Led by Janet Harris, the Institute staff is made up of people with diverse professional backgrounds that fulfill the many unique roles an organization like ours requires.
We are united in our desire to continue Winthrop Rockefeller’s collaborative approach to transformational change and apply the Rockefeller Ethic to our everyday work together. Check out open positions here.
Senior Team

Janet Harris
Executive Director/CEOjharris@rockefellerinstitute.orgJanet Harris serves as the Institute’s Executive Director and CEO. She is a curious and determined leader with a passion for facilitating thoughtful conversations that lead to collaborative action and impact. She was chosen to lead the Institute in 2022 and has been with the organization since 2016 when she was tapped to help build the Institute’s programs and bring clarity to the organization’s mission and method.
Janet is a trained facilitator and experienced leader, public speaker, and connector who is passionate about helping others create transformational change. Her achievements include aligning Institute operations to the mission, building staff capacity in professional meeting design, facilitating impactful dialogue and deliberation, and creating educational programs that draw on Winthrop Rockefeller’s legacy, including the Institute’s Walks with the Governor workshop. Harris speaks to groups frequently on the history and legacy of Gov. Rockefeller, telling his story to inspire leadership growth in others.
Janet earned her bachelor’s degree while playing varsity basketball for the University of Central Arkansas Sugarbears. While working full-time, Janet completed her Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Arkansas Little Rock. She went on to work for the City of Little Rock, and then to serve in senior leadership roles in three state executive offices, including eight years as Arkansas Deputy Secretary of State.
Janet enjoys leading by asking questions and inspiring action through storytelling. A lifelong learner, she 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, where she serves on the Dean’s advisory board for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She is a graduate of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Leadership Arkansas Class XI and was named UCA Political Science Distinguished Alumna in 2016.

Carder Hawkins
Chief Strategy Officerchawkins@rockefellerinstitute.org(501) 727-6288As chief strategy officer, Carder Hawkins is responsible for developing, executing, communicating, and sustaining strategic initiatives that support the mission of the Institute.
Hawkins comes to the Institute following a 20-year career in state government, which began with serving in the Arkansas Secretary of State’s elections division for more than eight years. He also served as the Arkansas Insurance Department’s chief information officer and as deputy director for the Arkansas Department of Information Systems — a position that oversaw the department’s human resources, legislative affairs, fiscal, procurement, security, enterprise architecture, and IT planning teams. Most recently, Hawkins served as the chief information officer for the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services.
Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis in international relations from the University of Central Arkansas. He was also part of the university’s inaugural Community Development Masters class and completed a master’s degree in community development while working full-time at the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office.

Shawn Cathey
Chief Financial Officerscathey@rockefellerinstitute.org(501) 727-6218Shawn Cathey serves as the chief financial officer for the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, providing leadership for all financial matters.
Prior to joining the Institute, Cathey held the position of 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 focuses on adding new and enhanced systems processes to Winrock projects, enhanced project reporting, invoicing and project finance staff development. Cathey is a certified public accountant. Prior to joining Winrock, he held various accounting and management positions in rural healthcare.
Cathey holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas Tech University.

James Hopper
Director of Developmentjhopper@rockefellerinstitute.org(501) 727-6220Before taking over leadership of the Institute’s development efforts, Hopper served as director of programs since joining the Institute in 2020. During his tenure, the Institute engaged in a wide variety of areas, including community and economic development, fostering cross-campus research collaboration, rural health, corrections reform, education reform, and civic engagement.
Specific achievements include pioneering hybrid and virtual convening services that allowed the Institute to continue advancing our mission during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating the Education department, expanding the Institute’s ability to teach the Rockefeller Ethic on and off-site, cultivating new partnerships, expanding externally funded programmatic work, and creating a foundation for future success by focusing on staff development and formalizing a structure for our long-term facilitation work.
Hopper serves as a board member for the Arkansas Chapter of the New Leaders Council and the University of Central Arkansas’s Community Development Institute’s Alumni Advisory board. James is an alumnus of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Arkansas, Class XVI. He holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from Harding University, a master of science in school psychology from UCA, and a graduate certificate in fundraising management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Supporting Teams













Jeanice Robinson
Hospitality Supervisor of Front Deskjrobinson@rockefellerinstitute.org(501) 727-6261

Kenzie Stone | Food Service Assistant Manager |
Jacob LeMaster | Chef |
Aaron Sage | Chef |
Jessica Warren | Lead Cook |
Joyce Brand | Prep Cook |
Katelyn Lemley | Prep Cook |
Dustin Price | Dishwasher |
Linda Pitts | Senior Hospitality Associate |
Tena Collins | Hospitality Associate |
Diana Hardin | Hospitality Associate |
AJ Harris | Hospitality Associate |
Kaitlyn Harper | Hospitality Associate |
Winton Wagner | Hospitality Associate |
Melissa Stowers | Housekeeper |
Danielle George | Housekeeper |
Kevin Carlon | Housekeeper |
Robyn Satterfield | Housekeeper |
Lisa Simmons | Housekeeper |
Cheyanne Parish | Front Desk |
Devin Auvil | Front Desk |
Lilly Clayton | Front Desk |
Mary Mulloy | Front Desk |
James Johnson | Front Desk |







Carl Pitts | Master Electrician |
Andy Rohlman | Master Plumber |
Matthew Rager | Wastewater Operator |
Timothy Pearson | Carpenter |
Tracy Jones | Painter |
Clay Cooper | Groundskeeper |
Jimmy Tindell | Groundskeeper |
John Tindell | Groundskeeper |
William Tindell | Groundskeeper |

Julia Dossett Morgan
Director of Marketing & Communicationjmorgan@rockefellerinstitute.org(501) 727-6226


Payton Christenberry
Associate Director of Programspchristenberry@rockefellerinstitute.org(501) 727-6255


