Gov. Sanders names Ashley Caldwell to UA Board of Trustees

Gov. Sarah Sanders announced Monday (March 16) that she has appointed Ashley Caldwell to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. She is replacing Kelly Eichler, and her term will expire in 2036.

“Ashley has proven herself as a talented leader in business and philanthropy and is uniquely qualified to serve on the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. As my administration reforms and improves our state’s higher education system, I am confident Ashley will be a tremendous asset to the UA board as we work together to build a better Arkansas for generations to come,” said Sanders. “I’m grateful to my good friend, Kelly Eichler, for her service to the university and our state, and look forward to her continued work on behalf of the people of Arkansas.”

Ashley Caldwell is the senior director of strategic accounts at Embecta Corporation, a leading company in the diabetes industry. In this role, she provides leadership across the organization’s retail, marketing, and distribution partnerships, collaborating with U.S. partners to deliver solutions to significant healthcare challenges.

Caldwell is president of the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion. She recently led the organization’s 75th Anniversary Celebration, setting fundraising records and overseeing the renovation of the Janet M. Huckabee Grand Hall.

“I am honored, humbled, and energized for the opportunity that Governor Sanders has bestowed upon me to serve our state and our students as part of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees,” said Caldwell. “In 1998, I took my first steps on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville campus, and those steps changed my life. I developed enduring relationships with individuals from across the state and country. I met my husband on Garland Avenue, was baptized at University Baptist Church, and received an excellent education from the Walton College of Business, positioning me for a fulfilling career. I welcome the responsibility of contributing to the institution and system that has given so much to me, and I am dedicated to supporting its continued growth and innovation for future generations, including my own children.”

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas Sam Walton College of Business in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Caldwell is married to Chris Caldwell, a longtime consultant to Gov. Sanders.

She is a native of Jacksonville, Ark. and a 1998 graduate of Mount St. Mary’s High School.