Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Governor, State of Arkansas
About me: I am the 47th governor of Arkansas. Inaugurated on Jan. 10, 2023, I am the first woman to serve as governor of the state and currently am the youngest governor in the country.
Prior to my historic victory, I served as White House press secretary for President Donald J. Trump from 2017 to 2019. I was only the third woman — and the very first mom — to ever hold the job of White House press secretary.
I grew up in Pine Bluff and Texarkana and am a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High and Ouachita Baptist University. I live in Little Rock with my husband Bryan, our children Scarlett, Huck and George and our golden retriever Traveler.
Lives in: Little Rock • Works: Statewide
Best Career Advice: The best advice I’ve ever received was from my dad, who told me to always be myself and never try to be anyone other than who God created me to be. Never let the world define you because our creator has already done that, and nobody can do it better.
Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Being a working mom is tough, but it makes me a lot better at my job. Very little is more humbling or rewarding than being a parent.
Call to Action: There are around 4,100 children in foster care in Arkansas, but not nearly enough families to provide sufficient care. Despite the love and care of so many wonderful foster families, children in our foster system are still at a heightened risk of homelessness, human trafficking and incarceration. I’ve worked to improve our state’s foster care system, but we still need more families. A generous, welcoming family can literally change the life of a child.
What Keeps Me Motivated: Knowing that every decision I make as governor impacts my kids and every kid growing up in Arkansas. I’m not satisfied with the status quo because I know we can do better, and our kids deserve better.
TOP 100 WOMEN OF IMPACT IN ARKANSAS 2023
A Women’s Foundation of Arkansas Initiative