Lottie Shackelford
Lottie Shackelford has been a prominent figure in Arkansas politics. A dedicated Democrat, Shackelford is well known for being named to the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation by Bill Clinton in 1993. Her appointment was notable in that it made her the first African American woman to fill this position. Shackelford had previously supported Clinton by serving as the Deputy Campaign Manager of Clinton for President between February 1992 and November 1992. She was also the Co-Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Clinton/Gore presidential transition team from November 1992 to March 1993.
Before her start in politics, Shackelford attended Philander Smith College, where she graduated with honors. After receiving her degree in Business Administration, she studied at the Arkansas Institute of Politics and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
It was in 1978 that Shackelford joined the City of Little Rock Board of Directors. In 1987 she became the first woman to be elected mayor of Little Rock. During this time, Shackelford had been the Executive Director of the Arkansas Regional Minority Purchasing Council, a position she held from February 1982 to January 1992. She has done many things for Arkansas, including serving as a Chair of the Arkansas Democratic State Committee and as a delegate to the l980,'84,'88,'92, '96, 2000 and '04 Democratic National Conventions. She has also worked on the Board of Commissioners for the Little Rock National Airport.
Apart from the Arkansas political scene, Shackelford has also served on numerous committees around the United States. She has been a former director of Philander Smith College and the Chapman Funds in Baltimore, Maryland. Currently she is active as the director of the Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation in Scottsdale, Arizona as well as a continuing to serve as a Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
