- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Eichler, Raper as Distinguished Business Alumni

John Hill — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 12:40:01 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has recognized two talented business leaders in Arkansas as the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business. Brad Eichler, head of investment banking at Stephens Inc., has been named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, while Chris Raper, chief strategy officer for Smiley Technologies, Inc., received the Dean’s Award for Excellence. They were recognized during an Oct. 7 awards ceremony at the Little Rock Marriott. “The School of Business is extremely honored to recognized two very deserving alumni for their successes: Brad Eichler and Chris Raper,” said Dr. Robert Mitchell, director of the School of Business at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “These individuals represent our missions to make a difference in the lives of our students and to impact our community partners. I thank each of you for your support to the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business and your commitment to quality business education and community impact.” The Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor granted by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business, is given to a graduate who has made a significant impact in business or a nonprofit organization and has served the Little Rock community and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a great asset for our community,” Eichler said. “The university provided me with a high-quality education and prepared me for life after the classroom.” Eichler joined Stephens in July 1991 as an associate in the firm’s Research Department covering the property and casualty insurance industry. In 1999 he began to focus on building the firm’s research effort in information technology and services. He was named director of research in 2006 and co-head of investment banking in 2007. He currently oversees more than 220 banking professionals across nine offices in the U.S. and operations of Stephens Europe Limited in London, England, and Frankfurt, Germany. Prior to joining Stephens, Eichler spent two years with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and earned the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst in 1995. The Dean’s Award for Excellence is granted to a graduate of the past 10 years who has shown promise as a leader in business or nonprofit work and who is actively involved in serving Little Rock and the university. “I am so thankful for what ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is doing for our community and beyond. Being selected as the recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence was a humbling experience,” Raper said. “I am very honored to have been recognized for an award in which I did not seek out. There are many people to thank for helping me get where I am today. It’s a team effort both at home and at work. Thanks to my Smiley Technologies teammates and my family.” Raper joined Smiley Technologies in 2018. He has previously served as chief operating officer and was responsible for customer support, client relations, quality management, and data processing and analytics. As chief strategy officer, he is responsible for strategic planning, product development, merger and acquisition activity, and partnership development. Before joining Smiley Technologies, Raper spent 23 years in the telecommunications industry in various leadership roles focused in financial and strategic planning, data analytics, competitive intelligence, and product management and development. He has earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and an MBA from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The School of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon was sponsored by Stephens Inc., Smiley Technologies, Arkansas Business, and U.S. Bank.

Tusty ten Bensel Selected for Arkansas Business 40 Under 40

John Hill — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 20:15:27 +0000

Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, associate professor and director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, has been selected for this year’s cohort of . Arkansas Business is thrilled to recognize 40 individuals that are making a significant impact in their companies, organizations, and community. The state’s rising stars are nominated by readers and chosen by the editors of Arkansas Business. “I am honored to be named as one of the recipients of the 40 under 40 Arkansas Business award,” ten Bensel said. “The 2022 recipients are truly impressive, and I am humbled to be among them.” As the school’s director, ten Bensel oversees five-degree programs, including an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, one of which is fully online, as well as the state’s only doctorate program in criminal justice. She also serves as the director of the Justice Research and Policy Center at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, which works to cultivate, support, and disseminate research that is relevant to the State of Arkansas. The center provides data-driven research to policymakers, collaborates with state agencies, conducts program evaluations, and promotes evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. With a well-known reputation for her commitment to students and dedication to the community, ten Bensel has received the 2019 Faculty Excellence Award in Research and Creative Endeavors by the former College of Social Science and Communication and the 2018 “Educator of the Year” from the Single Parent Scholarship Foundation for Pulaski County, Arkansas. Over the past few years, ten Bensel has been involved in a number of contracts and grants that involved disproportionate minority contact among juveniles in the criminal justice system in Arkansas, community surveys of crime and safety, neighborhood characteristics and reentry, and system-involved youth mentoring. In addition, she is part of a team that is collecting data on personal transformation and identity changes among those who receive training and resources from Heifer International around the world. Her current research on hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ population and Muslim population in Arkansas will enable the community to better understand their lived experiences (discrimination, harassment, and victimization). Once the projects are done and the results have been assessed, she will join a team to advocate for resources and policy reform if needed. She received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in criminal justice as well as a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a Ph.D. in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is also a graduate of the Women in Education Leadership program at the Harvard Business School and president of the Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice. Profiles of the 40 honorees will be featured in a special supplement of Arkansas Business to be distributed on May 23. Presented by Bank OZK, an in-person luncheon ceremony with an interactive virtual experience will take place from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. June 8 at the DoubleTree, Little Rock. Tickets can be purchased online at .

��Vlog��ý Little Rock, ASBTDC Recognized in Arkansas Business Best of Business Awards

John Hill — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:19:14 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), based at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, have both been recognized in . The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business was named the Best Business School in Arkansas. “Our School of Business, with its AACSB international-accredited status, ranks in the top five percent of business schools worldwide,” said Dr. Robert Mitchell, director of the School of Business. “This year, our undergraduate program was recognized as one of the top-tiered business schools in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges Edition.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business students experience teaching, research, and service opportunities that serve as a foundation for their future business careers. “Our business programs differentiate themselves by incorporating high-tech components across the curriculum as well as by offering high-flex course offerings, giving students the opportunity to attend class on campus, via Zoom, or fully online,” Mitchell said. “Our undergraduate and graduate programs are designed to provide career acceleration in today’s competitive job market.” Meanwhile, ASBTDC was named the Best Business Consulting Firm in Arkansas. “Being named the Best Business Consulting Firm in Arkansas is truly an honor for ASBTDC,” State Director Laura Fine said. “I am very pleased that our team is being recognized for its outstanding work to help small businesses start, grow, and succeed. Building on four decades of experience consulting with Arkansas’ entrepreneurs and small businesses, we launched a strategic initiative two years ago to expand our consulting capacity.” Since then, ASBTDC has added four new regional offices to make consulting services more accessible to both rural and urban markets. They have also engaged partners with a wide range of expertise, experience, and industry knowledge to collaborate with ASBTDC’s full-time consultants. “Today, we have a team of more than 75 people focused on making ASBTDC the first and best resource for small business assistance in the state,” Fine said. “We have a passion for client success, and our goal is to support Arkansas entrepreneurs with a suite of services to help position their businesses for growth.” The winners of the awards were selected by a panel of thousands of employees, employers, and entrepreneurs in Arkansas.

Wayland Reflects on Incredible Career at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 21:00:18 +0000

Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, is retiring after a 14-year tenure at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I have appreciated all the opportunities that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has given me. It’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed it all,” she said. “I’ve learned a great deal. I am very grateful to the institution. I really enjoyed engaging with the external business community. “ In addition to being dean, Wayland also served as a professor, associate dean of graduate studies, and chair of the Department of Marketing and Advertising at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Wayland considers some of the greatest achievements during her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock career to be the establishment of an advising center in the School of Business; creating the Career Catalyst co-curricular program to provide students with workplace skills; and the development of a Student Success Endowment to provide students with financial support for competitions, scholarships, and high-impact learning activities. “You can’t do anything alone, and my leadership team has been an incredible help and source of inspiration during my career,” she said. “We built student services with the leadership team. The Career Catalyst Program is very student-centered and has helped so many of our students. We had Atrium visits, executives in residence, and many programs that exposed our students to business professionals.” Wayland also worked to enhance placement activities for students through the addition of career fairs, internship markets, and company atrium visits. During her tenure, the School of Business’s annual golf tournament and alumni luncheon events were expanded. “I really enjoyed all the events that brought the outside community into our college,” she said. “We hosted an event with Johnny Cupcakes, held the annual Carnival of Clubs, and had executives in residence. I’ve really enjoyed working with the advisory council and getting to know the business community in Arkansas. I had a great leadership team in the former College of Business. We had fun, and we always put our students first. I want to thank my leadership team, staff, and faculty members at the college for helping me through so many years as dean.”

Dr. Jane Wayland, right, participates in the 2019 Carnival of Clubs with faculty and staff members. Photo by Ben Krain.

Before ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Wayland spent 16 years at Eastern Illinois University as a professor, associate chair, MBA program coordinator, and chair of the School of Business. In 1998, the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences honored her with the School of Business Distinguished Professor Award, which recognizes the professor that demonstrates distinguished teaching, research, and service. Wayland earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and an MBA at the University of Southern Mississippi and a Ph.D. in Marketing at the University of North Texas in 1989. In Arkansas, Wayland has been active in the community. She served on the boards for Economics Arkansas, the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, Accelerate Arkansas, Sales Marketing Executive International Arkansas, and Rotary 99. She also served on the Delta Trust Women’s Advisory Committee. She served as president of SMEI Arkansas and is past president of the Arkansas Women’s Leadership Forum. In 2013, she was named a Women of Influence by Arkansas Business. “One of the boards that resonated the most with me has been Economics Arkansas because they believe in educating students in financial literacy,” Wayland said. “I just ended my term. I served Economics Arkansas for the longest, for over 10 years.”

Drs. Jane and Bob Wayland at the third annual School of Business Golf Tournament.

Wayland and her husband Robert are moving to Virginia to enjoy their retirement. The couple has four sons, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She is also a crafter and is looking forward to having more time to make greeting cards, do needlepoint, and other creative projects. While the dean has much advice to offer from her decades in higher education, Wayland said the most important thing students can do to be successful is to embrace all the opportunities the university has to offer. “Students need to be involved,” she said. “All the workshops, working with businesses on projects, meeting executives. They need to participate in all the learning opportunities they have inside and outside of the classroom. Don’t do the minimal. Engage in lifelong learning. You don’t stop learning when you leave school.”

Chancellor Drale featured in Arkansas 250

John Hill — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 22:58:15 +0000

A familiar face at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as a state leader in education in the Arkansas 250 is a publication by Arkansas Business Publishing Group that recognizes the state’s most influential leaders in banking and finance, construction and real estate, economic development, education and health care, government and policy, industry, legal, poultry and agriculture, quality of life, and contemporary legends. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s 10th chancellor, Dr. Christina Drale, is highlighted on page 45. As ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s chief executive officer, Drale oversees the administration, coordination, and development of all executive functions of the university. “To reach its potential, Arkansas needs more investment in education in general, and in early childhood education in particular,” Drale said. “We won’t be able to increase the number of individuals with college degrees or other post-secondary credentials without starting earlier on educational preparation.” In her profile, Drale recommends two books to read: “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari and “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock named Best Business School in Arkansas

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 14:10:05 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business has been honored as the best business school in Arkansas for 2018. Arkansas Business named ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Business as the Best Business School in the newspaper’s 12th annual. Dr. Jane Wayland, Stephen Harrow Smith Dean of Business, is thankful for the nomination. She believes the university’s prime location in the capital city near wonderful businesses and industry leaders as well as the college’s great faculty and staff are what led to the College of Business receiving the honor. “I am excited that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has been named the best business school by Arkansas Business,” Wayland said. “Our dedicated faculty and staff and prime location in the capital city ensure students have the best opportunity to interact with the business community and to pursue a course of study for which they are passionate.” The winners and finalists were selected by Arkansas Business readers. “The winners and finalists appearing here were chosen not by a group of panelists around a conference table, but by the thousands of busy employees, employers, executives, movers and shakers whose work leads them to use the companies and services listed. In other words, the experts have spoken,” Arkansas Business staff wrote. “From accountants to dry cleaners to transportation, the winners and finalists have proven able to best meet the unique needs of businesses and business leaders in the state.”

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Eichler, Raper as Distinguished Business Alumni