Board Members
Mrs. Graycen Bigger, Chair
Committee(s): Academic/Finance Committees
Term Expires: May 1, 2025
Email: Graycen.bigger@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 \ Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Mrs. Graycen Bigger of Pocahontas was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2021 and is serving a term that will expire in 2025. Mrs. Bigger is the Assistant Vice President of Community Development for Farmers and Merchants Bank as well as the Executive Director of the Northeast Arkansas Intermodal Authority, a regional economic development alliance based in Pocahontas. Graycen holds a MA in Art Business from Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York as well as bachelor degrees in the history of art and photojournalism from Arkansas State University. She is a White Riley Peterson Fellow and currently serves on Black River Technical College’s Foundation Board of Directors. She was named one of Astate’s Emerging Alumni in 2020 and enjoys attending alumni and sporting events.
Dr. Jim Carr, Secretary
Committee(s): Academic Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2027
Email: Jim.Carr@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Dr. Jim Carr was appointed to the Coordinating Board in 2015 and is currently serving his second term that will expire in 2027. Dr. Carr previously served as Senior Vice President and Professor of Business at Harding University. Prior to joining the Harding staff he served in administrative positions at Florida State University and the American College Testing Program. In 2006, he was nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to a position on The National Security Education Board. Dr. Carr is currently on the State Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Board of the Boy Scouts of America. He consults regularly with colleges and universities around the country in the area of strategic planning, student retention, enrollment development and fundraising. Dr. Carr received his PhD from Florida State.
Dr. Jerry Cash
Committee(s): Academic Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2026
Email: jerry.cash@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Dr. Jerry Cash of Harrison was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2021 and is serving a term that will expire in 2026. He earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Ouachita Baptist University, an M.S.E in Guidance and Counseling from Arkansas State University, an Ed.S. in Psychological Diagnostics from ASU and an Ed.D. in College Student Personnel Administration from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Dr. Cash previously worked at North Arkansas College for 31 years in various positions including Director of Counseling Services, Admissions Counselor, Dean of Students, and Vice-President of Educational Services. Dr. Cash served on the NAC Board of Trustees for six years.
Dr. Katherine Dudley
Committee(s): Academic Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2029
Email: Katie.Dudley@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Dr. Katherine Dudley of Little Rock was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2023 and is serving a term that will expire in 2029. Dr. Dudley received her K-12th grade education from the Little Rock School District and is in her nineteenth year as an educator at the secondary level. She holds degrees from the University of Central Arkansas, Belmont University, and Arizona State University where she earned a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership and Innovation. In addition, she holds graduate certificates from Cornell University.
Mr. Kelley Erstine
Committee(s): Finance Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2027
Email: Kelley.Erstine@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Education: Mr. Kelley Erstine of Conway was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2022 and is serving a term that will expire in 2027. Erstine is Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas, a professional trade association representing approximately 300 independent insurance agencies in Arkansas. He previously served as Chief of Staff at the University of Central Arkansas and also served as interim president for a short period of time during a presidential transition. He was appointed and previously served as a member of the UCA Board of Trustees. Erstine is a graduate of Sheridan High School (Grant County) and the University of Central Arkansas, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. He and his wife Leslie, live in Conway.
Mr. Chad Hooten
Committee(s): Finance Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2025
Email: Chad.Hooten@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Mr. Chad Hooten of Little Rock was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2019 and is serving a term that will expire in 2025.
Mrs. Heather Maxey
Committee(s): Finance Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2029
Email: Heather.Maxey@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Mrs. Heather Maxey of Mountain Home was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2023 and is serving a term that will expire in 2029. Maxey and her family currently own and operate several dealerships including Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. She is co-owner of multiple property groups managing both commercial and residential real estate. Maxey served as the Baxter County Campaign Coordinator for Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Leslie Rutledge and John Boozman. She also previously served on the board of the Peitz Cancer House in Baxter County, A+ for Education Campaign Board for Mountain Home Public Schools, and as PTA district director of outreach for Harrison Public Schools. Maxey attended the University of Arkansas Sam Walton College of Business where she majored in Marketing.
Dr. Kyle Miller
Committee(s): Finance Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2024
Email: kyle.miller@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Dr. Kyle Miller of Helena was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2021 and is serving a term that will expire in 2024. A native of Helena, Arkansas, Dr. Miller attended the University of Central Arkansas on a vocal music scholarship, later graduating with a BA in Mass Communications. Miller received a Master of Science Degree in Radio-TV from ASU and his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Mississippi. After spending several years in the television news business, Dr. Miller accepted a part-time position at the Delta Cultural Center as the Assistant Public Information Officer. He then became the Afterschool Program Director for Helena West Helena Schools and later the Executive Director of Phillips College’s student support program, GEAR UP, and UALR’s Children International. Dr. Miller is currently the Director of the Delta Cultural Center in Helena.
Mr. Lucas Pointer
Committee(s): Finance Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2028
Email: Lucas.Pointer@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Mr. Lucas M. Pointer was appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2023 and is serving a term that will expire in 2028. He is a Senior Vice President at Grand Savings Bank located in Bentonville Arkansas. Mr. Pointer is a former member of the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees, served as chairman of the Landuse Committee, and currently serves on the Finance Committee at NWACC. Pointer is a Pine Bluff native who attended the Watson Chapel School District and earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He and his wife, Ashley Pointer, and their five children, reside in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Mrs. Carolyn Rhinehart
Committee(s): Academic Committee
Term Expires: May 1, 2028
Email: Carolyn.Rhinehart@adhe.edu
Address: 101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300 | Little Rock, AR 72201
Biography: Mrs. Carolyn Rhinehart of Scranton was appointed to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2023 and is serving a term that will expire in 2028. A retired teacher whose career spanned over 37 years, she currently serves as the government liaison and disbursing officer for the Scranton Board of Education. Mrs. Rhinehart earned a BA in English from the University of the Ozarks, and a master’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas.