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Oct. 9, 2026—The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute announced the Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy (ACCLA) Class of 2027, welcoming a new cohort of 41 college students committed to strengthening communities across Arkansas through civic engagement and public service.
Representing 12 colleges and universities across the state, these students, including nine Northwest Arkansas Civic Fellows, will participate in a comprehensive, immersive civic education curriculum designed to equip emerging civic leaders with the knowledge, skills, and connections needed to create positive change in their communities.
Among the representatives are three students from Hendrix College:
- Chanley Atwell of Conway
- Elliot Barker of Dallas, Texas
- Zamera Wilbon of Sherwood
The Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy was created from a deep belief that Arkansas's future depends on the next generation of leaders being equipped not only with knowledge, but also with the relationships, confidence, and sense of responsibility needed to strengthen their communities.
Through the Institute's Civic Arkansas program, staff traveled the state listening to Arkansans discuss what helps and hinders civic engagement in their communities. Listening session participants expressed a desire for stronger civic education and more opportunities for students to become engaged in public life.
Those conversations revealed a need for a structured collegiate civic leadership program, ultimately leading to the creation of ACCLA.
"There are a lot of problems, there are a lot of challenges, and there are a lot of opportunities for you, as upcoming leaders, to shape the world that you want to see," Institute Executive Director/CEO Janet Harris said.
ACCLA was designed to help students challenge themselves, broaden their perspectives, and explore how they can create positive change in the communities they call home.
The ACCLA Class of 2027 will participate in academic and experiential learning sessions throughout the program year, and complete service-learning projects that address real-world community needs while building practical leadership skills.
The ACCLA cohort is about more than learning how government works or studying public policy. It is about discovering what becomes possible when people come together around a shared purpose. Students from communities across Arkansas and from a wide range of backgrounds will spend the next seven months learning alongside and challenging one another and building relationships that can last a lifetime.
“The cohort model is intentional,” said Dr. Liz Lundeen, Institute director of programs. “Lasting civic leadership does not happen in isolation. It grows through trust, collaboration, and a willingness to understand perspectives different from our own. The Institute hopes these students leave the program with new skills and a network of peers they will continue to lean on and work alongside for years to come.”
The program also reflects the Institute's longstanding belief in the power of bringing people together to address shared challenges and opportunities.
During the ACCLA kickoff event, Harris encouraged students to recognize their ability to lead and create change in an increasingly complex world.
Through ACCLA, the Institute is investing in students who care deeply about their communities and who are willing to help shape Arkansas's future. The goal is to empower them to become informed, engaged citizens who help others find common ground, work toward shared solutions, and strengthen civic life across the state.
The ACCLA Class of 2027 will participate in academic and experiential learning sessions throughout the program year, and complete service-learning projects that address real-world community needs while developing practical leadership skills.
“I am grateful to our sponsors and individual donors for making this program possible. It is so inspiring to sit in a room full of students dedicated to civic engagement and improving the civic health of our state,” Lundeen said.
The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the Arkansas Collegiate Civic Leadership Academy was created through the generous support of Founding Sponsors: the McKuin Fund, the Engaged Learning Network, and AT&T Arkansas.
Partial, need-based tuition scholarships are made possible thanks to gifts from individuals specifically to support ACCLA students, as well as gifts to the Programs & Education Fund.
Story Courtesy of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute and the Arkansas Press Association