MAGNOLIA — La’Nyce Hemphill has set her sights high: Changing the way Arkansans view policymaking and their role as citizens.
Hemphill, of Ashdown, will be the first student to graduate as part of a new Public Policy Fellowship that’s a partnership between Southern Arkansas University and the Public Policy Center of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The Public Policy Center is part of the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture’s public outreach.
This initiative is designed to provide SAU’s master of public administration students with hands-on experience in policy research, civic engagement, and public service, helping to shape the next generation of leaders in Arkansas.
Hemphill, who plans to attend the William H. Bowen School of Law at UA-Little Rock this fall, is currently working on research related to emerging policy issues.
"I hope to create a shift in the way Arkansans view policy making and foster a more educated citizenry," she said. "Through this fellowship, I'm excited to contribute to policy efforts that will have a lasting impact on our state."
Kristin Netterstrom Higgins, a program associate with the Public Policy Center, said she has been working with Amber Overholser, director of SAU’s master of public administration degree program, and her students for several years. Hemphill is the first fellow, a position funded by SAU through donor support of an endowment.
Hemphill worked with Higgins on several issues for the Public Policy Center, putting in about 10 hours a week. Her focus was on analysis of citizen initiative laws across the country, reviewing the emerging issue of lithium mining in Arkansas, and a blog post about new juvenile justice laws.
The fellowship offers students opportunities to engage directly with policy issues affecting their communities, work alongside experts in the field, and contribute to research that informs public decision-making. Through mentorship, experiential learning, and professional development, participants will gain valuable insight into the policymaking process at both the state and local levels.
"This fellowship represents an incredible opportunity for our students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to impact their communities in meaningful ways," Overholser said. "By partnering with the Public Policy Center, we are equipping our students with the tools to navigate complex policy challenges and drive positive change throughout the state."
"The policy decisions being made today will affect Arkansans for decades," Higgins said. "This partnership expands the opportunity for reaching Arkansans with neutral information on policy areas that matter to them."
Deacue Fields, vice president-agriculture for the University of Arkansas System, called the fellowship “a prime example of us being able to share our strength and expertise to benefit all Arkansans.
“Our Public Policy Center has a well-established reputation for unbiased voter issue education and engagement and we are very excited about have students from Southern Arkansas University work with us in this important civic mission,” Fields said.
