Our People | The Academy For Publ

Meet the Academy

Get acquainted with the student legislators volunteering their time for The Academy of Public Service, or click the buton to learn about our founder.

Jump to Our Founder

Director of Digital Communications

Jack McAfee

Jack McAfee served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the inaugural session of the Academy's Collegiate Model Government program.

McAfee is currently serving as the Academy's Director of Social Media while he attends George Mason University for his bachelor's degree.

Model Government positions held: Speaker of the House (2022, 2023,) Chief of Staff to Speaker (2024.)

Director of Communications

Naomi Polanski

Naomi Polanski served as the Chair of Administration and Communications in the 2022-2023 session of the Academy's Collegiate Model Government Program.

Polanski is currently serving as the Academy's Director of Communications while attending Kenyon College for her bachelor's degree.

Model Government positions held: As. Speaker Pro-Tem (2022, 2023,) Chair of House Administration and Communications (2023,) Speaker of the House (2024.)

Assistant Director of Communications

Blake Covert

Blake Covert served as Speaker Pro-Tempore of the House of Representatives in the first two years of the Academy's Collegiate Model Government program.

Covert is currently serving as Assistant Director of Communications while attending Bowdoin College for his bachelor's degree.

Model Government positions held: Speaker Pro-Tempore (2022, 2023, 2024.)

Director of Innovation and Research

Luke Beck

Luke Beck served as an As. Speaker Pro-Tem in the inaugural session of the Academy's Collegiate Model Government program. He has chaired various model committees concerning finance, technology, and small business.

Currently, he is the Director of Innovation and Research, focusing on incorporating modern technology into the legislative process and helping members draft legislation.

Model Government positions held: As. Speaker Pro-Tem (2022,) Legislative Director (2024.)

Digital Press Assistant, Recruitment Assistant

Kendall Cloar

Kendall Cloar served as an As. Speaker Pro-Tem for the first two years of the Academy's Collegiate Model Government program.

Cloar currently serves as Social Media Manager for the Academy and Recruitment Assistant to Romerse Biddle while attending Little Rock Central High School.

Model Government positions held: As. Speaker Pro-Tem (2022, 2023.)

Digital Press Assistant

Manvitha Narasimhan

Manvitha Narsimhan joined the Academy in 2023. She works for the Academy Newsletter, The Student Leader, and serves on House Leadership.

Narasimhan currently serves as a Digital Press Assistant, aiding in the management of Academy social media.

Model Government positions held: As. Speaker Pro-Tem (2024.)

Editor-in-Chief of The Student Leader

Luis Maya

Senior Reporter for The Student Leader

Rhealynn Schmidt

Senior Reporter for The Student Leader

Miles Batson

Reporter for The Student Leader

Manvitha Narasimhan

Reporter for The Student Leader

Brodie Goodwin

Reporter for The Student Leader

Bhuvi Gopisetty

The Founder

Romerse Biddle

Romerse Biddle founded The Academy for Public Service to educate the rising generation of public servants in the areas of public leadership and ethics.

"Our nation needs to teach the next generation of public servants how to maintain our democracy."

Biddle has associate degrees in the Study of the Arts, Social Science, Government, and History from Texarkana College (2010). Biddle has a bachelor's degree in political science from Southern Arkansas University (2012). Biddle also has a master's degree in public service with emphasis on Public Policy from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service (2016.) Biddle has been an educator since 2016, has interned for Gov. Mike Beebe, worked for former AR State Senator Steve Harrelson and former AR State Representative David Fielding.

Board of Directors

Chairman Dr. Roger Guevara | Assistant Professor of Ed Leadership and Director of Education Renewal Zone at Southern Arkansas University (Magnolia, AR).

Vice Chairman Sergio Mora | Frontera Radio (Laredo, TX).

Treasurer Grant Tennille | Economic advisor to Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.; Former Chief Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Former Deputy Chief of Staff to Former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe (Little Rock, AR ).

John Delk | Attorney (Texarkana, TX)

Davy Carter | Regional President for Centennial Bank, Federal Reserve Memphis Branch Director, Former Arkansas Speaker of the House of Representatives (Jonesboro, AR).

Monte Hodges | Former Arkansas State Representative, Vice President of Commercial Lending at Southern Bancorp (Blytheville, AR).

Joyce Elliott | Former Arkansas State Senator, Founder of Get Loud Arkansas, retired educator (Little Rock, AR).

Miles Goggans | Arkansas recognized his family property as the state’s Tree Farm of the Year in 2023. The Private Lands Partnership named Goggans the 2014 Stewardship Landowner of the Year. President of Goggans Inc (Stuttgart, AR)

Jay Maguire | Founder of Parents and Alumni for Student Safety. Faculty advisor at the Univ. of Texas Zeta Psi and is Principal at Maguire Strategies (Austin, TX).

Dr. Kim Hoffman | Director and Professor of Public Administration at the University of Central Arkansas (Little Rock, AR)