AARP Arkansas Announces New State Director

AARP has appointed Ashley McBride as the new AARP Arkansas State Director. McBride, who has extensive experience in the nonprofit field, will lead the state office in its mission to tackle issues important to the 50-plus population.

 “Ashley is a strategist and change agent,” said Sam Wilson, Regional Vice President, Central Region of AARP. “She has successfully led employees, sustained business operations, and managed state and federal grants and programs in non-profit, higher education, and corporate sectors across the United States for 12 years. We are very excited that she has joined AARP and look forward to her strong leadership in the Arkansas office.”

McBride previously served as the Director of Education at the American Indian Center of Arkansas. In this role, she created a digital platform and established the Accessing Choices in Education (ACE) program. Her efforts were recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and her program was ranked as one of the top five ACE programs in the nation.

While employed as the Director of Mission and Education at Susan G. Komen - Arkansas Affiliate, McBride traveled across the states of Arkansas and Texas to educate and increase awareness about breast cancer.

McBride has also served as an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at New Life College, Arkansas Baptist College, Grambling State University, and led the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program at the University of Colorado – Denver.

A native of Little Rock, McBride earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish/Pre-medicine from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus. Her scientific research focused on neurological diseases and their effects on the human body, specifically Alzheimer’s disease.

McBride’s philanthropic efforts include organizing grassroots campaigns and providing access to competitive careers through college preparation, trades, certifications, and skill development for the 50-plus community. She serves as a board member and Alzheimer’s disease educator for the Wise With Words Geriatric Consulting and Training Organization. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

 

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AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.