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

Graduating Student Spotlight: Babatunji Ogunjobi

John Hill — Tue, 18 May 2021 14:13:55 +0000

Babatunji “Ted” Ogunjobi is graduating this month with a master’s degree in business information systems from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a perfect 4.0 GPA.�� Even though he had previously founded three startup companies, Ogunjobi had never joined a business program before ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I chose the Business Information Systems Program because the curriculum blends acquiring business management and technology skills relevant for the technology driven world we live in today,” he said. A native of Nigeria, Ogunjobi is putting his business skills and entrepreneurial mindset to good use as a senior business program manager at Microsoft. “There I will join the team in the quest to build products that empower every individual and organization in the world,” Ogunjobi said. Tell us about yourself. My name is Babatunji Ogunjobi, but most people call me Ted. I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and lived there for 31 years. My first degree was a bachelor’s degree in engineering in information and communication technology, which I obtained in 2012 from Covenant University, Nigeria. I am very entrepreneurial, having previously founded three startups. In 2019, after having worked in Nigeria for six years at an insurance company, I decided to leave to acquire a Master of Science degree in Business Information Systems at ��Vlog��ý little Rock. I also wanted to gather more knowledge and apply my skills to organizations on a more global scale. I will be graduating from this program with distinction and a 4.0 GPA. How do you feel about your upcoming graduation? I am very excited. This degree is coming nine years after I obtained my first college degree and 15 years after I was refused a visa to study in the U.S. because the consular officer said I was a mediocre student. I am glad I am graduating against all odds with distinction. I have received different awards and scholarships along the way including:

2019 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock International Students Scholarship Award
2020 National Sales Network Leadership Award
2020 National Society of Black Engineers Apex Scholar Award
2020 Grad Cohort for the Underrepresented Minorities and Persons with Disabilities Workshop by the Computer Research Association
2021 National Society of Black Engineers BCA/Affiliate/ Fellows Scholarship

Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock originally because of the international student diversity, graduate assistantship opportunities, affordable cost of living in Little Rock, the Business School’s AACSB certification, and huge research base through centers like COSMOS and ASBTDC. Why did you choose to study business information systems? I had spent the last decade gathering technology skills and spent some time building startups/businesses. However, I had never formally enrolled for a business program. I chose Business Information Systems because the curriculum blends acquiring business management and technology skills relevant for the technology driven world we live in today. What teachers inspired you at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? All of my teachers were great. I am especially thankful to Dr. Robert Michell, Dr. Sung-Kwam Kim, Dr. Karen Leonard, and Dr. Alan Boss. What do you plan to do after graduation?

Babatunji “Ted” Ogunjobi

This June I will be commencing work at Microsoft as a senior business program manager. There I will join the team in the quest to build products that empower every individual and organization in the world. Did you participate in any extracurricular or service activities? I was a member of the Association for Information Systems, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chapter. I was also a digital decoder volunteer with Amnesty International. What is your favorite memory of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? The opportunity to meet students from diverse cultures and taste cuisines from different countries especially at Karl Lenser’s Friday lunch for international students. This made my first year here very memorable. What advice would you give to future students? ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a great place to achieve your educational goals. The student base is very diverse, the curriculum is top notch, and the university provides a pedestal for the audacious to achieve the impossible. Is there anything else you’d like to add? I was a summer scholar intern for HP in 2020, and I interned at First Orion Corporation in Little Rock as a product analyst between January and April 2021. On campus, I worked as a graduate research assistant within the Records and Registration department for Malissa Mathis, registrar, and Dana Steele, associate registrar. Their managerial styles were worthy of emulation, and I gained a lot of knowledge working for them.

Graduating ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employee lands master’s degree and dream job

John Hill — Mon, 18 May 2020 13:02:21 +0000

In 2011, Colleen Godley, of Cabot, faced the devastating loss of her job when the Conestoga Wood Specialities warehouse in Little Rock closed down. “I thought I needed to do something different because manufacturing is not a safe place to be anymore, but manufacturing was the only job I’ve ever known,” Godley said. “I worked there since I was 18.” This month, Godley will graduate with a Master of Science degree in business information systems from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. It’s something that still amazes her since she never thought she would go to college in the first place. “I was actually the first one in my family to go to college,” she said. “Growing up in Detroit, I was brought up to think I wasn’t going to college. I was brought up knowing that I was going to work in a factory. We couldn’t afford college.” After she lost her job, while searching for some inspiration online, Godley took a career aptitude test, and the results showed that she would be suited for a job in the legal field. She was recommended to apply to a job opening as an administrative assistant at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, and it seemed like fate. While working at Conestoga Wood Specialities, Godley earned an associate of business administration degree in information systems from American Continental University. With a desire to complete her education, Godley began working toward a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in business information systems. Godley gained a promotion to career service program coordinator in 2016 and completed her undergraduate degree in 2018. “I loved all the courses and the professors in the College of Business,” Godley said. “They were all encouraging and helpful in every way possible. The material is so interesting and fascinating to me. Everyone at the law school was supportive as well. The law professors and staff were very encouraging to me and helped keep me going as well.” Never one to slow down, Godley immediately enrolled in a graduate program after completing her undergraduate degree. Unlike most graduates, Godley doesn’t have to worry about finding a job. In February, her hard work and determination led her to a new position as an ERP business analyst and developer in Information Technology Services. “As a nontraditional student, I was concerned about getting a job after graduation because I didn’t have work experience in the IT field,” she said. “With everything the professors taught me, it was enough to land that job. I’ve been there for a few months now, and I absolutely love it. It’s pretty much my dream job.” Godley and her husband, Jeremy, have four daughters and one grandson. Outside of work, Godley is also an active volunteer at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cabot, where she serves as a Sunday School teacher. She’s thankful to her husband for helping her make the time for her education. “I was married to such an awesome husband who helped me with the kids so I could go to class as night,” she said. “He even rearranged his work schedule so he could pick up the kids on the nights I have class. I don’t know how I would have done it without his help.” Now that she is graduating, Godley is encouraging others to go to college. While it took sacrifices to complete her education, they were worth it. “I’d love to tell all students that they can go to college. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too poor or not smart enough. I think everyone has what it takes if they have the willingness to try. You have to want it,” Godley said. “I used my lunch periods to go to class. I had to sacrifice time with my kids. There are a lot of things you have to sacrifice to get it done. I knew the reward would be there at the end. My kids seeing me accomplish this is a greater advantage for them. It encourages them to follow in my footsteps and go to college.”

Seheli awarded Acxiom Diversity Scholarship

John Hill — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:10:53 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has been selected as one of the 10 nationwide winners of a $5,000 scholarship from Acxiom’s Diversity Scholarship Program.�� Rehnuma Seheli, a business information systems graduate student at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is finishing up her last semester and will graduate with her master’s degree in May. A native of Bangladesh, Seheli completed a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in physics before moving to the U.S. in 2015. “I’ve always been attracted toward math and science, but my interests have moved to information science and technology since I moved to the United States,” Seheli said. “I’ve seen how developed countries stay ahead in business using advanced data techniques, and that is why I wanted to do a master’s degree. You need people who understand information technology as well as business. I think this is the most valuable degree you can do nowadays.” This scholarship offers $5,000 to U.S.-based students from diverse backgrounds who are enrolled in a full-time post-secondary degree program such as computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, information quality, information systems, engineering, mathematics and statistics, or related areas of study. “We congratulate our scholarship recipients on this exciting accomplishment,” Acxiom CEO Dennis Self said. “This scholarship program represents Acxiom’s continued commitment to helping the next generation of leaders pursue their dreams through computer science and information technology careers. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to obtain future success and help foster a more diverse pool of qualified talent, which will benefit the marketing and technology industries for many years.” This is the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship Program’s eighth year. Diversity scholarship recipients are selected based on their ability to demonstrate a combination of academic achievement, field of study aimed at information technology, and professional interest as it relates to Acxiom’s business needs. “Acxiom believes that diversity sparks innovation and that an inclusive workplace environment encourages everyone to share their unique perspectives and skills,” said Mary Ward, chief people officer at Acxiom. “Our Diversity Scholarship Program takes Acxiom’s values into the community by supporting the goals of brilliant future leaders. We look forward to the contributions these students will make to our industry.” Seheli is thankful for the scholarship, which is helping her break into a field she said would be difficult to enter in her native country. “I’m grateful for the scholarship. In Bangladesh, women in the information technology industry is not common,” she said. “When I came to the U.S., my path changed completely. There are so many opportunities in the IT industry here. I want to encourage more students from Asia to come and get their degrees in information technology.” Seheli joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2018. She has worked as a conference services assistant and a graduate assistant in health services until December 2019, when she moved to Champaign, Illinois, with her husband and will complete her final semester online. While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she was a member of the Association of Information Systems. Last summer, she completed an information technology and business analytics internship with Windstream that she loved and plans to look for a similar full-time position after graduation.

Graduate Student Spotlight on Malik Williams

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 14:53:41 +0000

Meet Malik Williams, a native of Waldo, Arkansas (pop. 1,283), who will graduate this December with a bachelor’s degree in business information systems. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate the graduation of Williams along with hundreds of other students during a commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Jack Stephens Center.�� Tell us about a little bit about yourself. I’m an only child who is still a little country. I love hanging out with close family and friends, learning new things, and traveling to different places. I work part-time at the Genius Bar at the Apple store in Little Rock while going to school full-time. My mom taught me how to cook, clean, do laundry, and mind my Ps and Qs. My dad taught me the importance of hard work and said that I could do anything I set my mind to. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? When I was in 10th grade, the TRIO Talent Search college prep program helped me learn about colleges and universities in the state. My career coach helped me fill out college and scholarship applications. It was a choice between Southern Arkansas University and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because it is in the capital city and had the top business school in Arkansas. My mom wanted me to stay at home, but I felt like I needed a challenge and wanted to get out of my comfort zone. TRIO and all of the wonderful mentors helped me do just that. I can definitely say that I would not have been so exposed to so many opportunities if I had stayed in my hometown. Another thing that helped my decision was the Dr. Charles W. Donaldson Summer Bridge Academy (SBA) for high school students. I came up here for three weeks before the beginning of my freshman year to attend this program. This program pairs students with mentors that help them with their weaknesses in different areas to get them ahead of the curve in the first year of college. Why did you major in business information systems? During my freshman year, I was undecided, but I knew I wanted to do something in the business field that would help me make a good living. I chose business information systems because it is a versatile degree that contains all aspects of business mixed with information technology. I’ve always been interested in technology. (I’m the IT person in our family.) What kind of careers can you do with a business information systems major? There are so many choices such as marketing, management, project management, database administration, business analysis, coding, and software development and others. What companies are you interested in? Apple, Blue Cross Blue Shield or Southwest Power Pool would be great companies to work for. I’d like to stay in Little Rock to build a foundation, but would consider relocating. How would your professors describe you? I think they would say I am laid back and easygoing. I’m versatile and soak in new information like a sponge. My job at Apple has helped me develop people skills. Who were your mentors? My mom and dad are my life coaches. My cousin Montrell Turner is a business information systems graduate from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and has always had good advice for me. My hometown friend Corrigan Revels helped me early in my college career. The Summer Bridge Academy program helped me stay on track and connected me to the right people. What was your biggest challenge in college? Procrastination, and the balance of social life, school, and family. You have to figure out what is important. Learning about “delayed gratification” helped me put things into perspective. I listen to podcasts that motivate me and help me self-reflect. What was the toughest decision you had to make? Working part-time while going to school full-time. My parents wanted me to focus solely on school. What advice would you give to incoming students? Stay focused and keep a good balance. Don’t overwhelm yourself, because stress is real. Take care of everything on the front end and network. You can’t get by without help. Most of all, never lose sight of the goal and reason why you made the decision to come to college. This story was compiled by Toni Boyer-Stewart.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students create new inventory management system for Maumelle business through Real World Classroom Program

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 16:31:38 +0000

For small business owner Jeannie Belew, manually managing the inventory of her Maumelle-based competitive swim store,, can be a hassle for herself, family members, and employees.�� “We do everything by hand,” Belew said. “We write out a sales receipt, and we don’t have a scanner to scan UPC codes. We have several different areas where we sell: online, Amazon, in the store, and swim meets. In order to keep track, it would be great to scan the codes and have our inventory automatically updated.” When the offered Belew an opportunity for students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to assist her, she jumped at it. Both Belew and her daughter, Chelsea Churchill Murphy, graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and competed on the swimming and diving team. Belew is also a long-time client of the center, part of the university’s College of Business. A team of students from Dr. Vess Johnson’s Information Systems Development Project course developed a customized inventory management system for Splashwear Aquatics during the fall 2017 term. The course is the capstone for business information systems majors. Led by Salem Jamell, who graduated in December, the team included Casey Foster, Subhana Kamran, and Jonathon Turchi. “The system really gives Splashwear control over their inventory,” Jamell said. “They can see what items sell faster, what items are going out of stock, what is not selling. It’s really about saving money. If they don’t know what they have in stock, they are making reorders based only on what they see, not on data.” The project was a part of ASBTDC’s Real World Classroom program, which utilizes local businesses as learning labs where students gain real-world experience. The center recruits local businesses to participate. With support from their instructors and ASBTDC, students team up with business owners to tackle a specific business question or need. At the conclusion of each project, the businesses get concrete ideas and innovative insights they can apply to their operations. Johnson, assistant professor of business information systems, said that he runs his class as if he were the CEO of a company and his students are the employees. They hand in weekly reports and manage all communication with the client through the length of the project. “The objective of the course is to give the student an opportunity to work on a ‘real-world’ project with an external client. We ultimately want the students to have an experience that will closely mimic what they will do in their post-graduation job,” Johnson said. Jamell’s experience as class leader has taught him valuable programming skills as well as skills that will help him in his professional career. “Doing this project gave me the confidence in my ability to create a product from an idea and a need from a client. That is something I have wanted to do for a very long time,” Jamell said. “I did not go into the project thinking I would be the team leader, but I learned a lot about time management, making sure every team member had a proper role, and getting everybody to communicate. I learned a lot about being a team player and a leader.” For more information about the high-impact learning experiences ASBTDC provides through Real World Classroom, contact Martial Trigeaud at mxtrigeaud@ualr.edu.

Rolf Wigand honored with best paper award

Shanna Fitzgerald — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 14:57:53 +0000

Rolf Wigand, a��University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor emeritus, recently won an award for his collaborative research on the effects of the internet on the real estate industry. ��Wigand, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock distinguished professor emeritus in both the departments of Information Science and Business Information Systems, was among three current and former Syracuse University professors . The honored Wigand, a former Syracuse professor, and current Syracuse professors Kevin Crowston and Steven Sawyer with a best paper award during the organization’s 2016 annual meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. In the paper — — the three researchers suggested that, contrary to popular thought, internet transactions would not easily replace the elaborate role of real estate agents. Real estate transactions are more than bringing together buyers and sellers, the authors contended: Agents actually act as “ … quasi firms helping buyers and sellers navigate complex market transactions.” Those roles include working with contracts, assisting with mortgage lenders, collaborating with home inspectors, and partnering with professionals in other industries. “ … We find that ties to other professionals are more important than ties to buyers and sellers as predictors of the market intermediary’s income, counter to the general wisdom about real estate in particular and market intermediaries more generally,” the paper’s authors wrote. Researchers used a national survey of 525 real estate agents and data from the U.S. residential real estate industry. The project was conducted in cooperation with the , and the research was funded by the . Wigand, who held the role of Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, is a past director of the Center for Digital Commerce and the Graduate Program in Information Management at Syracuse University.

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