Sharon Strong

Sharon Strong was appointed Executive Director of the Office of the Arkansas Lottery in July 2024 by Governor Sarah Sanders and DFA Cabinet Secretary Jim Hudson. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Strong brings over 20 years of experience in public service and law to her leadership role.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from Southern Methodist University and earned her Juris Doctor from The American University’s Washington College of Law in 2003. Her early legal career took her to the Washington, D.C. area, where she served as a judicial law clerk, a juvenile public defender and an Assistant State’s Attorney in Maryland.

Upon returning to Arkansas, Strong continued her public service as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Pulaski and Perry Counties. She later served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office under both Attorney’s General Leslie Rutledge and Tim Griffin. There she prosecuted cases of elder abuse and healthcare fraud and played a key role in drafting legislation designed to protect vulnerable Arkansans.

As Executive Director, Strong combines her legal background, passion for organizational management, and love of retail operations to drive the continued success of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. She is committed to advancing the Lottery’s mission of funding scholarships and improving educational opportunities for students across the state.