Greg Holland, PhD

Research Director

Greg joined ARC in 2009 and designed the initial ARC statewide longitudinal data system. He serves as research director, leading data integration and analysis efforts for ARC projects and stakeholders. Greg complements his career at ARC with experience gained from twelve years working with data corporations in Arkansas prior to 2009 and a doctorate in information quality completed in 2010.

Sarah Argue, PhD

Managing Director

Sarah serves as ARC’s Early Childhood Education specialist, working closely with the Department of Human Services Division of Child Care and Early Childcare Education. As a classroom teacher, Sarah saw first-hand the importance of early learning and providing a solid academic foundation for students. She uses her teaching experience and use of data driven decision making to develop research questions that will provide useful information to early childhood teachers as they strengthen and expand their instruction.

Ellie Wheeler Hill, MA Economics

EDI Project Director

Ellie serves as the project director for the Early Development Instrument (EDI) Project. Authorized by DHS to coordinate with UCLA in California, the Arkansas project will be the first state-wide implementation of the EDI process in the nation. Ellie joined ARC in 2021, bringing experience as senior policy analyst and in prior data analysis roles to lead the EDI efforts for the state.

You may contact Ellie at 512-415-2262 or ellie.hill@arkansas.gov

Emily Smith, MPS Public Service, BA

Community Engagement Specialist

Emily serves as a Community Engagement Specialist at the Arkansas Research Center, where she leads data literacy efforts, coordinates implementation of the Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CHEQ), and supports the statewide Early Development Instrument (EDI) initiative. Her work focuses on equipping stakeholders with tools and processes to translate data into action.

She holds degrees from the Clinton School of Public Service and Hendrix College and previously worked with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.

You may contact Emily at 501-574-1259 or emily.l.smith@arkansas.gov

Collaborators

Jake Walker, PhD

Jake served as ARC Project Director from 2010-2021 and now collaborates with ARC for data analysis and research. Jake has been responsible for developing research methodologies as well as the statistical analyses to use in ARC research studies, particularly in Arkansas workforce services and education for the workforce at all levels.

Matt Jeffery

Matt served as ARC's Senior Software Engineer from 2011-2021. For nearly a decade, Matt built and led the ARC development team. He continues to be responsible for developing and maintaining all technical assets at ARC. His experience includes the development and deployment of ARC's original SLDS, web sites like arc.arkansas.gov and quicklooks.arkansas.gov, as well as all DevOps and system administration.

Origins of the Arkansas Research Center

The Arkansas Research Center was created to design and build the initial Arkansas Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS). A grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the Arkansas Department of Education established ARC at the University of Central Arkansas in 2009. Additional grants from both the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor sustained ARC through 2018. Multiple contracts with Arkansas state agencies have sustained ARC and continue to focus research and development resources on stakeholder priorities and community engagement.

Arkansas Statewide Longitudinal Data System

Established at UCA by two U.S. Department of Education grants in 2009
Further expanded by two U.S. Department of Labor grants 2012-2018
Nationally recognized for leadership in individual data privacy
Provides technical and data services to multiple Arkansas state agencies

For more information, visit our Research page.