Scott Ford to University of Arkansas Board

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Monday (March 4) that she is appointing Westrock Coffee CEO Scott Ford of Little Rock to the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas.

Ford, whose term will expire March 1, 2034, will replace Morril Harriman, a former State Senator from Van Buren, Ark., and former chief of staff to Gov. Mike Beebe.

“I am proud to appoint Scott Ford, a highly respected, accomplished entrepreneur, to serve on the board of trustees at the University of Arkansas,” Sanders said. “From Rwanda all the way to Conway, Arkansas, he has helped attract businesses, jobs, and opportunities. I am confident that his strong leadership, character, and experience will make him an invaluable member of the board of trustees.”

Ford is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Westrock Coffee and former CEO of Alltel Corp.

Ford also serves as a special advisor to the Stephens Group where he brings experience in managing and operating private and public companies, with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with a business undergoing accelerated growth initiatives.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of AT&T, Inc., and Agaciro Development Fund, the sovereign wealth fund for the Republic of Rwanda. He has served on the Board of Directors of Springdale-based Tyson Foods and served as the chairman of the Little Rock Branch of the St. Louis Federal Reserve.

Ford holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration-finance from the University of Arkansas.

“It is a great honor and privilege to be appointed by Governor Sanders to serve on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees,” Ford said. “Governor Sanders puts the people of her state first, empowering all Arkansans to get off the sidelines and into the workforce. She is taking Arkansas to the top. I look forward to working with the board and the administration as we prepare the next generation of leaders to take our state to the next level.”