Anna Powell named to UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Board of Advisors
The new members, who will serve three three-year terms that run through May 2034, are Anna Lee Powell, Bobbi McDaniel, Denny Sumpter and Mary Ashleigh Harper. Ray Dillon rejoins the board after serving from 2014 to 2024. These five individuals will join the 32-member board, led by Hatim Smouni, who serves as the board’s chair.
“These accomplished leaders bring a wealth of experience, perspective and passion that will strengthen our mission to advance cancer research, screening, prevention and patient care across Arkansas,” said Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.
Anna Lee Powell of Hope is a community development and nonprofit leader who currently serves as president of Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation and the Southwest Arkansas Development Alliance. She also serves on the Arkansas Economic Development Board. A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, Powell holds a degree in political science. She is a graduate of Leadership Texarkana and is a Four States Living 40 Under 40 honoree.
Bobbi McDaniel of Little Rock is director of development at Camp Aldersgate Inc., and serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Arkansas Chapter. She is a past board member of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Women and Children First, the Arkansas Repertory Theater and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. McDaniel received the Domestic Peace Award from the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence and was named to Arkansas, Money & Politics 2025 50 Over 50 Class. McDaniel is a graduate of the University of North Georgia.
Denny Sumpter of West Memphis is principal attorney of Sumpter Law Firm, PLLC. He represented Crittenden County in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2003-2009, where he served on the House Committee on Public Health and supported the establishment of UAMS as a Level 1 Trauma Center. Sumpter earned degrees from Arkansas State University and the University of Memphis School of Law.
Mary Ashleigh Harper of Lake Village and Little Rock is an administrator in the office of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, managing daily operations of the Governor’s Mansion. She previously served as program director for the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership and worked on the staffs of Arkansas First Lady Susan Hutchinson and the 2014 French Hill for Arkansas congressional campaign. Harper earned degrees from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Ray Dillon of Little Rock is former president and CEO of Deltic Timber, a role he held for 13 years. His extensive career in the paper and forest products industry included executive roles at Gaylord Container Corporation and its predecessor, Crown Zellerbach. Dillon is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where he studied chemical engineering. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago. He and his wife, Deborah, are members of the University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Society.
