Judy McReynolds, CEO of ArcBest Corp. of Fort Smith, and Walmart executive Jason Morris have joined the Arkansas Research Alliance's board of trustees.
The two new trustees will be formally introduced at the board's August meeting, the ARA said in a news release.
“We’re proud and honored to welcome Judy and Jason to the ARA Board,” Bryan Barnhouse, president and CEO of ARA, said in the release. “Both bring exceptional leadership, business acumen, and a shared vision for the future of our state — one brought about through strategic investments in our university research talent.”
McReynolds has led ArcBest since 2010. She was named the 2022 Arkansas Business Executive of the Year.
Morris is senior vice president of enterprise business solutions at Walmart. He's involved in Walmart Global Tech's strategy for providing technology solutions and shared services that are critical for the day-to-day running of Walmart’s business.
The ARA, founded in 2008, facilitates collaborations between six research facilities in the state — UAMS, the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, the University of Arkansas Little Rock, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and the National Center for Toxicological Research.
Other ARA board members include the chancellors of the state's five major research universities, which together account for 92% of all federal research funds to the state.
