
Ashley McBride is the new state director of AARP Arkansas of Little Rock. McBride will now lead the state office to tackle issues concerning Arkansas’ 50-plus population. She most recently served as the director of education at the American Indian Center of Arkansas.
The Arkansas Cinema Society has added two members to its board of directors. Alisha Curtis has joined the board with experience in philanthropy, fundraising, event planning, government and economic development. She is chief of communications and legislative affairs at the Arkansas Department of Commerce. Mary Olive Stephens joins with extensive events, arts and retail logistics experience. She serves on the board of trustees of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary.
Micah Beard has been appointed to the Lyon College of Batesville board of visitors. Beard is regional president of Citizens Bank of Batesville.
Robert Ficklin, professor and associate dean of academics at the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture & Natural Resources, has received the Society of American Foresters Fellows Award. Ficklin has been a member of the society since 1991 and joined the UAM school of forestry in 2002. The award recognizes individuals with a long-standing commitment to forestry and is the society’s highest level of recognition.
Jennie McNulty has joined Palmer Music Co. of Conway as its director of education, specifically focusing on the lessons program. McNulty is the former executive director of the Blackbird Academy of Arts, and joins Palmer with two decades of experience in arts education and a decade in arts administration.
Kristi Smith has been named the associate vice chancellor of alumni and development at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She will now manage the UA Little Rock Alumni Association, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations and planned giving.
Dr. Jordan Walters has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an assistant professor. Walters will see patients at the UAMS Health Orthopaedic Clinic in Little Rock and specializes in spine surgery.
In addition, the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute has welcomed four new oncologists. Dr. Anusha Jillella is a hematologist, oncologist and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the College of Medicine. Dr. Sonia Orcutt is director of the Division of Surgical Oncology and assistant professor in the Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine. Dr. Santanu Samanta is a radiation oncologist and assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology in the College of Medicine. And Dr. Cesar Giancarlo Gentille Sanchez is a hematologist, oncologist and assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the College of Medicine.
See more of this week’s Movers & Shakers, and submit your own announcement at ArkansasBusiness.com/Movers.