LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders this week announced appointments to various state boards. Among them is Tim Knight, of Arkadelphia, to the Osteopathic Rural Medical Practice Student Loan and Scholarship Board. The term expires July 1, 2027.
Knight is a professor of biology at Ouachita Baptist University and the dean of the School of Natural Sciences. He holds a doctorate in environmental sciences/aquatic toxicology from the University of Texas at Dallas.
The Rural Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship is a scholarship program aimed at minimizing medical school educational indebtedness while helping to meet the healthcare needs of rural Arkansans. The program provides rural practice loans during medical school. Then, recipients convert these loans to scholarship grants by practicing full-time primary care medicine in a rural community in Arkansas.
Others named to the board are Phillip Gilmore, of Crossett, Dr. Shannon Jimenez, of Fort Smith, and Dr. James Zini, of Mountain View.
Other governor-appointed commissioners are listed below:
Arkansas 250 Commission
Christina Berner, Jonesboro, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New position.
Cathy Boozman, Rogers, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New position.
Debbie Haak, Texarkana, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New position.
Sharri Jones, Pine Bluff, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New position.
Valorie Lawson, Bentonville, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New position.
Ebony Mitchell, Little Rock, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New Position.
Jan Zimmerman, Little Rock, to the Arkansas 250 Commission. Term to expire July 5, 2026. New position.
Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training
James Montgomery, Hot Springs National Park, to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. Term to expire January 14, 2029. Replaces James Golden.
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Thomas Dickinson, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2028. Replaces Steve Lux.
Molly Shepherd, El Dorado, to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2025. Previously vacant position.
Arkansas Forestry Commission
Ken Bragg, Sheridan, to the Arkansas Forestry Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2029. Replaces Steven Anthony.
Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
Scott Simon, Fayetteville, to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2028. Replaces Neill Sloan.
Jody Pagan, Searcy, to the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2030. Previously vacant position.
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Michael McDermott, Weiner, to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2029. Previously vacant position.
Arkansas Rural Medical Practice Student Loan and Scholarship Board
Dr. Steven Webber, Little Rock, to chair the Arkansas Rural Medical Practice Student Loan and Scholarship Board, by virtue of his position as Dean of the College of Medicine of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Arkansas State Claims Commission
Don Curdie, Little Rock, as Special Commissioner, to hear Claim Number 241833, Nelda Coleman v. UAMS and Arkansas State Claims Commission.
Milton Fine, Little Rock, as Special Commissioner, to hear Claim Number 241833, Nelda Coleman v. UAMS and Arkansas State Claims Commission.
Olan Reeves, Little Rock, as Special Commissioner, to hear Claim Number 241833, Nelda Coleman v. UAMS and Arkansas State Claims Commission.
Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council
Jennifer Carlin, Sherwood, to the Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council. Term to expire February 1, 2027. Previously vacant position.
Frank Hellmer, Benton, to the Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council. Term to expire February 2, 2027. Replaces James Grover.
Courtney Leach, Conway, to the Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council. Term to expire February 1, 2026. Replaces James Green.
Bradley Ledgerwood, Cash, to the Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council. Term to expire February 1, 2026. Replaces Alex Scott.
Arkansas Wine Producers Council
Denis Wiederkehr, Wiederkehr Village, to the Arkansas Wine Producers Council. Term to expire March 1, 2026. Reappointment.
Board of Directors of the Division of Science and Technology of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Vernon Hasten, Alexander, to the Board of Directors of the Division of Science and Technology of the Economic Development Commission. Term to expire January 14, 2025. Replaces Jeff Standridge.
State Board of Optometry
Dr. James Hertzog, Cabot, to the State Board of Optometry. Term to expire April 26, 2029. Replaces Bryant Ashley.
Cleburne County Quorum Court
Rachel Douglass, Quitman, to serve as Justice of the Peach for District 11, for Cleburne County. Term expires December 31, 2024. Fulfills the remaining term of Sampson Wildmon.
Lafayette County Quorum Court
Dale Tatom, Lewisville, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 1, for Lafayette County. Term expires December 31, 2024. Fulfills the remaining term of Jimmy Neal Bickerstaff.
Yell County Quorum Court
Thomas Leroy Randall, Dardanelle, to serve as Justice of the Peace for District 9, for Yell County. Term expires December 31, 2024. Fulfills the remaining term of Ryan Millsaps.