Jonesboro – The Arkansas State University Alumni Association and Student Philanthropy Council announced the 2026 Emerging Young Alumni (EYA) award recipients, a program now in its eighth year that celebrates recent graduates who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement, leadership, philanthropy and community service.
Award ceremony details
The four honorees will be celebrated at a luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, in the Cooper Alumni Center at 2600 Alumni Blvd. Residents who wish to attend may RSVP by Oct. 1 at AStateAlumni.org/EYA26.
Dr. Morgan Benefield – health and athletics
Dr. Morgan Benefield earned her bachelor’s degree from A‑State in 2014 and her Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2018. After completing a family medicine residency and a sports‑medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama, she served as chief resident and later became the first director of women’s sports medicine at the university, also acting as team physician for Crimson Tide athletics.
Returning to Northeast Arkansas, Dr. Benefield joined Jonesboro Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, where she provides comprehensive sports‑medicine and musculoskeletal care. She also serves as team physician for Arkansas State University and several local high schools, advocating for athlete health and safety while delivering compassionate, evidence‑based care to patients of all ages.
Erica McKay Huffstetler – nonprofit leadership
Erica McKay Huffstetler graduated with a B.S. in health promotion from A‑State in 2012. She now works as marketing, fundraising and grants coordinator for TLC – The Learning Center of Northeast Arkansas, where she leads development initiatives that support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, expanding opportunities for independence and inclusion.
Huffstetler was named the 2025 Goodwill Ambassador of the Year by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce and chairs the Chamber’s A‑State Committee. Her volunteer service includes the United Way of Northeast Arkansas, Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro, Leadership Jonesboro, Leadership Paragould and Project CARE, reflecting a deep commitment to strengthening the region through service and collaboration. A former member of the A‑State dance team, she continues to support her alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach for the Red Wolves Dancers.
Robert Morris – philanthropy and public health
Robert Morris, a Sherwood native, earned a B.S. in strategic communication from A‑State in 2018 and dual master’s degrees in public service and public health from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and UAMS in 2020.
He now serves as associate director of donor experience at UAMS, overseeing a mid‑level donor program that has generated more than $7 million in philanthropic revenue. Morris has personally secured roughly $1 million in major and planned gifts and has presented nationally on innovative donor engagement and fundraising strategy. His service has been recognized with the R.E. Lee Wilson Award, the Distinguished Service Award and induction into the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. He remains active with A‑State as a 1924 Sustaining Life Member of the Alumni Association and as a member of the Student Honors Awards Committee.
Joshua Mullinax – agricultural advocacy
Joshua Mullinax serves as the state agriculture liaison and Northeast Arkansas field representative for U.S. Sen. John Boozman. In this role he works closely with farmers, ranchers, agribusiness leaders, rural communities and local governments throughout the region.
A native of the Arkansas Delta, Mullinax earned a B.S. in agricultural business from A‑State in 2019 and an MBA from the university in 2024. Prior to joining Sen. Boozman’s staff, he gained leadership experience in banking and private‑business management, developing expertise in agriculture, business operations and rural economic development.
Through his work, Mullinax advocates for Arkansas agriculture, assists constituents in navigating federal agencies and helps address issues affecting one of the state’s most important industries. His reputation for service, collaboration and leadership has made him a trusted voice for producers and community leaders across Northeast Arkansas.
The Emerging Young Alumni awards underscore the impact that recent A‑State graduates are having in health, nonprofit service, philanthropy and agriculture, reinforcing the university’s role as a catalyst for community strength and family well‑being.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
