Commission Team Members

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced her intention to nominate Jacob Oliva, a key education leader for Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida, as the Secretary of the Department of Education, and that she intends to work in partnership with the State Board of Education to appoint him to serve in a dual role as the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“Education is the foundation for success, and, with my nominee for Secretary of Education and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Jacob Oliva, we are ready to transform Arkansas education with bold reforms that will empower every kid to succeed,” Sanders said. “Jacob’s proven success increasing student achievement and his experience serving in many educational roles will make him an asset to my administration. Through my Arkansas LEARNS plan, we will expand access to quality education for every kid growing up in our state, empower parents, not government bureaucrats, and prepare students for the workforce, not government dependency, so everyone has a shot at a better life right here in Arkansas.”

“Governor-elect Sanders has the right vision to unleash Arkansas education, and I’m excited to get to work on day one to enact it,” Oliva said. “Education is the key to the future, creating opportunity for all, which is why I’ve spent my career implementing successful early learning programs, empowering parents with choices, and investing in career readiness. I am ready to continue that work here in Arkansas and look forward to working with Governor-elect Sanders to build a bright future for our students.”

Mr. DuShun L. Scarbrough, Sr. is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, who was educated in the Little Rock School District. At the young age of fifteen, Mr. Scarbrough began his community involvement in a youth speak-out conference entitled “Death of a Race”. Thereafter, he continued his zealous quest by participating in youth seminars and preventive programs. Reared by his grandmother and aunts, it was instilled in him that he could achieve anything, if he kept God first. After graduating from high school he went on to acquire a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Philander Smith College. During his studies at Philander Smith College, he was a recipient of the JTPA Scholarship. Eager to acquire an astute blend of practical and theoretical skills, Mr. Scarbrough left Little Rock in 1999 to further his edification, desiring to one day return to Little Rock and continue serving his community.

Mr. Scarbrough currently holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Webster University in Orlando, Florida, a Master of Counselor Education Degree from Florida A&M University, has completed Kingian Nonviolence Certification in Practice, Teaching and Education from The King Center in Atlanta, GA and he has completed his certification from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education Program in their “Driving Government Performance” course and Leaders of the 2lst Century. He also holds a Juris Doctorate from the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School.

As the Executive Director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, Mr. Scarbrough’s goal is to cooperatively strive to keep Commissioners informed of staff progress and community unification, in accordance with the views of the Governor of the state of Arkansas. Mr. Scarbrough believes in the organization’s mission and vision of promoting racial harmony, multicultural diversity, and social justice for the improvement and equality of all Arkansans. 

In addition, Arkansans had the opportunity to witness history twice as the King Commission sponsored bus trips to Washington, D. C. to witness the inauguration of our forty-fourth President, Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and sponsored its own inaugural ball for attendees. He has also enriched the programming department of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission by  establishing groundbreaking programs and initiatives for youth across the state of Arkansas.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders makes history as Arkansas’ first female Governor. Governor Huckabee Sanders has previously worked in leadership roles for U.S. Senators, Governors, and presidential campaigns. In Arkansas, Governor Huckabee Sanders was a senior advisor to Senator Tom Cotton in 2014 when he defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Pryor, and was campaign manager for Senator John Boozman in 2010 when he defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln. In 2007 and 2008, Governor Huckabee Sanders helped lead her father, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, to victory in the Iowa Caucuses and seven other states as his national political director.

Governor Huckabee Sanders served in the Department of Education during President George W. Bush‘s administration, and was campaign manager of the ONE campaign, a global non-profit founded by U2’s Bono to take action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa.Governor Huckabee Sanders has been recognized in Fortune and TIME Magazine’s “40 under 40.”

She is the author of the New York Times bestseller “Speaking for Myself,”a former Fox News contributor, and serves on the Fulbright board.She grew up in Pine Bluff and Texarkana, and is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High and Ouachita Baptist University. Not only is she the Governor but the wife of the first gentleman, Bryan, and mother of their children Scarlett, Huck, and George, and their golden retriever, Traveler.