Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has appointed Andrea Lea of Russellville to a five-year term on the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees.
Lea succeeds Bill Clary of Conway, who completed his five-year term on the ATU Board of Trustees on Jan. 14, 2026. Clary served as chair of the ATU Board of Trustees during the 2025 calendar year.
Lea’s five-year term will expire on Jan. 14, 2031.
“Mrs. Lea has a significant track record of commitment to and care for her alma mater,” said Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president. “She is a dedicated public servant, and we look forward to working with her for the betterment of Arkansas Tech. We also express our appreciation to Mr. Clary for his five years of service and his outstanding stewardship of Arkansas Tech in the role of trustee.”
Lea graduated from Arkansas Tech in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in emergency administration and management.
In 2014, she was elected the 40th auditor of the State of Arkansas. She was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2018 and served until January 2023.
As auditor, Lea worked as the state’s general accountant, administrator of the Arkansas Unclaimed Property Act and payroll officer for more than 600 elected officials and their employees. She partnered with businesses and used technology to improve the way unclaimed property was reported to the state and returned to the rightful owners through the Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt.
Lea also served on the Pope County Quorum Court, the Russellville City Council and three terms in the Arkansas General Assembly before being elected auditor of state, one of seven constitutional offices in the State of Arkansas.
She has served as a regular guest speaker in ATU Department of History and Political Science classes, and during her eight years as state auditor she frequently hosted ATU students, faculty, staff and alumni when they visited the State Capitol.
Lea was elected to the ATU Hall of Distinction under the Distinguished Alumni Service category in 2022.
The other members of the ATU Board of Trustees for 2026 are Stephanie Duffield of Russellville (chair), Cory Cox of Perryville (vice chair), Jim Smith of Bentonville (secretary) and Len Cotton of Dardanelle.
