For senior Payton Cummings, opportunities at the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business started almost immediately. Through connections built in Northwest Arkansas, the Houston-area native gained inside access to organizations like Uber Freight and Tyson Foods, experiencing company cultures firsthand and seeing how major businesses operate behind the scenes. Those experiences helped lead to a recent supply chain internship with Boeing in Dallas, and this fall she will begin an accelerated master’s program while completing her undergraduate degree.
What initially drew Cummings to the Walton College was direct access to industry. Shortly after arriving, her interest quickly grew in supply chain management and business analytics as she discovered how interconnected the disciplines really are. The college’s place within a highly connected business ecosystem created opportunities that felt immediate, tangible and closely tied to the realities of modern business.
“It surprised me how fast I was able to be right there, experiencing all of it,” Cummings said. “It was immediate, even as a freshman. The opportunities I found through the Walton College have meant everything to me as I discover and plan a path for myself.”
A master’s degree was never part of Cummings’ original plan, but her time at Walton College ultimately helped her discover a clearer direction for both her education and career.