Student Spotlight: Brianna Swafford
Meet Brianna Swafford, a Walton MBA - University of Arkansas student from McKinney, Texas.
01/28/2026 | By Sydney Ford
NEWS
Most Recent News
Turning Possibility Into Purpose: How Career Coaching Transforms the Walton MBA Journey
Find out how three career coaches from the Sam M. Walton College of Business help MBA students clarify their options and take meaningful steps toward a future that reflects their capabilities and values.
01/20/2026 | By Jeff McClelland, Lynn Wong and Bill Ryan
Student Spotlight: Claudia Mercado
Meet Claudia Mercado, a first-generation student from Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She earned her degree in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas College of Engineering and is now pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration.
01/14/2026 | By Sydney Ford
CSCMP Celebrates Vision and Leadership with the 2025 Supply Chain Hall of Fame Inductees at EDGE in National Harbor
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is proud to announce that Oliver Wight (1929–1983), Founder of Oliver Wight International (In Memoriam), will be inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame during the 2025 EDGE Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition.
01/07/2026 | By Wendy Prince
MBA Students Showcase Innovation at Mock Market Day
Walton Full-Time MBA students transformed classroom ideas into market-ready concepts during Mock Market Day, presenting original products to attendees and gathering real-world feedback.
12/17/2025 | By Nathan Bramwell
Capital Scan Identifies Where Arkansas Startups Are Growing and Where Funding Gaps RemainPage Title
Venture capital investment in Arkansas startups remained steady in 2024, according to the newly released Arkansas Capital Scan. The report highlights continued concentration of investment activity in Northwest Arkansas and outlines opportunities to strengthen funding for young companies and new business formation across the state.
12/11/2025 | By Amanda Horn, Brandon Howard, Jerra Toms
Walton College Assistant Professor Named Senior Research Fellow at Portulans InstitutePage Title
Abhijith Anand, assistant professor of information systems at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, has been appointed as a Senior Research Fellow at the Portulans Institute, a prestigious Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on innovation and technology policy.
12/10/2025 | By Jerra Toms
Three Takeaways That Elevated My Approach to Supply Chain Leadership
A Walton Executive MBA student shares three key lessons from Dr. Chris Hofer’s demand planning and inventory operations course and how they directly strengthened his leadership in supply chain.
12/09/2025 | By Hunter Whitley
Walton College Alum Earns Prestigious Elijah Watt Sells Award for Outstanding CPA Exam Performance
The Sam M. Walton College of Business and the William Dillard Department of Accounting are proud to announce that alumnus Samuel Abram has been named a recipient of the prestigious Elijah Watt Sells Award by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
12/03/2025 | By Jerra Toms
Walton College Remembers Former Accounting Department Chair Dr. Jack White
Dr. Jackson "Jack" White, professor emeritus of accounting and former chair of the William Dillard Department of Accounting at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, passed away on Nov. 13, 2025, in Fayetteville.
11/25/2025 | By Jerra Toms
Walton College Accounting Student Awarded Prestigious FASB Assistantship
Grace Helmers, a Master of Professional Accounting student in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, has secured a postgraduate technical assistantship with the Financial Accounting Standards Board. She is only the second U of A student to achieve this honor, and the first since 2012.
11/19/2025 | By Jerra Toms
U of A Entrepreneurship Grad Program Climbs to No. 20 in Princeton Review Rankings
The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has been ranked No. 20 by The Princeton Review in their list of the Top 50 Entrepreneurship Graduate Programs, rising two spots from last year's ranking of No. 22 and 15 spots in the past two years since making its debut on the list at No. 35 in 2023.
11/12/2025 | By Brandon Howard, Jerra Toms
Crisis Leadership, Change Management, and Product Management: Insights from Tim Simmons, Walmart International
This reflective session with Walmart International’s Chief Product Officer Tim Simmons explores how crisis leadership, team resilience, and transformational change intersect to guide organizations through uncertainty and renewal.
11/05/2025 | By Matt Waller
Industry Leader Named New Director of McMillon Innovation Studio
Chris Tisdel, an industry leader with a background in Human Centered Design, has been named director of the McMillon Innovation Studio, the campus innovation hub at the University of Arkansas.
11/04/2025 | By Brandon Howard, Jerra Toms
Walton Student's Path to Senior Walk Leads to Success
Devonte Daniel, a Walton College marketing major from Marked Tree, Arkansas, combined his passion for sales and logistics through Leadership Walton and a United Rentals internship.
10/30/2025 | By DeLani Bartlette
Alumni Spotlight: Soujanya Hegde
Meet Soujanya Hegde, a Bentonville-based Walton College alumna who earned her Master’s in Applied Business Analytics.
10/30/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Lori McLemore Retires from Walton College
Please join Walton College on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., in Willard J. Walker Hall room 504 to send her off in proper U of A style!
10/29/2025
Jace and Kroopa Hit the Road for the Master of Supply Chain Management in Dallas
Graduate students Jace and Kroopa are ready to level up their career by pursuing an online MSCM degree with face-to-face experiences.
10/27/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Professor Remko van Hoek Awarded 2025 Distinguished Service Award
Remko van Hoek, professor of supply chain management at the University of Arkansas’ Walton College, received the 2025 CSCMP Distinguished Service Award—the highest individual honor in the field—and was inducted into the Supply Chain Hall of Fame. A global leader bridging academia and industry, van Hoek’s research and leadership continue to shape the future of supply chain management.
10/27/2025 | By Jerra Toms
Supply Chain Management Doctoral Student Wins AI Competition
Finnegan "Finn" McKinley has won the inaugural Building a Better Future Through Business and AI for Supply Chain Management Dissertation Proposal Competition 2025.
10/17/2025 | By John Aloysius
Lance Yarbrough: MBA Global Immersion Trip to India
Global immersion trips help students explore a business problem in depth, while experiencing unique cultural and business differences.
10/16/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Walton College Faculty Creates Free Textbook Through Libraries Program
After a student suggested the Open Educational Resources program, Walton College professor Iana Shaheen created a free, customizable textbook for her Introduction to Supply Chain Management course. Partnering with the University Libraries, she developed a resource that reduces student costs, ensures consistency across sections and enhances learning for U of A business students.
10/10/2025 | By Christine Rickabaugh
Leading with Energy and Purpose: Lessons from Michael Ehret, Chief People Officer, Walmart International
The MBA cohort heard from Michael Ehret, who focused on how leaders can understand motivation, increase satisfaction, and strengthen engagement through daily leadership practices.
10/09/2025 | By Matt Waller
Dan Conway Appointed Chair of U.S. Blockchain Standards Body
Daniel Conway was appointed chair of the U.S. Blockchain Technical Committee under the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards.
10/08/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Accounting Workshop: Football, Research Findings and Fun
Hosted by the accounting department, associate professors Jessica Watkins (Univ. of Notre Dame), John Donovan (Univ. of Notre Dame), and Michael Iselin (Univ. of Minnesota) presented their findings from recent research papers.
10/07/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Brooke Giacin, EMBA 2026: On the Road to Success
From South Florida to Texas, Northwest Arkansas to India, Brooke's academic journey is deepening her business skills and enriching her career.
10/02/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Leadership Lessons from Doug McMillon’s AI Wake-Up Call
Recent remarks by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, reported in the Wall Street Journal, provide an ideal case study.
09/27/2025 | By Matt Waller
Ethical Leadership in Action: Reflections on Kieran Shanahan’s Visit
Leaders influence not only through formal authority but through their ability to model integrity, fairness, and genuine care for others.
09/22/2025 | By Matt Waller
Ethical Leadership in Action: Lessons from the Walton MBA Program and Walmart
How do we make sound ethical decisions when faced with dilemmas that are not “right versus wrong” but “right versus right”?
09/21/2025 | By Matt Waller
Decision Making as a Leadership Behavior: Lessons from Karrie Claybrook’s Journey at Walmart
Decision making is a core leadership behavior that directly shapes strategy, collaboration, and organizational impact.
09/13/2025 | By Matt Waller
Life Success Reimagined
Along with his team, Walton College's assistant professor Michael Wilmot helps to categorize success in life.
09/11/2025 | By Todd Price
Leading with Values and Purpose: Lessons from Walmart CEO Doug McMillon
During the second week of classes, Matt Waller interviewed Doug McMillon, the president and chief executive officer of the world’s largest retailer, about leadership.
09/11/2025 | By Emily Martin and Reagan Price
Student Spotlight: Leslie Traweek
Leslie is a current student in the Master of Science in Healthcare Business Analytics program. She earned her Bachelor’s from the Walton College in Information Systems.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Alumni Spotlight: Mark Todd
Mark Todd, MBA’s experience at the Walton College opened the door to new opportunities and set him on a path toward a successful career in finance. He graduated in 2025 and now works as a Senior Financial Analyst at Tyson Foods in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Alumni Spotlight: Macy Wheeler
Meet Macy Wheeler, M.S., a 2024 Walton College graduate with a Master of Science in Marketing, and a 2023 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing. She is now building her career as a Management Consulting Analyst at Accenture, based in Bentonville.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Alumni Spotlight: Stratton Carroll
Stratton is a Healthcare Data Analyst for Heartland Whole Health Institute, a non-profit organization in Bentonville whose mission is to lower costs, improve quality, and broaden access to health care in the Heartland.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Week 4 in the Walton MBA: Mastering Decision-Making
This week, our focus is on effective decision-making. Experienced leaders sometimes make poor choices, often due to four common cognitive biases: Confirmation Bias, Anchoring Bias, Availability Bias or Sunk Cost Bias.
09/08/2025 | By Matt Waller
Leadership Behaviors: Unleashing Purposeful Action
Leadership behaviors are the visible actions leaders use to influence, guide and support others. Behaviors can be developed and improved.
09/05/2025 | By Matt Waller
Doug McMillon’s Leadership: 5 Principles
In my opinion five themes stood out in my mind that align with established leadership research and frameworks.
08/31/2025 | By Matt Waller
Food Distribution Efficiency: Banking on Supply Chain
Brian Fugate and Janeth Gabaldon are studying energy-efficient supply chain practices for food banks thanks to a grant from Danone Institute North America and the FFAR.
08/28/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Leadership vs. Management: Unlocking the Power of Both in a Changing World
Leadership and management -- these terms get tossed around like they’re synonyms, but they’re not.
08/22/2025 | By Matt Waller
Why Walmart? A Living Leadership Laboratory
Adam Stoverink and Matt Waller designed their Walton MBA's Leadership and Organizational Behavior course using Walmart as a case study in leadership.
08/19/2025 | By Matt Waller
Global Campus Awards Scholarships to 35 Students in Online Degree Programs
The remaining six awardees are graduating in December so they will receive an award totaling $1,000. The students are studying in online degree programs offered by the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; the School of Law; the Fulbright College of Arts and...
07/31/2025 | By Heidi Wells
Beard Family Gift to Expand Opportunity for Arkansas Students
The Beards established the Chip and Suzanne Beard Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, supporting first-generation college students and business majors. The Beards also support youth education, enrichment and lite...
07/24/2025 | By Rachel Moore
U of A's Management Faculty Rank Among Nation's Best for Research Productivity
Walton College’s management and strategy faculty rank No. 20 nationally in total research publications across 10 top-tier academic journals and No. 10 in publications per faculty member.
07/21/2025 | By Nathan Bramwell
Spotlights
Student Spotlight: Brianna Swafford
Meet Brianna Swafford, a Walton MBA - University of Arkansas student from McKinney, Texas.
01/28/2026 | By Sydney Ford
Student Spotlight: Claudia Mercado
Meet Claudia Mercado, a first-generation student from Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She earned her degree in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas College of Engineering and is now pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration.
01/14/2026 | By Sydney Ford
Alumni Spotlight: Soujanya Hegde
Meet Soujanya Hegde, a Bentonville-based Walton College alumna who earned her Master’s in Applied Business Analytics.
10/30/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Alumni Spotlight: Stratton Carroll
Stratton is a Healthcare Data Analyst for Heartland Whole Health Institute, a non-profit organization in Bentonville whose mission is to lower costs, improve quality, and broaden access to health care in the Heartland.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Student Spotlight: Leslie Traweek
Leslie is a current student in the Master of Science in Healthcare Business Analytics program. She earned her Bachelor’s from the Walton College in Information Systems.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Alumni Spotlight: Macy Wheeler
Meet Macy Wheeler, M.S., a 2024 Walton College graduate with a Master of Science in Marketing, and a 2023 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing. She is now building her career as a Management Consulting Analyst at Accenture, based in Bentonville.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Alumni Spotlight: Mark Todd
Mark Todd, MBA’s experience at the Walton College opened the door to new opportunities and set him on a path toward a successful career in finance. He graduated in 2025 and now works as a Senior Financial Analyst at Tyson Foods in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
09/10/2025 | By Hannah Dryden
Student Spotlight: Kai Laidhold
Meet Kai Laidhold, a second-year supply chain management major from Roswell, Georgia, with a minor in business analytics.
04/16/2025 | By Sydney Ford
Student Spotlight: Sammy Massri
Meet Sammy Massri, a junior accounting major completing his degree online!
03/11/2025 | By Sydney Ford
Student Spotlight: Nick Kendall
Meet Nick Kendall, a senior finance major from Dallas, Texas! During his time at Walton College, Nick has been an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Walton Finance Club, Walton Real Estate Club, and Walton Investment Club.
02/26/2025 | By Sydney Ford
Student Spotlight: Nadia Vartenian
Meet junior Nadia Vartenian, a proud El Dorado Promise Scholarship recipient!
01/21/2025 | By Sydney Ford
Student Spotlight: Kendall Jasper
Meet senior Kendall Jasper! Kendall is a Marketing major with a Business Analytics minor from Fayetteville.
11/14/2024 | By Camryn Sexton
Student Spotlight: Tanisha Singh
Meet Tanisha Singh! Tanisha is from Long Island, NY, and is a marketing major with a minor in business analytics. She is involved on campus with the Walton College Student Marketing Advisory Board, Resident Interhall Congress, and is a Conference Ambassador. She is also a part of the Venture Innovation Program, where she is interning with Candles by Whitney.
10/31/2024 | By Camryn Sexton
Student Spotlight: Sam Butler
Meet Senior Sam Butler. Sam is from Olathe, Kansas and is majoring in Financial Analytics with a minor in Legal Studies. On campus, he has been involved as the president of Kappa Alpha Order, a part of Model UN, in the Venture Internship Program, a member of SAKE, and more.
10/21/2024 | By Camryn Sexton
Student Spotlight: Isabelle Artnak
Meet Senior, Isabelle Artnak! Isabelle is a Supply Chain Management major and Finance minor from Plano, Texas.
10/07/2024 | By Camryn Sexton
Student Spotlight: Katherine Warstler
Katherine earned an Outstanding Student Award from the Walton College Management Department and was named a Senior of Significance by the Arkansas Alumni Association.
07/24/2024 | By Hailey Wilson Lindsey
Student Spotlight: Katie Bailey
Katie gained more than knowledge of accounting processes when she earned an online degree.
07/12/2024
Rob McEver: An Engineer Impacting Walton College’s Marketing Students
"I am really passionate about my students. I seek to serve them as a coach and mentor with the goal of helping them be successful in life."
07/10/2024 | By Meghan Perry
Sales Competition Spotlight: Bella Steketee
The competition brings together students who make pitches judged by real buyers and sellers from various industries.
05/30/2024
#MyPathToSeniorWalk: Lizbeth Hernandez Finds Her Footing
Lizbeth Hernandez believes students should take advantage of the opportunities they are given.
03/01/2024