Meet Our Team

Janet Harris serves as the Institute’s Executive Director and CEO. She is a curious, determined leader passionate about facilitating thoughtful conversations that drive collaborative action and meaningful impact. Chosen to lead the Institute in 2022, she first joined the organization in 2016 to help build its programs and clarify its mission and method.

Janet is a trained facilitator with extensive experience as a leader, public speaker, and connector. Her contributions include aligning operations with the Institute’s mission, expanding staff capacity in professional meeting design, facilitating impactful dialogue and deliberation, and developing educational programs inspired by Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s legacy. One of these programs is the Institute’s Walks with the Governor workshop. She frequently speaks to groups about Rockefeller’s leadership, using his story to inspire growth and civic engagement.

Janet earned her bachelor’s degree while playing varsity basketball for the University of Central Arkansas Sugarbears. She later completed her Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock while working full-time. Her career includes service with the City of Little Rock and senior leadership roles in three statewide executive offices, including eight years as Arkansas Deputy Secretary of State.

A lifelong learner, Janet is currently pursuing her Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is an active alumna of the University of Central Arkansas, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She is also a graduate of Leadership Arkansas Class XI and was named UCA Political Science Distinguished Alumna in 2016.

Shawn Cathey serves as the chief financial officer for the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, providing leadership for all financial matters.

Prior to joining the Institute, Shawn served as Senior Director of Finance at Winrock International for 21 years. He was responsible for the organization’s finance and accounting functions at Winrock’s headquarters and regional finance offices, with a focus on implementing new and enhanced systems and processes for Winrock projects, enhancing project reporting and invoicing, and developing project finance staff. He is a certified public accountant. Prior to joining Winrock, he held various accounting and management positions in rural health care.

Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas Tech University.

As Chief Strategy Officer, Carder Hawkins is responsible for developing, executing, communicating, and sustaining strategic initiatives that support the Institute’s mission.

Carder joins the Institute after a 20-year career in state government. He began in the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Elections Division, where he served for more than eight years. His career also includes roles as Chief Information Officer for the Arkansas Insurance Department and Deputy Director for the Arkansas Department of Information Systems, where he oversaw human resources, legislative affairs, fiscal operations, procurement, security, enterprise architecture, and IT planning. Most recently, Carder served as Chief Information Officer for the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. 

Carder holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in international relations from the University of Central Arkansas. He later completed a master’s degree in community development as part of UCA’s inaugural Community Development graduate class while working full-time.

As Chief Advancement Officer, Julia Dossett Morgan develops strategies and secures resources to advance the Institute’s mission.

Julia brings 20 years of nonprofit communications experience to the role. She previously worked for two Tony Award–winning theatre companies in Chicago and Minneapolis before relocating to Arkansas in 2014. She joined the Institute in 2018 as Director of Marketing and Communications and is passionate about telling the Institute’s stories of impact, strengthening relationships, and welcoming others into a shared vision of a world where every person’s perspective contributes to meaningful problem‑solving.

Julia holds a master’s degree in public administration with a nonprofit management focus from Arkansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign. She is actively involved in her community and has served as PTO president for her children’s elementary school and on the boards of Conway Cradle Care, the Creative Institute of Central Arkansas, and the Conway Alliance for the Arts.

Lundeen earned a PhD in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and taught at the college level, researching leadership and racial equity in higher education during the civil rights era. Her work with the Southern Oral History Program strengthened her skills in collaboration and community engagement. She also holds an MPhil in Historical Studies from Cambridge University and a BA in History and Political Science from Wake Forest University, where she competed on the policy debate team. 

After moving to Arkansas, she joined the Glenn Pelham Foundation for Debate Education, where she developed workforce programs centered on “productive conflict.” Most recently, Lundeen served as director of the Arkansas Certified Public Manager Program, leading curriculum development and mentoring public servants through organizational change initiatives. 

Kimberly Bolin serves as a Program Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, where she designs and implements facilitated dialogues and leads programming focused on water conservation and rural health care. Kimberly joined the Institute in July 2022 and brings a strong commitment to helping communities engage in meaningful problem‑solving.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hendrix College. Outside of her professional work, Kimberly enjoys baking and gardening, hobbies that reflect her deep care for people and the environment. She believes that a stronger Arkansas emerges when individuals have the space to voice their concerns and participate in shaping solutions.

Alyssa Ghaleb is the Program Officer for Civic Arkansas at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. She collaborates with partners across the state to strengthen civic health, with a focus on supporting Arkansas communities. In her role, Alyssa continues Governor Winthrop Rockefeller’s collaborative approach to transformational change.

Alyssa joined the Institute after earning her Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service. During her graduate studies, she worked on education-focused projects with organizations such as the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership. Alyssa is passionate about education, social sciences, and expanding equitable opportunities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and French from Hendrix College.

Derrick M. Rainey serves as a Program Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, where he works with community partners, local leaders, pastors, congregations, and statewide organizations to strengthen civic health and support community‑centered initiatives. His work focuses on convening people around critical issues to inspire collaboration and meaningful change.

Derrick began working with the Institute in April 2025 as a contractor through the University of the Ozarks Townhall Collaborative grant. He transitioned into the Program Officer role in December 2025. His background includes extensive civic leadership experience as Mayor of Wrightsville, Arkansas, as well as deep involvement in youth development, public service, and community‑based program design. He has collaborated on initiatives addressing food security, municipal development, access to higher education, and regional leadership capacity.

A dedicated advocate for equitable opportunity and community empowerment, Derrick is committed to creating spaces where people can connect, learn, and lead change together.

Dr. Paramita Choudhury serves as a Program Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, where she designs and supports collaborative programs that bring together researchers, practitioners, and community leaders to address complex social policy challenges across Arkansas.

Paramita joined the Institute in January 2026. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Arkansas, where her research explored dietary health, equity, and social structures within the ancient Maya civilization. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking Arkansas trails, writing stories, and learning new languages. She believes that strong communities are built when people are heard, connected across differences, and empowered to shape solutions.

Maddlaine Scanlon serves as the Administrative Assistant to Programs at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. She joined the Institute in September 2024.

In her role, Maddlaine manages meeting and event scheduling, supports monthly financial coding, and performs data entry and other administrative tasks that ensure efficient program operations. Before joining the Institute, she worked as an Office Manager at Words of Peace Counseling, Inc., where she assisted with archival work and data management.

Maddlaine holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Arkansas Tech University.