Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed her former campaign manager’s wife, Ashley Caldwell, to the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees, effective March 16, 2026.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Ashley Caldwell, wife of her former campaign manager Chris Caldwell, to the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees, replacing Kelly Eichler. The appointment, effective March 16, 2026, extends until 2036. Caldwell, a University of Arkansas alum and senior director at medical device company Embecta, also leads the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association. This marks the fifth board appointment by Sanders since 2023, drawing scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and nepotism. The governor praised Caldwell’s leadership and business experience as key assets for advancing the state’s higher education system.