In Karrie Claybrook’s life, two people really helped to shape her into the person she is today. Her mother and grandmother instilled in her the importance of education and curiosity. For these trailblazing women, education was the great equalizer, an accomplishment no one could take from them.
11/05/2020 | By Ontario West
The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service is now accepting applications for the fourth class of its online master’s degree program. The deadline to apply is December 1.
11/05/2020 | By Patrick Newton
The Walton MBA Walks initiative, hour-long outdoor executions hosted by Walton College faculty and administration, creates safe opportunities for full-time MBA students to connect with the Walton College community.
11/05/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Earning a Walton MBA gives access to an extensive network of business contacts. When COVID-19 first shook the world and social distancing became the new norm, the program adapted quickly, offering hybrid classes and socially distanced face-to-face classes for those who wanted to attend in person.
11/05/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
Drive innovation, maximize team performance, design a narrative or learn about micro-finance — Walton College Executive Education is thrilled to announce upcoming learning opportunities with its Spring 2021 program calendar.
11/05/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
The Walton Executive MBA program’s Fall 2020 classes have provided students with a strong base of business knowledge while also challenging the students to be creative in their problem solving.
11/05/2020 | By Julie Storing
Upon completion of select Walton College Executive Education programs, participants will now receive a LinkedIn badge to showcase professional or technical expertise skills gained.
10/12/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
While the coronavirus has changed how events and programming are offered, the Walton MBA Programs Office has continued to provide learning and networking opportunities for its many alumni.
10/12/2020 | By Julie Storing
Jessica Hendrix, president and CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi X, led a session of the Walton MBA Conversation Series on “COVID’s Impact on Shopping and Decision Making.”
10/12/2020 | By Allison Vincent
Sarah Goforth is the executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Arkansas. She teaches the graduate level New Venture Development course sequence and oversees the interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship.
10/12/2020 | By Hannah Lee
The Sam M. Walton College of Business and Clinton School of Public Service celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the first graduate of the MBA/MPS concurrent degree program.
10/12/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
After moving to remote instruction in mid-March 2020, the University of Arkansas and Walton MBA programs have returned for the Fall 2020 semester with a combination of both remote and in-person class options to maintain a quality educational experience while also protecting the health and safety of the students and faculty.
09/08/2020 | By Julie Storing
Walton College Executive Education partnered with Milestone Leadership to host the inaugural cohort of Leadership Circle for Banking and Finance. The six-month program is designed to provide industry leaders with skills, experiences and connections that create a lasting personal, professional and industry impact.
09/08/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
Jeff Murray, professor in the Department of Marketing at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, joined the University of Arkansas in 1989. Murray, a Colorado-native turned long-term Arkansas resident, currently teaches in the Executive MBA and Full-time MBA programs at Walton College. When the university moved to remote instruction in March, Murray wanted a high-context medium to ease the lack of face-to-face interaction with his Executive MBA students. He kept coming back to the idea of a podcast. Season 1 of Hidden Signs is now available to students, alumni and the public.
09/08/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
The Walton MBA internships are incredibly beneficial to students because they allow for the development of valuable work experience based on the student’s interest. Lindsey Steiger-Muck, assistant MBA director at the Walton MBA programs said, “Students have the opportunity to explore a potential career path and give themselves a competitive edge in the job market based on the skills they’ve learned.” Molly Bombonato, Robert Cummings, Sean Grady, Meritt Rae and Sydney Wendfeldt spoke about their internship experiences.
09/08/2020 | By Hannah Lee
To better assist the Walton MBA students as they navigate an ever-changing job market, Bill Ryan has joined the Walton MBA Programs office as a career coach. This new position will primarily assist Executive MBA students as they plan their career paths after graduation.
08/07/2020 | By Julie Storing
Walton MBA will host several new and returning programs this fall. Walton Fuse, Walton MBA Learning Series, Walton MBA Conversations and the Professional Development workshop series will bring industry experts and leading business topics to Walton MBA students, alumni and the public. Registration links for public events available on Walton MBA LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram one week prior to the event date.
08/07/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Walton College Executive Education is partnering with the Walton College Executive MBA program to provide professional development opportunities for EMBA students. The students will receive complementary registration to the Executive Education fall open enrollment programs during which time they will have access to the Executive Education expertise, resources and developmental aid.
08/07/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
Adam Stoverink, Ph.D. is an associate professor of management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Stoverink teaches leadership to undergraduate, graduate and executive audiences and also instructs a teaching seminar in the Walton College doctoral program.
08/07/2020 | By Hannah Lee
Small businesses are facing the brunt of COVID-19 shutdowns. In one of the first analyses of the impacts of the pandemic on small businesses, Stanford reported a 22% reduction in active small business owners between February and April – an estimated loss of 3.3 million businesses in less than three months. However, some businesses are thriving under the current social and economic climates. Walmart’s online sales are up 74% and telehealth visits are skyrocketing. But why are some businesses doing better than others?
08/07/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Jaymin Patel is an operations science analyst at ArcBest Technologies, a logistics provider in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He graduated last month from our Walton Executive MBA program. During his time as a student in the Walton EMBA program, Patel’s focus study area was entrepreneurship. He holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from the University of Arkansas. This past summer, Patel participated in the inaugural Heartland Challenge.
08/07/2020 | By Hannah Lee
Shan Pesaru is the owner and CEO of Sharp Hue and a 2007 Walton Executive MBA alum. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in 2005 and says he was missing the experience needed for business ownership and entrepreneurship before joining the program. Pesaru says the Walton MBA gave him the confidence and skills he needed to start his business.
05/11/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Over a month has passed since universities and workplaces have mandated stay-at-home procedures. During this month, we have seen changes in policies and social norms that reflect these unprecedented times.
05/11/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
Healthcare Executive MBA students, Ben Davis, medical director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Jeff Cady, associate director of strategic accounts at Johnson and Johnson Health Care Systems, were recognized on April 24 as outstanding graduating students from the Walton College Class of 2020
05/11/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
The Walton MBA Program believes in the value of a diverse cohort. Students come from a variety of backgrounds, with different undergraduate degrees and from different parts of the world. International students add variety to the MBA program by offering unique perspectives and enriching class discussion.
05/11/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
Varun Grover, Distinguished Professor and David D. Glass Endowed Chair in Information Systems at Walton College, shares “Is Digital IT?” An original article for the Walton MBA newsletter.
05/11/2020 | By Varun Grover
We are saying goodbye to three incredible student workers as they leave for local internships. Ashley Perone, Chrissy Matlock and Cornelia Swardh have been instrumental in assisting staff and helping to organize key Walton MBA events. Each student worker has been awarded a yearlong internship with local corporations and will be moving to the next chapter in their professional development.
05/11/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
Christy Melhart Slay, director of technical alignment for The Sustainability Consortium, a global organization co-led by the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University that helps industries “define, develop and deliver more sustainable products,” earned her Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of Arkansas in 2010. As a graduate student she was interested in sustainability and the intersection of science and business.
05/11/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
This newsletter comes out at a time when we confront significant challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods of working, teaching, and living have changed.
03/27/2020 | By Vikas Anand
Recommended reads from Walton MBA faculty and alumni for the Walton MBA and the Northwest Arkansas business communities. Updated 4/13/2020.
03/27/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Kenny Bierman, a 2015 full-time MBA graduate, works for PepsiCo as a senior category adviser for Walmart. Before Bierman began his journey in the MBA, he worked for more than eleven years for the U.S. Air Force. His journey towards his MBA was non-traditional, but the experience helped transform his career.
03/27/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
Every year, the Walton College MBA Faculty of the Year award is bestowed upon an exceptional faculty member to recognize their influence as an educator and a leader among the MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) programs.
03/27/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
Emily Money, central Arkansas development director for the University of Arkansas, has earned the first Walton College Executive Education Proven Leadership Certificate by completing a series of three courses through Walton College Executive Education.
03/27/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
In 2003, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) outbreak in the Guangdong Province of China lead to approximately 8,000 cases and 800 deaths – affecting almost 30 countries and resulting in an estimated economic loss of $40 billion dollars.
03/27/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
The Walton MBA programs are excited to welcome Julie Storing as the new associate director of recruitment. Storing will direct recruitment efforts, manage relationships with corporate partners and play a critical role in the marketing and communications efforts of the MBA programs.
02/28/2020 | By Sarah Williamson and Alexandra Goforth
The Walton Alumni Learning Series, hosted by the Walton MBA programs at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, started the Spring 2020 series with a sold-out event.
02/28/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Walton College Executive Education has partnered with Milestone Leadership to host a second custom cohort of Leadership Circle for Healthcare. The six-month program provides industry leaders with skills, experiences and connections that create a lasting personal, professional and industry impact.
02/28/2020 | By Alondra Cruz
Daniel Eckert, former senior vice president of Walmart Services and Digital Acceleration, says customers are changing how, where and when they shop, and a harmonized commerce ecosystem—the seamless integration of physical and digital retail environments—will win the future of retail.
02/28/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Corporate internships are a critical experience for MBA students. Experience gained in an internship expands learning beyond what can be taught in a classroom. Students experience firsthand how classroom lectures apply to work performed in the office. Elizabeth Arredondo, 2018 Walton MBA alumna, shares on the value of internships.
02/28/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
The idea of returning to academia as a ‘non-traditional student’ may be intimidating to some, especially after spending nearly a quarter of a decade in the industry. 2017 E.M.B.A. graduate Bill Fedorchak explains how the experience challenged and benefited him in more ways than he expected.
01/28/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
Nielsen joins forces with Walton MBA to create student-centered, community-based learning and professional development opportunities for MBA students.
01/24/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
Program costs can feel like an overwhelming barrier between you and your MBA. From full tuition waivers to study abroad travel assistance, Walton MBA offers several scholarship and funding opportunities for the full-time and executive MBA programs.
01/24/2020 | By Alexandra Goforth
The Walton MBA Alumni Advisory Board is crucial to the success of the M.B.A. programs. Alumni provide valuable insight and leadership, ensuring that the curriculum remains relevant during times of change in industry. Meet our three newest alumni board members and hear what they believe they each bring to the program.
01/24/2020 | By Sarah Williamson
The Walton College Executive Education now offers Business Foundations, a program designed to develop business the skills needed to run organizations in leaders who lack business backgrounds. The customizable program, which can be delivered in various locations, is ideal for organizations who looking to broaden their business acumen and enhance their decision making skills.
01/24/2020 | By Alex Blythe
Walton full-time MBA ’22 student John Gaiters serves as a community organizer as the president of the Trendetters Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through a motivational speaker series. Through the Trendsetters Foundation, high school juniors and seniors as well as college students preparing to enter the workforce can hear from panelists through speaker sessions and online interviews focused on inspiring action and educating youth on life lessons.
| By Taylor Poe