We Are Walton | Walton College | University of Arkansas

EPIC Spotlight: Adam Stoverink

Adam Stoverink loved college. Even after he earned his management degree and worked in the corporate world, he wanted to go back to school. “I did everything I could to stay in college for the rest of my life,” Stoverink says.

EPIC Spotlight: Rod Thomas

Rod Thomas grew up watching the men in his family toil in the factories where most of the nation’s popular tires were made. “They would come home covered in tire soot,” Thomas recalls.

EPIC Spotlight: Mark Zweig

If you ask Mark Zweig to name former students who have successful businesses, be prepared to sit for a while.

Salmon Named Director of Center for Retailing Excellence

Jessica Salmon was named director of the Center for Retailing Excellence for the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, effective July 17. Previously, she served as director of Finance and Strategy for Walmart U.S.

EPIC Spotlight: Angela Darnell

Angela Darnell has always been in the business of helping people. Angela Darnell Farmington, Arkansas Graduate Student Healthcare Executive MBA For 14 years, she was the voice who assisted people dialing 411 for directory assistance. While at her job, she led her coworkers in a food drive to help Northwest Arkansas’ homeless population.

EPIC Spotlight: Will Edwards

Will Edwards had a hard time remembering the names of his fraternity brothers.

Fleischer Scholars Present Business Plans for Entrepreneurial Projects

Twenty-five high school students from Arkansas recently spent one week on campus to learn about entrepreneurship, business plans, presentations, teamwork and community improvement projects through the Fleischer Scholars summer camp program.

EPIC Spotlight: Dinesh Gauri

Northwest Arkansas is an ideal location to do research in marketing and consumer behavior. If Dinesh Gauri didn’t know it 10 years ago, he knows it now.

EPIC Spotlight: Daymara Baker

It’s bread with benefits. That’s the catch phrase Daymara Baker uses when describing her business, Rockin’ Baker, a bakery tucked inside a small Fayetteville plaza among a bicycle shop and microbrewery.

EPIC Spotlight: Stephanie Schuljak

Stephanie Schuljak knew she wanted to help others. She tried majoring in kinesiology with the idea of going to medical school. Science, however, was not her thing.

EPIC Spotlight: Bill Watt

Bill Watt wasn’t looking to earn another college degree. He simply needed to get some insight from Matt Waller and decided to give him a call.

EPIC Spotlight: Boxxyy

It started as a class assignment. It became a pet product company that helps animal shelters.

EPIC Spotlight: Difei Geng

Difei Geng doesn’t teach students. He shares with them. “By sharing, you don’t have to agree with me,” Geng says.

EPIC Spotlight: Kristian Alle

Hanging over Kristian Allee’s desk is a dry erase board with a list of potential research projects he scrawled. “I love this stuff,” he says, looking up at the board.

EPIC Spotlight: Bjorn Simmons

If you think marketing and entrepreneurship pertains only to business, guess again. Bjorn Simmons will tell you that entrepreneurial spirit and a know-how attitude can effect change in many aspects of life, whether it’s helping free a man wrongfully imprisoned or creating a tool that can benefit businesses globally.

EPIC Spotlight: Ross Lawrence

Many fresh college graduates look for exciting careers in big cities like Chicago or New York. Ross Lawrence was one of them. With a bachelor’s degree in finance, he applied to more than 70 jobs in the Windy City and Big Apple. Then he decided he’d give Nevada, Missouri, a try. Ross Lawrence BSBA ’11 … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Ross Lawrence→

EPIC Spotlight: Tim Riley

An economist with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Riley wondered what would happen if he borrowed an idea from Alexey Malakhov, and modified it to see how actively managed mutual funds perform against passively managed investments.

Students Help Consumers Discover Durable

Lewis and Clark, Teddy Roosevelt and Neil Armstrong are featured in a student-created advertising campaign, courtesy of Anne Velliquette’s Integrated Marketing Communications class.

EPIC Spotlight: Philip Meek

There are no gray areas in auditing. No subjectivity. What you see is what you get.

EPIC Spotlight: Addison Scott

She thought she had failed. This was something Addison Scott did not do.

EPIC Spotlight: Ken Bills

When a CPA visited Ken Bills’ high school class, Bills recalls asking himself, why would anyone do this for a living? He can laugh about it now.

EPIC Spotlight: Andrew Brownback

While in grade school, Andrew Brownback discovered he was proficient in math. He entered competitions, occasionally going home with an award.

EPIC Spotlight: Brian Fugate

If Brian Fugate notices students falling asleep in his class, he can always rouse them with stories about his family’s pig farm in his home state of Tennessee.

EPIC Spotlight: Billy Yocum

On his first day of class at the University of Arkansas, Billy Yocum sat at an outdoor table in front of Willard J. Walker Hall, consumed with fear. Could he do this? Was he in over his head?

EPIC Spotlight: Ron Freeze

Ron Freeze’s career began in the auto industry, where he oversaw assembly line equipment and made sure production rolled at a steady pace. A lot could go wrong – a conveyor belt chain could break or a tool misfire – and Ron’s responsibility was to make sure that never happened.

EPIC Spotlight: Jason Ridge

The Jeep was totaled. It sat in the body shop owned by Jason Ridge’s father, who told him if he wanted a car to drive – a teenage rite of passage – he better get to work.

EPIC Spotlight: Kathryn Gadberry

When Kathryn Gadberry studied abroad to Mozambique, she was a part of a team that set up an accounting system for chicken farmers so they could sell an affordable source of protein to local consumers, a program known as Eggs for Africa.

EPIC Spotlight: Collin Grimes

Houston is a city where oil is big and buildings fill the skyline. But securing office space in one of those buildings, or any real estate, in the nation’s fourth largest city can be daunting. Collin Grimes BSBA ’06 First Vice President Global Corporate Services CBRE Group Inc. Houston For Collin Grimes, it’s another day … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Collin Grimes→

EPIC Spotlight: Tracy Liu

If research can positively impact society, then all of those hours toiling over data is well worth it, says Tracy Liu.

EPIC Spotlight: Scott Hsu

Scott Hsu loved watching American movies in his hometown of Taipei, Taiwan. He sought out as many Academy Award-winning films he could and fell in love with “The Sound of Music.” Then there was another one starring Michael Douglas, who played a greedy, ruthless stockbroker. “Wall Street” got Hsu curious about the business world.

EPIC Spotlight: Lindsay Duckworth

Lindsay Duckworth is always on the move. One moment, she may be at home in Denver, enjoying the Rocky Mountain air. Then she’s on a plane to New York, where she meets with business executives – sometimes in Manhattan.

Cold and Exciting Days Ahead

Warmth. That is the number one thing Cary Deck will soon miss. Specifically, he will miss the warmth of his colleagues and the research environment at the University of Arkansas more so than the temperature as he travels to Anchorage, Alaska.

EPIC Spotlight: Andrew Motter

Before Andrew Motter was old enough to drive, he made money by dragging the family lawnmower out of the garage and cutting the neighbors’ grass.

EPIC Spotlight: Muhammad Rahman

As a college student in his native Bangladesh, Muhammad Rahman became fascinated with looking at the world through economics. He listened intently to his professor explain the rise of capitalism and socialism as well as Japan’s economic history.

EPIC Spotlight: Anita Sambor

As a graduate student, there is a lot to manage besides the assignments listed in the syllabi. Will the financial aid come through? Is the required coarse work met? What if a life event comes up that interferes with studies?

EPIC Spotlight: Charles Britton

Charles Britton figures he has taught about 25,000 University of Arkansas students since arriving on campus in 1969.

EPIC Spotlight: Xiao Ma

He worked as a journalist in his native China, sold ads and devised business strategies for a company as an intern in New York City. Xiao Ma Assistant Professor Department of Information Systems Yet Xiao Ma knew he’d rather work with computers. He also knew where he would like to be. “Over time, I realized … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Xiao Ma→

EPIC Spotlight: Rwan El-Khatib

Many told Rwan El-Khatib she would not be accepted by a United States doctoral program. It had been difficult for business majors in her native country of Jordan to continue their education in a doctoral program in America, and she repeatedly heard about it. It was almost as if people were challenging her

EPIC Spotlight: Hannah Birch

Hannah was inspired to pursue an education at the Sam M. Walton College of Business when she came to the university as a junior for a convocation that featured presentations by Walton students as well as Jason Adams, the college’s Honors Programs associate director, and Javier Reyes.

EPIC Spotlight: Claire Yan

As a child, Claire Yan watched closely how her mother, a literature teacher, interacted with students. That experience led to Yan standing out on her balcony, talking to plants and flowers that made up her pretend classroom. Now she’s teaching in real students in a real classroom. Yan joined the Department of Accounting in August 2014

EPIC Spotlight: Peter Katuscak

Peter Katuscak researches around the globe as he examines the behaviors of auction bidders or how people perceive their tax situations. For the 2014-15 school year, he is a visiting assistant professor with the Department of Economics at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, where he teaches microeconomic theory to undergraduates. Peter Katuscak Visiting … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Peter Katuscak→

EPIC Spotlight: Kristin Kaufman

Sometimes it takes years to attain it. But when it does, it can be one of the greatest things life can bring. Kristin Kaufman refers to it as alignment. “It’s when you love what you do and you’re good at it, but, most importantly, it’s tied to something greater than yourself,” she says. Kristin Kaufman … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Kristin Kaufman→

EPIC Spotlight: Johnny Carver

Johnny Carver grew up surrounded by basketball. His father played for Kansas State University and his brother for the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. “I’ve always wanted to be like my brother,” Johnny says. “I look up to him and my dad.” Johnny Carver Freshman Management Major So, as a 6-foot, 3-inch tall … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Johnny Carver→

EPIC Spotlight: Rachel Dukes

Living in the Dallas bedroom community of Grand Prairie, Rachel felt it was time to pursue the discipline at a university beyond the Texas border.

EPIC Spotlight: Anne Velliquette

Anne Velliquette has experienced the many faces of marketing. She realized the art of a beautiful floor display and the role of purchasing when she interned as a buyer at a department store. When she sold and marketed turkey products, she was required to learn every aspect of what it takes to prepare the bird … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Anne Velliquette→

EPIC Spotlight: Hua Wang

Hua Wang has experienced much in his five years in the United States. He has mastered the English language, played French horn with the University of Arkansas band and earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in addition to his music degree.

EPIC Spotlight: John Kent

It was 17 years in the making, but John Kent finally got his dream job of working at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

EPIC Spotlight: Rachel Mooreland

One summer while in high school, Rachel Mooreland traveled from her Bartlesville, Oklahoma, home to attend a summer program at the University of Arkansas.

EPIC Spotlight: Bailey Hart and Brittany Brunson

Brittany Brunson and Bailey Hart initially thought they would send University of Arkansas souvenirs and letters to a group of teens to encourage them to pursue a higher education.

EPIC Spotlight: Allison “Alli” Kinsey

As a high school student, Allison Kinsey worked part time at a local drive-in restaurant. She discovered she really enjoyed two things: working with numbers and reading people to better understand human behavior.

EPIC Spotlight: T.J. Atwood

One thing is for certain, there will always be taxes. It’s a topic very familiar to T.J. Atwood, one of the newest faces in the accounting department at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

EPIC Spotlight: Omar Meson

“With finance, you never know what you’re going to get,” Omar says. “Every day, it’s a new adventure.”

EPIC Spotlight: Brittney Brown

If Brittney Brown’s plans go accordingly, she will be in a classroom for several decades to come. Though she is a student now, she hopes to someday teach in a university setting much like Walton.

EPIC Spotlight: Cameron Boyland

Majoring in management with a marketing minor, Cameron discovered he had a talent for business while attending Central High School in his hometown of Little Rock.

EPIC Spotlight: Dongya Koh

As a self-described “computer geek,” Dongya Koh has found a good use of his ability to write programming code: numerically solving complicated macroeconomic models. Dongya Koh Assistant Professor Department of Economics He has the background for it, too. His professional career includes serving as a system engineer for Yahoo! Japan, a joint venture of the … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Dongya Koh→

EPIC Spotlight: Gabriel Cullier

Each unique pitch piqued my interest and introduced me to the creative world of Information
Technology and Computer Engineering. That next day I changed my major.

Walton College Welcomes 11 New Faculty

With the start of the fall semester, the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas welcomes 11 new faculty members. Over 5,200 students (4,812 undergraduate and 379 graduate) from 41 states and 44 foreign countries will benefit from their teaching and research. T.J. Atwood Associate Professor Accounting Department Stace Sirmans Assistant … Continue reading Walton College Welcomes 11 New Faculty→

EPIC Spotlight: Abby Davidson

Abby Davidson has seen the effects of war-torn countries. She has worked to assist communities in overcoming poverty and has met with refugees driven from their homeland. Her interest in international affairs began with her pursuits at Walton, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Business and a master’s degree in economics.

EPIC Spotlight: Carol Reeves

As a child, if Carol Reeves wanted any money, she had to earn it.

EPIC Spotlight: Erika Amoako-Agyei

Erika Amoako-Agyei is passionate about Africa. She consults corporations wishing to expand to the continent and encourages college students to consider careers there.

EPIC Spotlight: Omar Kasim

What if Taco Bell delivered? That was the question Omar Kasim asked himself over and over as he began planning his business. Omar, a business management major from Tulsa, Okla., is entertaining the idea of opening a Mexican food delivery service.

EPIC Spotlight: Brooke Atwell

If Brooke Atwell seems enthusiastic about the global economy, she comes by it naturally. Her father works at Walmart’s corporate office in Bentonville with many of those years spent in its international division. “So that kind of sparked my interest in global affairs,” she says.

EPIC Spotlight: Dahlia Ashford

Dahlia Ashford couldn’t bring herself to ask her parents for money so she could continue her college education. Determined, Ashford got to work searching for scholarships, grants and programs. “I would apply for anything and everything,” she says. She secured the funding.

EPIC Spotlight: Dr. Hyo-Jeong Kim

Some people are intimidated by analytical software. Dr. Hyo-Jeong Kim wants to help people become comfortable with it. She’s starting with auditors. While many have traditionally used Excel as they explore trends in data, there are many other programs – some a bit complicated. Behind the scenes, Kim looks for the different complexities in the … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Dr. Hyo-Jeong Kim→

EPIC Spotlight: Carmen Williamson

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, Carmen Williamson became an auto claims representative in Columbia, Mo., for State Farm Insurance. Missouri is a nice state. The work was good. Yet, with a bachelor’s degree in both marketing and human resources, she wanted to better channel her talents and skills.

EPIC Spotlight: Will Simpson

“They give you all the opportunities you can ever want, and all you have to do is pursue them.” Will Simpson Economics and Finance Sophomore Though only in his second year in college, Will Simpson speaks about economics and governmental affairs like a veteran. Those topics often appear in the opinion column he writes for … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Will Simpson→

EPIC Spotlight: Will Allred

“This is a great place to work. It really is.” Will Allred Technology Center Associate Director Will Allred’s world is filled with vampires. And not the cute, “sparkly” kind adored by teenage girls that grace movie and television screens. His are grittier and for an older audience. After work and on weekends, one might find … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Will Allred→

EPIC Spotlight: Whitnee Boyd

“I look at this as marketing with a purpose.” Whitnee Boyd, BSBA ’09 Student Development Specialist and Recruitment Coordinator Student Support Services University of Arkansas Whitnee Boyd now has an office. It’s located in the office of Student Support Services here at the University of Arkansas. And she realizes that not long ago, she could … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Whitnee Boyd→

EPIC Spotlight: Walton College Olympians

Walton College is Represented at the Summer Olympics Veronica Campbell-Brown Alistar Ian Cragg Ivanique Kemp Two graduates and one current student of the Sam M. Walton College of Business are representing their countries at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Veronica Campbell-Brown will run the 100 and 200 meters for her home country of … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Walton College Olympians→

EPIC Spotlight: Tom Davis

Tom Davis Class of 2013 Accounting and Finance Tom Davis, a senior from Bentonville, Ark., majoring in accounting with a minor in finance, says he may never have gotten a chance to intern with Ernst and Young if he hadn’t participated in the Walton Honors Program. As an audit and assurance services intern last summer … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Tom Davis→

EPIC Spotlight: Dr. Tim Yeager

Dr. Tim Yeager could have stayed focused on economics. He spent years in college, earning degrees in economics and even teaching the subject at universities on both the East and West coasts.

EPIC Spotlight: Theresa Fette

The trust group was failing. It was in such disrepair that the state of Nevada was considering receivership. For many, the task of resurrecting the Las Vegas company would be too daunting. Theresa Fette, however, saw the sinking business as an opportunity. Only 28 years old and a practicing lawyer, she and a business partner … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Theresa Fette→

EPIC Spotlight: Dr. Terry Esper

Growing up in Detroit, Dr. Terry Esper never really thought much about Arkansas or where it was on a map. In fact, he could have stayed in the Motor City after high school graduation, but a committed guidance counselor felt he needed to experience the Natural State.

EPIC Spotlight: Terrance Boyd

“The faculty and staff are people with experiences who can tell you, ‘This is how you do it in the real world.’ ” Terrance Boyd Junior Accounting Major Retail and Spanish Minor When Terrance Boyd was a freshman, he was like many University of Arkansas students starting college careers. He had to adjust to a … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Terrance Boyd→

EPIC Spotlight: Talesha Christian

Talesha Christian Sophomore Accounting and Financial Investments Talesha Christian isn’t shy to say it. She loves math. From the time she was in grade school, she has enjoyed working with numbers. Now, as an Accounting and Financial Investments major at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, she sees so many opportunities where she can … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Talesha Christian→

EPIC Spotlight: Stephen O. Kayode-Owoyele

“I would encourage people of ethnic backgrounds to seriously consider this school.” Stephen O. Kayode-Owoyele Graduate Student Walton Managerial Master’s of Business Administration The trip to India is still fresh on Stephen O. Kayode-Owoyele’s mind. There were visits to businesses and people’s homes. Stephen and other University of Arkansas students roamed the markets and bazaars. … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Stephen O. Kayode-Owoyele→

EPIC Spotlight: Stephanie Nguyen

Stephanie Nguyen Accounting and Finance major Economics minor As a rising senior at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Stephanie Nguyen is a busy student. With a double major in accounting and finance, and a minor in economics, Stephanie has mastered time management. In addition to her extensive coursework, she is active in many … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Stephanie Nguyen→

EPIC Spotlight: Stefan Trim

Stefan Trim 2011 Management When Stefan Trim came to the University of Arkansas from Trinidad and Tobago, it was his first time to leave the Caribbean region. Stefan, who is majoring in organizational leadership management, with minors in economics, marketing and geology, explained that moving to a new place was difficult at first, but the … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Stefan Trim→

EPIC Spotlight: Shannon Joyce

Shannon Joyce EnergyCorps Applied Sustainability Center Shannon Joyce joined Energy Corps in February 2011 and is now in her second year of service as an Outreach Coordinator in the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas. Energy Corps is a national service program in conjunction with AmeriCorps. It focuses on promoting energy efficiency and … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Shannon Joyce→

EPIC Spotlight: Scott Schroeder

Scott Schroeder 2010 Transportation Before Scott Schroeder came to the University of Arkansas, he worked as an operations manager for a bank in Altus, Arkansas. Returning to school to study transportation logistics, he discovered that his experience in the working world had given him a new appreciation for his classes. “The instructor knowledge at the … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Scott Schroeder→

EPIC Spotlight: Dr. Scot Burton

“It”s a tremendous place to find people who have interests that overlap with mine.” Dr. Scot Burton Distinguished Professor Walmart Chair in Marketing Many products and advertisements are adorned with splashy designs, logos and striking visuals to attract consumers. Dr. Scot Burton believes packaging and advertising should also help people make informed decisions, whether those … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Dr. Scot Burton→

EPIC Spotlight: Sarah Pittman

“The camaraderie among students in the Walton College contributes to the overall college experience.” Sarah Margaret Pittman Junior Finance Major English and Economics Minor Sarah Margaret Pittman puts a bit of a spin on her finance knowledge. Though she dabbles in the stock market, she also pays attention to up-and-coming musical acts, trying to figure … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Sarah Pittman→

EPIC Spotlight: Samantha Francis

Samantha Francis Transportation When Sam M. Walton College of Business student Samantha Francis graduated from her Liberty, Missouri high school in 2007, she knew she wanted to study business. She ended up in one of its least-understood areas: transportation and logistics. “Unlike some people think, it’s not about driving a truck,” she joked. “To try … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Samantha Francis→

EPIC Spotlight: Ryan Frazier

Ryan Frazier International Business Marketing Major Ryan Frazier, a Sam M. Walton College of Business senior, has utilized his passion and drive to excel in the business world to catapult him to success in the Donald W. Reynolds Business Plan competition. According to dwrgovernorscup.org: The Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup is a statewide undergraduate & … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Ryan Frazier→

EPIC Spotlight: Rohit Mittal

“The professors are top-notch.” Rohit Mittal Junior Accounting and Finance Major, Spanish Minor The summer before he enrolled at the University of Arkansas, Rohit Mittal helped manage a Subway Restaurant franchised by his mother. Dealing with day-to-day operations gave him a new respect for the work done behind-the-scenes while teaching him another vital skill: … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Rohit Mittal→

EPIC Spotlight: Robin Yang

“It’s a lot more fun to look at the world through children’s eyes, so I started writing children’s books.” Robin Yang Children’s Author and Financial Educator, New York MBA ’97 In Robin Yang’s world, a mixed-breed puppy named Eli goes on journeys where both magic and danger happens. Eli isn’t just any canine. He is … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Robin Yang→

EPIC Spotlight: Quincy Jordan

Quincy Jordan Junior International Business and Accounting Quincy Jordan will admit she’s a country girl at heart – one who likes to ride horses and drive a pickup truck. Yet when it comes to her life professionally, she envisions a future as a corporate lawyer. This was a decision reached during a career fair when … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Quincy Jordan→

EPIC Spotlight: Nina Gupta

“My firm belief is that if you’re doing research, you are a better classroom teacher than if you’re not.” Dr. Nina Gupta Distinguished Professor Department of Management John H. Tyson Chair in Management The idea was to come to the United States, earn her doctorate and return to her homeland of India. Sometimes things don’t … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Nina Gupta→

EPIC Spotlight: Nick Dintelmann

“Getting involved right away at Walton College is key.” Nick Dintelmann Senior Major: International Business concentrating in Supply Chain Management Minors: French, Economics After touring the University of Arkansas, it was the Walton College that helped me decide to enroll here. Seeing the Walton College campus and hearing about its programs and all it does … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Nick Dintelmann→

EPIC Spotlight: Molly Rapert

“It’s exciting to see how everyone is pushing forward.” Dr. Molly Rapert Associate Professor Department of Marketing A pendant in the shape of Africa hangs from a chain around Dr. Molly Rapert’s neck. For Rapert, it’s more than just a piece of jewelry. It symbolizes a country within Africa’s borders. Ethiopia. That was where she, … Continue reading EPIC Spotlight: Molly Rapert→

In the Spotlight