Can Your Startup's Messaging Attract Competitors? New Evidence from Mobile App Markets
New research suggests that the way mobile app startups communicate publicly may influence whether competitors decide to imitate them.
07/21/2026 | By Varun Grover
Faculty Expertise
Research. Education. Impact.
At the Sam M. Walton College of Business, we foster a culture of excellence and collaboration for both students and faculty. Research, education and impact are our mission's guiding pillars, with faculty spearheading innovative research and outstanding education. We inspire students to make a positive impact on society and the business industry, continuing our legacy of excellence for future generations.
27
Number of Endowed Faculty Chairs
#5
Ranked Fifth for Information Systems Research
28,719
2022 Walton Faculty Citations
Faculty Research
Research is vital to Walton College's mission, with faculty conducting pioneering studies that address real-world challenges and advance business knowledge.
The college is committed to providing ample research support throughout faculty careers, ensuring access to resources needed for impactful research, including unique databases and data sets.
A Culture of Community
Our esteemed faculty of over 265 business experts offer unique learning experiences, preparing students for success in the ever-changing business world.
Faculty serve as mentors, guiding students to reach their full potential through engaging coursework, experiential learning, and real-world applications. Education at the Walton College transcends knowledge acquisition; it's about applying concepts to create impact and positive change.
Endowed Chairs, Professorships and Lectureships
We are committed to supporting our faculty's passion for research and growth through generous funding opportunities. Endowed chairs, professorships and lectureships play a crucial role in providing the much-needed support to help our faculty excel. These prestigious positions not only recognize exceptional talent but also offer funding to boost their research endeavors. Approximately 40% of our faculty hold these esteemed positions, setting Walton College apart in the world of public business schools.
I'm constantly amazed at the level of faculty research and teaching talent that we're able to attract. The business region of northwest Arkansas, in addition to the mountain of support we recieve from industry partners, really has an impact. And our students benefit directly from this.
Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business
Walton Faculty Insights
Walton Insights shares our faculty's innovative research while also offering perspectives on various business trends, problems, technologies, and more. These informative and engaging articles provide readers with a fresh look at the world of business. Learn more from our faculty who are innovators, seasoned business experts, and influential voices in academia and industry on a global scale.
Do Consumers Pay Off the Wrong Debt First?
Consumers often prioritize paying off older loans first—even when paying off newer debt would save more money—because they feel they have psychologically invested more effort toward their older debt.
07/14/2026 | By Daniel Villanova
Do Investors Really Lose 15% of Fund Returns to Bad Timing? New Research Challenges a Popular Claim
New research suggests mutual fund investors may not be nearly as poor at market timing as widely cited industry metrics imply.
07/07/2026 | By Tim Riley
Does AI Change How Demand Planners Adjust Forecasts?
Managers respond more strongly to errors from AI forecasts than traditional models, suggesting that perception—not just performance—shapes demand planning decisions.
06/30/2026 | By Finnegan McKinley, Rebekah Brau, John Aloysius, and Adriana Rossiter Hofer
Do Shift Coworkers Make or Break Customer Service?
Customer experiences and loyalty depend not just on individual employees or managers—but on the coworkers sharing each shift and the overall “shift climate.”
06/23/2026 | By Valerie Good
Can Accounting Comparability Increase Foreign Investment in Private Firms?
Aligning private firm accounting with global standards appears to reduce information barriers and significantly increase foreign investment in previously hard-to-evaluate markets.
06/09/2026 | By Kris Allee
Why Do Some Social Media Posts Go Viral While Others Don’t?
Content goes viral not because of what brands say, but because of how it makes audiences feel, with humor and emotional impact driving the most sharing.
06/02/2026 | By Jeff Mullins and Patrick A. Stewart
How Can Economists Measure Policy Impacts When Key Variables Change?
A new method shows how to accurately measure treatment effects—even when key variables change—by separating direct impacts from the hidden mechanisms driving them.
06/01/2026 | By Kyle Butts
Faculty News and Highlights
Business Forecast Luncheon Highlights Economic Outlook for 2026
Local business leaders, policymakers, and community members gathered to find out: what economic trends are likely to shape the economy in 2026?
02/12/2026
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
Q&A with Alan Ellstrand
Alan Ellstrand, associate dean for curriculum innovation & teaching effectiveness, shares his insights about faculty research.
04/29/2025 | By Lori McLemore
MacKeith and Waller Receive $300,000 Award From U.S. Forest Service
The initiative will identify, research, develop and promote the use of innovative wood construction products for Arkansas’ forest economy.
01/14/2025 | By Lori McLemore
Folse to Assume Marketing Chair in Walton College
Judith Anne Garretson Folse, Distinguished Professor and the Chair of the Department of Marketing, has been named the new holder of the prestigious Walmart Chair in Marketing within the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
12/10/2024 | By Meghan Perry and Jerra Toms
An Enduring Legacy: The William Dillard II Leadership Chair
Matt Waller is poised to continue Bill Dillard’s vision for inspiring and influencing the next generation of business leaders.
11/20/2024 | By Meghan Perry
Walton College Names Seminar Series in Honor of Mary Ann Greenwood
“She commanded any room with respect and poise, building a successful firm of the highest standard. Her business acumen only came second to her love for Arkansas."
11/08/2024 | By Meghan Perry
Walton Professor Publishes Book on Supply Chain Innovators
In The Making of the Supply Chain: How Five CSCMP Supply Chain Hall of Famers Shaped the Industry, Remko van Hoek explores how the innovations of five pioneers in the discipline reshaped the ways we obtain our products and services and the role that supply chains play in business and the world around us.
10/30/2024 | By Ryan Sheets