City Year names new board co-chairs

City Year announced a slate of board changes with new chair Jay Barth and vice chair Madhav Shroff, and members Emily Jordan Cox, Randy Jones, Raymond Long and Mark Wilson.

Barth and Shroff will assume the senior leadership roles from Mica Strother and the late Bruce Moore.

“As we reflect on two decades of service, we are excited to harness the energy and enthusiasm of these new board co-chairs and members for our next chapter,” said Jennifer Cobb, senior vice president and executive director. “With their unwavering support, City Year will further our mission of advancing educational equity and helping all students achieve their full potential.”

Barth is the director of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. He previously served as the City of Little Rock’s chief education officer and on the Arkansas State Board of Education.

He is the M.E. and Ima Graves Peace Emeritus Professor of Politics at Hendrix College, where he taught for more than two decades.

Shroff is an equity officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. He started his career as an attorney at Mitchell Williams Law Firm after serving as a law clerk for the Arkansas Division of Information Systems and Center for Arkansas Legal Services. He is a former City Year AmeriCorps member and team leader.

Emily Jordan Cox is the acting city manager for the City of Little Rock, where she has worked in various roles, including as assistant city manager, for a decade. She previously held senior leadership policy roles for former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, focusing on educational issues.

Randy Jones is the senior vice president-commercial lender for First Community Bank’s Little Rock market. He joined the institution in 2020 with nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services sector, including more than two decades in lending.

Raymond Long is a corporate giving program officer with Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. A veteran who joins the board with over a decade of experience in the youth development and nonprofit sectors, he is the former director of programs and operations for Urban League of the State of Arkansas, director of business retention and expansion for Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.

Mark Wilson is the president and COO of First Arkansas Bank and Trust, commonly known as FAB&T. Since joining his family-owned bank in 2001, he has overseen its commercial and lending activities, a network of 20-plus locations in central and north central Arkansas and credit card issuing operations.

In 2024, City Year will mark 20 years of service in Central Arkansas. For the 2024-2025 academic year, AmeriCorps members will be full-time tutors and mentors in the Little Rock School District (Chicot Elementary & Early Childhood Center, JA Fair K-8 Preparatory Academy, Lacey K-8 Academy, Mabelvale Middle and Stephens Elementary) and Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (Jacksonville Elementary School).