The Arkansas Research Alliance recently announced that Douglas Hutchings has joined ARA as director of the ARA Academy of Scholars & Fellows. Hutchings is a well-known and respected innovator, entrepreneur and collaborative research leader with extensive experience launching start-up companies. Hutchings was also a founding board member of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association.

“The growth and maturity of the ARA Academy made it clear that someone of Douglas’ talent and experience was needed to accelerate the impact of the Academy,” said Jerry Adams, president and CEO of ARA. “I have known Douglas for many years, and I am very excited with his addition to the ARA team – he will make an immediate and long-term difference in ARA’s ability to leverage university research to improve the economic future of Arkansas and our nation.”

The ARA Academy was founded in 2016 and is comprised of ARA Fellows and Scholars from the state’s five major research universities (University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), plus the U.S. FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR).

Since its inception, the ARA Academy has expanded to nearly 30 members, bringing together many of the state’s top researchers for collaboration and idea-sharing.

Founded in 2008, ARA is a 501(c)3 organization governed by a board of trustees comprised of chancellors from Arkansas research universities and chief executives from companies across the state. The Arkansas Research Alliance (ARA) is dedicated to elevating the fundamental belief that research matters. Operating as a public-private partnership, ARA invests in research that stimulates innovation, encourages collaboration and strengthens economic opportunity in areas in which Arkansas possesses core competency.