Excel by Eight achieves nonprofit status, names board

Excel by Eight (E8) officially received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation and announced the first three members to its Board of Directors: Linsley Kinkade, chief program officer at the Arkansas Community Foundation; Marquita Little NuMan, executive director of the Partnership for America’s Children; and Dr. Chad Rodgers, pediatrician at Little Rock Pediatric Clinic and chief medical officer at the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care.

“These exceptional leaders bring deep expertise in philanthropy, policy, and child health that will help guide E8 into its next chapter,” said Angela Duran, executive director of Excel by Eight. “As we step forward as an independent nonprofit, their insight and leadership will be critical to advancing our mission to improve outcomes for Arkansas children and families.”

Excel by Eight began in 2011 as the Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. The initiative became Excel by Eight in 2020, expanding its approach to build on that foundation and address the broader conditions that influence health and education outcomes for young children. Throughout E8’s development, the Arkansas Community Foundation served as its fiscal sponsor until E8’s recent transition to independent nonprofit status.

Kinkade leads the community investment team at the Arkansas Community Foundation, where she helps set and implement strategies to support thriving communities across the state. Raised in rural southwest Arkansas, she has dedicated her career to asset-based community development throughout the mid-South.

NuMan brings nearly two decades of experience across government, nonprofits, and philanthropy, with a focus on advancing equity and removing systemic barriers for children and families. She previously served as senior director of equity and impact at the Alliance for Early Success, health policy director at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and as the inaugural president and CEO of the Urban League of Arkansas.

Dr. Rodgers has served the community as a pediatrician since 2002. He completed his medical training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he served as chief resident. He is a co-founder of Reach Out and Read Arkansas and has a strong focus on preventive care, health literacy, and child advocacy. In 2015, he was recognized with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Tom Ed Townsend Award for excellence in pediatric care.

“Together, these three board members bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to improving the health and education outcomes of Arkansas’s youngest learners,” added Duran.