Bobby Howard serves as the Executive Director of Arkansas Appleseed, leading public policy advocacy, development and communications, and organizational performance.

A life-long Arkansan, Bobby received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas’ Fulbright College, conducting multi-disciplinary research in philosophy of religion, political philosophy, cognitive science, and human rights theory.

Bobby approaches issue advocacy work as an educator, with a decade of classroom teaching experience at a land-grant public institution. Bobby believes in the power of education (and higher education, in particular) to level the playing field for students and their families, and he knows the role of education in improving futures and life outcomes.

Following eight years of electoral and issue advocacy work in this region of the country, Bobby is inspired by the prior achievements of Arkansas Appleseed, and is eager to continue forward progress.

Contact: Jen@ARAppleseed.org

Jen Standerfer (Bentonville, AR) is an experienced trial attorney with backgrounds in criminal, elections, and contract law. Jen has twenty years of experience in criminal justice, including time as a prosecutor, public defender, legislative relations, and victims' rights advocacy.

Jen is a seasoned litigator and has a track record of protecting Arkansans' access to the ballot. In 2024 Jen was honored by the Society of Professional Journalists for her work on behalf of the Arkansas Press Association to protect freedom of information in Arkansas.

We're thrilled to benefit from Jen's leadership in the policy space.

Contact: Julia@ARAppleseed.org

Julia Taylor taught in the Little Rock School District for 10 years. She has worked as a volunteer in public education for over 20 years and as an organizer for 10 years.

Julia grew up in Little Rock and is a Parkview High School alum. She graduated from Hendrix College in 1994, and she earned a master's degree in Reading from University of Arkansas Little Rock.

Julia served with Grassroots Arkansas during the years LRSD was taken over by the state, led Arkansans for World-Class Education from 2020-2024, worked with the Pay AR Educators coalition, and has volunteered with the Arkansas Public Policy Panel in their education policy agenda.

Julia is married, and her daughter is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High and of the  University of Missouri. Julia’s family calls Little Rock home.

Contact: Kristin@ARAppleseed.org

Kristin Stuart is a seasoned community organizer and advocate with experience in grassroots coalition building, issue-based campaigns, and legislative advocacy. She has worked at the intersection of reproductive justice, ballot initiatives, political campaigns, and public health fundraising.

Kristin serves on the boards of the Arkansas Abortion Support Network and Indivisible Little Rock & Central Arkansas, where she helps guide organizational strategy, fundraising, and coalition efforts. She has a strong track record of engaging volunteers, training teams, and connecting people to purpose.

She has testified at the Capitol, coordinated statewide rallies and lobby days, and served as a Field Team Organizer for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public Administration, from the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, respectively.

As a parent of two children in the Little Rock School District, Kristin brings both lived and professional insight to her work—grounded in equity, collaboration, and community voice.