University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) alumna Brenda Stallings, an attorney, educator and civic leader, was honored June 27 with the Irma Hunter Brown Women’s Leadership Award by the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus during its annual Kennedy King Gala.
Named in honor of the late Irma Hunter Brown, an AM&N graduate, civic leader, and political trailblazer, the award recognizes women whose leadership, service, and advocacy have created meaningful change in their communities, a distinction that reflects UAPB’s mission to prepare graduates who use their education to serve, lead, and expand opportunity in their communities.
Attorney Stallings received this prestigious honor for her decades of commitment to justice, public service, civic engagement, and the advancement of future generations.
As a licensed attorney for 30 years, she has dedicated her career to protecting the rights of underrepresented individuals.
She has also spent more than 16 years as an adjunct professor at the William H. Bowen School of Law and has provided statewide legal education through the Criminal Justice Institute.
Beyond the courtroom, Attorney Stallings is widely recognized for her leadership and community service.
As President of the Award-Winning UAPB/AM&N Pulaski County Alumni Chapter, she has helped lead scholarship initiatives that have raised more than $200,000 to support students pursuing higher education.
Her leadership extends across numerous civic and professional organizations, where she has championed educational opportunity, voter engagement, mentorship, and equal access to justice.
Attorney Brenda Stallings is the co-founder of The BellTower Scholarship, Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 2008 to expand educational opportunities for deserving UAPB students.
The BellTower Scholarship, Inc. has awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to students pursuing higher education. She believes that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and breaking generational barriers.
The scholarship has helped students realize their dreams of attending college, demonstrating her commitment to investing in future leaders and strengthening communities through educational access.
Attorney Stallings is equally passionate about mentoring the next generation and advocates for childhood literacy, regularly volunteering to read to elementary school students and emphasizing the importance of education, imagination, and lifelong learning.
Whether in a courtroom, a classroom, or an elementary school library, Attorney Stallings believes every child deserves to see successful leaders who look like them and to know that their dreams are within reach.
Her commitment to mentorship and literacy reflects her belief that leadership is measured not only by personal achievement but by the lives we inspire and the opportunities we create for others.
Attorney Brenda Stallings credits much of her leadership journey to the remarkable mentors who invested in her during her years at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
She is deeply grateful to Dr. Carolyn Blakely, Dr. Qumare Morehead, Dr. Dana Mazique, and Mrs. Mattie Collins for their guidance, encouragement, and unwavering belief in her potential.
Their mentorship helped shape the leader she is today and instilled in her a lifelong commitment to public service, education, and empowering others.
The Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus recognized Attorney Stallings for her steadfast commitment to opening doors for others, empowering future leaders, and leaving a legacy of service that reflects the enduring spirit of Irma Hunter Brown.
