Hunter currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Data Officer at Simmons Bank.

Prior to joining Simmons, he began his career as an internal auditor at Premier Bank (JP Morgan Chase) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later as an assistant controller at Andrew Jackson Savings Bank in Tallahassee, Florida. She was a de novo member of Thomasville National Bank in Thomasville, Georgia.

Hunter and her husband Jeff have two girls, Courtney and Anna Claire.

“I am honored to have been selected and am very excited to serve the state of Arkansas,” said Hunter. “I am grateful to the governor for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of the children of Arkansas.”

Hunter’s term expires on June 30, 2029. She will replace Beth Ann Rankin.

“Jeff is dedicated to education and his leadership provides him with a vision for the future of Arkansas students,” Hutchinson said. “His time serving Arkansas students has greatly benefited our education system. In this role, he will continue to advance Arkansas’ better future.”

In 2016, during the state’s intervention in Little Rock School District administration, Wood was appointed by then-school commissioner Johnny Key to serve on the Little Rock School District’s Regional Advisory Board. In November 2020, upon returning to local management, Wood was elected to Little Rock’s first school board. He graduated from the University of Arkansas and currently practices law in Little Rock, specializing in consumer protection litigation.

“I am honored and grateful to Governor Hutchinson for trusting me with this important task. I hope that education, especially literacy, will become a top priority for state leaders,” he said. Mr Wood said. “While I have enjoyed serving Little Rock students and families with my colleagues on the Little Rock Board of Education, I will continue to work with my new friends on the State Board of Education to move education forward in Arkansas. I’m looking forward to it.

Wood’s term expires June 30, 2029. He will replace his Charisse Dean.