UADA’s new HR chief planning to hit the road to learn about statewide organization
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 27, 2025
Fast facts
- Williams joins UADA from UA-Little Rock
- Camden native sold on organization’s work
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LITTLE ROCK — LaTonda Williams, the new chief human resources officer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, will be seeing a lot of Arkansas over the next year or so.
Williams said her first priority is to learn as much as she can about the people and work of the Division of Agriculture — a far-flung organization that conducts land-grant research and outreach with offices in all 75 Arkansas counties.
She joined UADA in October after more than 18 years at UA-Little Rock, a single-campus sister entity in the UA System. After earning a bachelor’s in sociology from Henderson State, Williams went on to earn a master of public administration from UA-Little Rock and a graduate certificates in conflict mediation and management.
“She understands the UA System and has Workday experience and is extremely professional,” said Deacue Fields, vice-president-agriculture for the U of A System. “She has the skills we need to move forward.”
In her short time at the Division of Agriculture, Fields said that any time he asked something of Williams, “she responded and replied like she’s already been here instead of saying, ‘let me figure that out’,” he said. “She’s already proven she’s the right person to step in and not slow down.”
Williams said she plans to use the road tour to introduce herself and take account of employees’ needs in each of the 75 county offices.
“It may take me a year, but I’m excited to learn how those offices and the experiment station facilities play into the larger picture,” Williams said.
Williams said her experience during the interview process at the Division of Agriculture made a big impression.
“When I applied, I didn’t know much about the Division of Agriculture, but through the interview process, I was learning more and more,” she said. At a meeting in Fayetteville with John Anderson, head of the Cooperative Extension Service, and Jean-Francois Meullenet, head of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, each talked about the impact of the division’s outreach and research missions.
“They shared all of what they do, and I was sold at that point,” Williams said. “All the work being done for people in the communities and how they had representation in every county. This was more than just a good move for me professionally.”
Training is key
In her new position, Williams wants employees to understand professional expectations and know that HR is truly a partner in employee professional development.
“Those expectations need to be clearly communicated,” she said. “Sometimes, giving them a sheet of paper doesn’t do it; or just giving them a policy might not resonate, so training is really important."
For employees, this kind of professional development “is showing the investment that we have in them,” Williams said.
Ag touchstones
Williams, from Camden, has a couple of connections to agriculture. As a child, “I spent summers with my grandparents at their farm, riding horses,” she said.
Later in life, she was connected to ag through horticulture.
“By trade, I'm a florist,” she said, adding that she worked at some local florists before moving onto another profession. Her work as a florist has given her a great appreciation of the garden beds outside her window at the Little Rock State Office. “What a beautiful sight!” she said.
Even with her 75-county-tour ambitions, Williams said “I’m a homebody.”
She enjoys interior design, absorbing ideas and inspiration from videos, and has a soft spot for HomeGoods.
Williams also loves movies — natural disaster movies. Her current favorite is a documentary on Hurricane Katrina.
However, “I don’t like horror movies, so Halloween is not my time of year,” she said.
Williams is married and has a grown daughter living in Seattle. She often makes the trip to Camden to check on her parents and is particularly eager to start their Christmas decorations.
“The whole family is big on Christmas. A lot of Christmas decorations, and cookies and treats and desserts, all of that,” she said. “We love spending time with family.”
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu