Nicole Frey, president of the Arkansas State University System Foundation, Inc., has been selected to the 2026 list of “Top 100 Women of Arkansas” by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and Little Rock Soiréemagazine.
The initiative drew more than 400 nominations from across the state, and after months of vetting, the resulting list of honorees highlights some of Arkansas’ most exceptional leaders in their professions, industries and communities.
Frey joined the foundation in October 2022 as chief operating officer and became president in January 2023. The foundation, with $182.8 million in assets as of June 30, supports ASU System campuses through the development, procurement and stewardship of private gifts.
“The Top 100 Women of Arkansas is more than a recognition. It is a powerful reflection of the leadership, vision and service shaping our state’s future,” says Mandy Richardson, Little Rock Soirée publisher, Arkansas Business Publishing Group consumer division president and Soirée Women’s Leadership Symposium founder. “Little Rock Soirée is honored to partner with the WFA to celebrate women whose professional accomplishments are matched by their meaningful investments in their communities. As we publish this triennial project, we are proud to help preserve their stories, amplify their impact and inspire the next generation of Arkansas women to lead boldly.”
Honorees will be featured by the magazine in December.
“Women are not simply participating in Arkansas’ economy and communities, they are shaping them,” WFA CEO Anna Beth Gorman says. “The Top 100 Women of Arkansas gives us an opportunity to recognize the women whose leadership, ideas and influence are moving our state forward, often while creating opportunities for others along the way.
“At the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, we believe visibility matters. When we name and celebrate women’s impact, we help change the perception of who holds influence, who leads and who belongs at the tables where decisions are made. We are proud to partner with ABPG to tell these stories and to recognize 100 women who represent the extraordinary depth of women’s leadership across our state.”
A complete list of honorees can be found here.