Regina Hopper B.A.’81, J.D. ’85 will visit the University of Arkansas campus on Monday, Feb. 28 and Tuesday, March 1 as the 2011 Johnson Fellow.

Endowed by Dr. Jeff Johnson, B.A.’70, and his wife, Marcia, the Johnson Fellows program was created for the specific purpose of bringing esteemed alumni back to the University of Arkansas campus to engage and inspire students. Hopper, a Springdale native and 1983 Miss Arkansas, was selected as this year’s Johnson Fellow in recognition of her vast scholastic and professional achievements, which serve as an inspiration to current University of Arkansas students.

Hopper, who resides in Alexandria, Va., is president and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance, which is dedicated to increasing appreciation of the environmental, economic and national security benefits of clean, abundant and affordable North American natural gas. From engaging in energy policy debates to reaching out to state electric utilities and other key stakeholders, Hopper promotes the pivotal role that natural gas can play in our clean energy future.

While visiting campus, she will share her expertise while addressing students in law and journalism classes and interacting with members of the Women’s Law Student Association, the faculty/staff Social Media Marketing Group, the Associated Student Government Sustainability Council and Student Alumni Board members.

An Emmy Award-winning network news correspondent and veteran of top Washington trade associations, Hopper started working for ANGA after serving eight years as executive vice president of the United States Telecom Association, where she worked to promote the importance of broadband deployment and adoption across America. In addition to overseeing internal operations, Hopper managed USTelecom’s national advocacy through compelling advertising, grassroots and social media campaigns.

Hopper joined USTelecom after serving as executive vice president of the American Trucking Associations and heading its Advocacy Division. Prior to joining ATA, she served as senior vice president of Litigation Communications at Arlington, VA-based Weber McGinn, where she provided strategic counsel in high-profile, mass-tort litigation.

Prior to her work at Weber McGinn, Hopper reported for CBS News – first out of its New York bureau, where she reported for the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather among other programs, and then at the Washington Bureau, where she covered the Bush and Clinton White Houses, as well as administration issues on Capitol Hill. Before entering the field of journalism, she practiced corporate securities law.