Meet Your Officers!
Executive Team 2023-2024
This group of high-achieving pre-medical students will serve as official leaders for AED this year. Members are welcome to contact premed@uark.edu for general questions of which an officer will answer. Though, if you have questions relevant to a particular chair, we welcome you to contact any of these students to be of assistance.
Erin Burney
AED President
Hi everyone! My name is Erin Burney. I am an Honors Senior majoring in Nursing while on the pre-medical track. I am from a small town in NWA called Winslow, AR where I spend lots of time with my big family. Outside of AED, I am the President of the Neuroscience Organization and the Treasurer of Active Neuro. I'm not sure what kind of doctor I want to become yet, but for a long time it was neurosurgery! Now, I am interested in emergency medicine, stroke neurology, and pediatrics. With my spare time, I enjoy volunteering for the EMPOWER program on campus, working in Dr. Kumar's Biochemistry Lab, catching up with friends, and studying at local coffee shops. Contact me anytime with questions, event ideas, guest speakers you'd like to share, or just to say hi :)
479-841-0634
Grant Holland
AED Treasurer
Hello! I am a junior biology major from Rogers, Arkansas. Outside of AED, I am the Vice President of the Pre-Health Professions association, and I am involved in multiple other RSOs on campus. In my free time, I enjoy playing pickleball, going to Bud Walton for basketball games, and running. A fun fact about me is that I have had white eyelashes since I was three years old! Throughout undergrad, I’ve been able to shadow multiple orthopedic surgeons and find it to be very engaging. Please feel free to reach out if you ever need anything, I look forward to meeting you all!
479-381-4103
Ashton Arlen
AED Historian
Hi everyone! My name is Ashton Arlen and I am from Dallas, TX. I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Biology and Medical Humanities. Outside of AED, I am President of Women in Medicine and I am also involved in Student Ambassadors, Alpha Omicron Pi, Global Medical Brigades, and as an EMPOWER Academic Peer Mentor. I am currently an intern at UAMS Community Health and Research and I am also a Undergraduate Assistant in Dr. Elbin's Concussion Research Lab. I love animals, especially dogs and I am always down to try new coffee shops and places to eat! I am very extroverted and social and love to meet new people! Feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions or just want to get coffee!:)
214-417-8403
Lane LaRoche
AED Peer Mentor Chair
I am a junior at the University of Arkansas, a biology major, pursuing a minor in medical humanities and psychology. I am also a member of the honors college and serve as an honors college ambassador. I am a member of Dr. Marlis Douglas’s lab, I attend Central United Methodist church, serve on the board of directors for a non-profit, Thriving Arkansas Communities. I volunteer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest, and spent last semester shadowing the pediatric cardiologist at ACNW. I am also a phlebotomist at ACNW and have been there for 1.5 years. I am also a member of Kappa Sigma. Over the past summer I was able to spend time in Europe to study abroad snd receive credit for my biology degree.
479-739-4480
Anna Claire Richey
AED Volunteer Chair
Hi everyone! I am Anna Claire Richey. My major is Biology and I am on the Pre-Med track. I am from a small town called Paris, AR. Outside of AED, I am the Vice President of the Biology Club here on campus as well as the Vice President of the Mental Health Awareness Organization. I am also a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. When thinking about what kind of doctor I want to be I tend to lean towards Family Medicine. I would love to move back to my hometown where I was raised and give back to the community who served me so well growing up. On my own time I love to volunteer at the Arkansas Children's Hospital Northwest in Springdale and also spending time with my family and roommates! I would love to meet you all so please reach out and let's get to know each other!
479-438-5252
Abdullah Asif
AED Diversity Co-Chair
Hey there! My name is Abdullah Asif. I’m an Arabic + Biochemistry double-major and I’ll be serving as the AED Diversity Chair this year. Other groups you might see me involved with are the Honors College Ambassadors, Muslim Students Association, and Students with Refugees. Outside of school, I like listening to podcasts, reading, playing video games, long walks/hikes, and climbing trees. Feel free to reach out to me for absolutely anything at asif@uark.edu. I’m genuinely excited to meet all of you and be a larger part of the medical community this year!
479-321-1366
Shivani Koundinya
AED Diversity Co-Chair
Hey! I am so excited to serve as your AED Diversity co-chair for 2023-2024. I am a junior honors biomedical engineering major from Bentonville, Arkansas. Aside from AED, I am president of Emergency Medicine Club, an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Kyle Quinn’s Lab, and an intern for the UAMS Community Health and Research Department. I love watching movies, crocheting, working out, and cooking! I have really enjoyed working in the emergency room and am interested in pursing it in the future. Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything I can help you with!
479-367-6222