Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced several leadership changes within her administration as preparations begin for the 2027 legislative session. The appointments place experienced public servants in new positions that will help guide legislative priorities, policy development, and public engagement in the Governor’s Office.
The governor named Josh Stewart as the new Director of Legislative Affairs, Zach Jacobs as Policy Director, and Heather Patterson as Director of Advance & Coalitions.
Governor Sanders said the appointments are intended to strengthen her administration as it continues pursuing its legislative goals.
“As we head into the 2027 legislative session, I want to add new talent to my team of smart, driven leaders who can help advance our conservative agenda and continue Arkansas’ record as a blueprint for reform for the entire country,” Sanders said. “Josh, Zach, and Heather have proven themselves through their service to our state, and I’m excited to have them take on these roles.”
Three officials take on expanded leadership roles
Josh Stewart moves into his new position after serving as a policy advisor in the Governor’s Office. During his time in that role, he focused on policy issues involving tourism, outdoor recreation, technology, and administrative rulemaking.
Among Stewart’s most notable accomplishments were helping secure the state’s acquisition of Blanchard Springs and assisting with the development of Arkansas’ first statewide rules governing artificial intelligence use in state government.
Originally born in Memphis, Tennessee, Stewart was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned a degree in Criminology from the University of Arkansas in 2021 before completing his law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law in 2024.
Meanwhile, Zach Jacobs will assume the role of Policy Director after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Arkansas Department of Education. In that position, he worked on education policy, executive leadership initiatives, and relationships with government agencies and outside organizations.
Before joining the Sanders administration, Jacobs served as Deputy Secretary of Education in Virginia under Governor Glenn Youngkin, helping shape statewide education policies and operational strategy.
His previous experience also includes overseeing state and federal government relations for the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, serving as a Senior Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill, and beginning his federal career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Congressional Relations under former Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
A native of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Jacobs is also a first-generation college graduate. He earned bachelor’s degrees in Agribusiness Management and National Security and Foreign Affairs from Virginia Tech, followed by a Master of Arts in Strategic Communications from Liberty University.
New addition joins Governor’s Office
Unlike Stewart and Jacobs, Heather Patterson joins the Governor’s Office after previously serving as Connection Director for Fellowship Bible Church.
In that position, Patterson coordinated and managed hundreds of volunteers while organizing large-scale events that welcomed as many as 6,000 attendees.
An Arkansas native who grew up in the northeastern part of the state, Patterson graduated from Arkansas State University in 2011 and later earned a degree from Liberty University in 2017. She now lives in Little Rock with her husband and their three daughters.
The personnel changes come as the Sanders administration begins preparing for another legislative session, with the newly appointed officials expected to play important roles in shaping policy, advancing legislative priorities, coordinating public outreach, and supporting the governor’s agenda in the months ahead.
