Anna Beth Gorman has committed her to professional life to public service with a specialized focus on advancing the status of girls and women in our society. Anna Beth became the Executive Director of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas in April of 2016. Prior to taking on this role, she served as Chief Membership, Volunteer, Program Officer, Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
A student of nonprofit and organizational management she has worked to bring forward business professionalism and acumen to the mission focused nonprofit arena. She believes that a great mission needs a great business plan to deliver on its value proposition. With passion and commitment coupled with effective strategic planning Anna Beth led the efforts of membership, volunteer, and program enhancement to the Girl Scout program post the realignment of 5 Girl Scout councils in the state of Arkansas. With a strong belief that inclusiveness, integrity, and capacity building through strong relationships and partnerships are essential to any organization’s success, Anna Beth grew in her leadership roles within the Girl Scout organization.
In her tenure with the Women’s Foundation she is leading the effort for the Foundation to be the leading equity partner in building women’s economic security. The Foundation has two signature initiatives, Girls of Promise and Women Empowered. Girls of Promise focus of work is ensuring that girls in Arkansas are being introduced, nurtured, and supported in pursuing education and career paths in emerging occupations focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. The goal of Women Empowered is to strengthen the economic worth and well-being of women in Arkansas.
Anna Beth was chosen as one of the 2017 Women to Watch in Little Rock’s Soiree Magazine, and a finalist for Arkansas Business 30th Annual Business of the Year Awards, Nonprofit Executive of the Year. She regularly speaks to civic groups, public, and private organizations on the benefits of strategically including women in the economic development of our overall state. She represents the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas as member of Arkansas Impact Philanthropy Cohort, and a part of the Core Team for The Network for Southern Mobility – Little Rock co-hort.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, Master of Public Administration, and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from University of Arkansas Little Rock. Anna Beth began her professional career in public service, working for the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs and then transitioned into the nonprofit arena. She is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of the USA and a Gold Award Recipient. She is the 2013-2014 recipient of the UALR Public Administration Alumni Scholarship and a 2014 inductee into the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society.
Anna Beth is an active member of the Junior League of Little Rock, currently serving as Chair, JLLR Boardwalk. She is a proud alumna, active volunteer, and committed proponent of the Texas Bluebonnet Girls State Program, which encourages through civic education engaged citizen participation in the community in which you live. She is an active member of Rotary, Club 99, is a member of Class XXXII of Leadership Greater Little Rock, Board Member, Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame, Board Member, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. She is the Assistant Den Leader for her son’s Cub Scout Den.
Anna Beth is proud to lead the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, whose mission to engage our community to promote women and girls in Arkansas so they can realize their full potential. When women and girls succeed in our state, the overall state is a better place.
Anna Beth, her husband, and their son live in North Little Rock.
