The Dr. Barbara A. Lofton Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Sam M. Walton College
of Business hosted students from Arkansas and Texas through the Business Leadership
Academy and the Technology Awareness Program camps earlier this month on the University
of Arkansas campus.
Walton College’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion strives to provide the best possible educational experience for underrepresented
students through excellence in teaching, research, inclusive innovation and service
to the state and society through its Diversity Enrichment Programs which are offered throughout the summer for high school and incoming freshman students.
The Business Leadership Academy is a residential summer camp which introduces students
to the Walton College and the university. Students participated in sessions intended
to help with the transition to college. BLA creates awareness of career opportunities
within all business majors, while developing and enhancing leadership skills through
collaboration and teamwork. Since the early 2000s, BLA has hosted 25-30 students each
year. This year’s cohort provided activities to assist with acclimating them to campus,
enhancing their leadership skills and strengthening their confidence in their future
career trajectories. They worked in teams to create a proposal for a new program,
activity or event aimed at supporting diverse students, faculty and staff this fall.
The winning team will work with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion to implement their
proposal during the next academic year. The week concluded with the students presenting
their proposals and attending orientation.
The Technology Awareness Program is a one-week summer bridge program for 9th-12th
graders. TAP is aimed at introducing students from underrepresented groups to careers
in technology from a business lens. Additionally, the participants get an introduction
to college life at the University of Arkansas, participate in a community service
project and meet with professionals from a variety of corporate partners in NWA. This
is the second year back since the onset of Covid-19. This year the students were able
to participate in three different tracks: app development, drone coding and aerial
technology, and YouTube video production. The vision for TAP is to continue to grow
the program and innovate the curriculum to expose more students from underrepresented
groups to new skills and career paths.
Barbara Lofton, assistant dean, initiated the summer bridge programs in the Office
of Diversity & Inclusion many years ago.
“Dr. Lofton recently announced her retirement and while we are sad to see her go,
we are proud of the legacy that she has left for ODI. We will do all that we can to
keep that legacy growing and moving forward,” said Synetra Hughes, managing director
of the Dr. Barbara A. Lofton Office of Diversity & Inclusion. “We remain focused on
providing high quality programs that focus on student achievement through retention,
educational attainment, academic achievement and student advancement.”
