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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Names Mitchell as Director of School of Business; Woolridge as Interim Chair of Management, Marketing, and Technology Department

John Hill — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 14:31:46 +0000

Dr. Robert Mitchell has been appointed as the director of the School of Business at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. “I am honored to be the director of the School of Business, as we address the evolving needs of our students, faculty, and employers through our career-centric programs of study and outreach activities,” Mitchell said. “I look forward to working with our business faculty, who have a strong academic and corporate background, in addressing the changing landscape of higher education and the business environment.” Mitchell has more than four decades of experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, having started at the university in 1979. Before becoming director, he worked as the chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, and Technology. He has also served as chair of the Department of Business Information Systems, associate dean for Undergraduate Studies, and interim dean of the College of Business. Mitchell brings both experience and knowledge to the position. His teaching and research interests include IT strategy, technical training, business communication, and pedagogy. He spent 24 years in organization management in the nonprofit sector as director of Delta Pi Epsilon; a professional organization focused on promoting excellence in research and teaching in business. He has received the College Excellence in Research Award, multiple distinguished paper awards presented by the Federation of Business Disciplines, and the John Robert Gregg Award. Additionally, Dr. Richard Woolridge, associate professor of information systems, has been named the interim chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, and Technology.

Dr. Richard Woolridge

Woolridge joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a professor in 2010. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington as well as a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in management information systems from the University of Alabama.�� Wooridge has extensive business and information technology experience gained over a 35-year career. He has broad industry experience including manufacturing, financial services, insurance, oil and gas, software, transportation, and government.�� He has functional expertise in operations, governance, accounting, administration, asset management, engineering, inventory control, logistics, procurement, product management, sales, and technology and served in many technical roles. He managed projects, consulting practices, small companies, and commercial software products.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Names Braun as New Dean of College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 14:56:01 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Dr. Frank Braun as the new dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, effective Aug. 16.�� “I am pleased to announce Dr. Braun will be joining us at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “I have confidence that he will be an excellent addition to our leadership team and will foster expanded connections with our local community and business partners throughout the state.”�� Braun, dean of the School of Business and a professor of business informatics at Baldwin Wallace University, will replace Dean Jane Wayland, who retired this summer after 14 years of service at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, associate dean, has been serving as interim dean of the college. The College of Business, Health, and Human Services is the largest college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. Braun will be responsible for working with many business and industry leaders in the area and cultivating students to help build the state’s growing workforce and economic development.�� “I see many opportunities at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to cultivate transdisciplinary connections that will enrich scholarship, experiential learning, and industry engagement,” Braun said. “I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues and other key individuals to engage our students and stakeholders in initiatives that promote innovative, inclusive, and prosperous partnerships across the college, campus, and community.” Braun was selected following a national search conducted by a committee of dedicated faculty, staff, and university stakeholders led by Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Braun as a colleague,” Berry said. “He brings a wealth of experience and has some fantastic ideas for how the College of Business, Health, and Human Services can further engage our city, region, and state. He is exactly the right person to move this relatively new college forward.” Braun will bring comprehensive experience in the business industry and the classroom to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He has more than 20 years experience in executive-level information systems management, consulting and business development, including senior leadership positions with United Dairy Farmers, TouchScreen Systems, and Klosterman Baking Company. He also was the contracted general manager for the IBM North America Technology Asset Management and Evaluation Program Logistics Center. “Dr. Braun will bring the right expertise and direction to this position,” Bain said. “He will be a community-oriented, thoughtful leader for the college. His expertise and multifaceted background position him to be a synergistic leader for the university’s largest college.”�� Prior to joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Braun also served as department chair, associate professor of business and health informatics, and director of the Master of Science in Information Systems Program at Northern Kentucky University. His research areas include project leadership, knowledge management, experiential learning, organizational resiliency, and entrepreneurship. Braun earned a bachelor’s degree in applied science from Miami University, a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University. Braun is active in the cybersecurity domain and holds the Certified Information Security Manager credential.

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.”

Collier-Tenison Named Interim Dean of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Business, Health, and Human Services

John Hill — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 20:01:33 +0000

Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison has been named interim dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, effective July 1.�� “I am glad to be able to step into the interim dean role to provide continuity of support and stability for the college as faculty and students return to campus in the new academic year,” Collier-Tenison said. “As a new college, we are eagerly working to form a shared identity and CBHHS is ripe with opportunity for increased collaboration across disciplines, new external partnerships, and continued growth.” Collier-Tenison, associate dean of CBHHS, will oversee the college until a permanent dean is announced to replace Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of CBHHS, who will retire at the end of the month after a 14-year tenure at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School, is leading a national search conducted by a dedicated committee of faculty, staff, and university stakeholders. The search is near completion, and the new dean is expected to be announced in July. As interim dean, Collier-Tenison will oversee the college with the largest student enrollment at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The College of Business, Health, and Human Services contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. “Shannon’s experience as associate dean in two colleges coupled with her experience as interim dean of the previous College of Education and Health Professions made her the logical choice to serve in this interim capacity,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “I appreciate her willingness to serve in this critical role.” Collier-Tenison graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hendrix College as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. After beginning her career as a teaching fellow, graduate advisor, and assistant professor of social work at the University of Texas at Arlington, Collier-Tenison joined the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Social Work as an assistant professor in 2006 and served as coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Work program from 2010 to 2014. She also served as the restructuring liaison for the College of Social Sciences and Communication, interim co-director of the School of Social Work, associate dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, interim chair of the Department of Speech Language Pathology, and interim dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. An active member of the community, Collier-Tenison serves as an executive board member and Race Equity Committee member of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and volunteers at Little Rock Central High School. She previously served on the boards of Women and Children First and Kaleidoscope Grief Center and as a volunteer with Arkansas Kids Read. She has experience working with survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault as a crisis counselor, researcher, and advocate.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock receives $100,000 to establish endowed scholarship for Colliers International co-founder Dickson Flake

John Hill — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 22:57:03 +0000

A proud daughter has made a $100,000 donation to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to honor her father’s legacy in real estate. Leslye Shellam, daughter of L. Dickson Flake, one of four original partners of the predecessor to , made the donation to establish the L. Dickson Flake Endowed Scholarship during an Oct. 28 reception at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. “My father saw a great future for Little Rock. He was an avid Trojan fan, loved the university, and loved the education prospects,” Shellam said. “His goal for the scholarship is to give students the chance to get creative and able to concentrate on his or her vision to bring the real estate industry forth for the city and for the good of all of us who live here.” The scholarship will be used to provide assistance for education-related expenses, including tuition, books, fees, and room and board, for undergraduate students pursuing a finance degree with an emphasis in real estate in the School of Business. Flake, who passed away this summer at the age of 81, was well known in the Little Rock real estate community. In 1971, Dickson joined three partners to form Barnes, Quinn, Flake and Anderson, predecessor of the Little Rock – Bentonville commercial real estate firm of Colliers International, which is now the largest commercial real estate company in Arkansas. In 1973, Flake was the youngest member to date invited to membership in the American Society of Real Estate Counselors in 1973. He served as the organization’s president in 1989. He was awarded the CCIM organization award from the Realtors National Marketing Institute and SIOR designation from the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. In 1982, he received the Snyder Award from the CCIM organization for the most creative real estate exchange in the U.S. He was a member of The Little Rock Realtors Association, serving as its president in 1972 and was Arkansas Realtor of the Year in 1971. “My dad lived real estate. He loved it dearly, lived it daily,” Shellam said. “It is so much more than a degree or a title. I think my dad really demonstrated and lived that. He was a true family man, provider, teacher, and always there when you needed him. The company, Colliers International, was his second family. It shows you how whatever you do, the dedication and the ethics that you do it with, expands much further. I am so grateful for the bridge that these families, dad’s and Colliers, continue to impact Little Rock’s future, and I can’t wait to see the results of the students who are embarking on this career.” In addition to his prowess in the real estate community, Flake was a firm believer in the merits of higher education. He served as a member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Board of Visitors for 12 years and served as chairman in 1995 and 1996. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Business began its real estate program in the 1970s, but the college began revising the program in 2016 with advice from the local real estate community.�� “This donation reflects the importance of real estate in the local economy and of having an excellent real estate program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Dr. Mark Funk, chair of the Department of Finance. “Enrollment in the real estate program has doubled in the past few years.”

Dickson Flake

Elizabeth Small, former president and CEO of PDC Companies and PDC Construction, serves as the primary instructor for the real estate program. Since joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Small said the real estate program has placed an emphasis on building partnerships with the real estate community to provide opportunities for students to participate in real-world experiences before they graduate. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Real Estate program includes an advisory board, established in 2019, comprised of industry professionals who consult on curriculum development, serve as guest presenters/teachers in the classroom, open their businesses for educational field trips, serve as mentors, and provide internship opportunities for students. Small recalled how dedicated Flake was to the success of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock real estate program. “He was a powerful voice of reason in a most pragmatic and sometimes subtle way,” Small said. “When transitioning from a career in real estate development to teach that very subject, I received a wonderful note of congratulations and encouragement from Dickson. Because Dickson’s words were always special and supportive, I kept that note and I always will. When Dr. Wayland hired me to teach, my conversations with Dickson turned from the business of real estate to real estate education. He remained encouraging, supportive, and was clear about wanting us to produce graduates qualified to work not only in his office, but in other offices in the region. Dickson saw our students, as we do, as part of the economic development engine that keeps a region strong.” In the upper right photo, Dr. Jane Wayland (left), dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, Leslye Shellam (center), daughter of L. Dickson Flake, and Elizabeth Small (right), instructor of real estate, attend a reception at the Bailey Alumni Center to celebrate the establishment of the L. Dickson Flake Endowed Scholarship at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Rockwell named 2020 Sun Belt Faculty Member of the Year

John Hill — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:50:32 +0000

Dr. Casey Rockwell, assistant professor of marketing and advertising in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Business, has been named the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Faculty of the Year. After receiving ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Faculty of the Year Award, Rockwell was selected as the overall faculty winner from the 12 universities in the .�� “I was honored to be nominated by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student-athletes for this prestigious award,” Rockwell said. “It is my pleasure to work with our athletes and all of the students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Each student that enters our campus represents perseverance, a dream, and a chance to change the world around us. Some of our athletes have gone on to play professionally, build companies, and employ the skills learned at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to improve the world.” This award recognizes a faculty member from each Sun Belt institution who displays valuable classroom skills such as developing relationships, being a good communicator and showing a passion for teaching, engaging and inspiring students, while also separating themselves from their peers outside the classroom by regularly attending athletics events and displaying enthusiasm for the athletics department. “Dr. Rockwell is an extraordinary teacher and researcher,” said Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business, Health, and Human Services. “She maintains high academic standards in her classroom but also assists students to achieve those standards. She does not stay in her office but is often seen walking around talking to students in the building and reminding them what they should be doing. She encourages students to go the extra mile and helps them with research. Some of her students have presented and won national awards. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is fortunate to have Dr. Rockwell on the faculty.” In the classroom, Rockwell has a reputation as a passionate and innovative teacher who creates unique activities and projects to engage her students. “I have always had a passion for education. Within that passion comes the desire to meet each student where they are and help them reach their desired goals,” Rockwell said. “For example, when we study the concept of civil wrongs and torts, we go on a scavenger hunt within our community to locate potential areas of negligence. This appeals to my students who are hands-on learners. During our study of regulatory takings, we build a city similar to Little Rock and discuss the placement of I-630. Even when we talk about water law, we use Zoom to interview the oyster fishermen in Apalachicola, Florida, regarding their Supreme Court lawsuit. Each of these activities is designed to help each student learn and apply the content in a manner that they might see in the real world. Application is key.” Rockwell has a heart of gold and would move mountains to help her students succeed, according to Cassidy Brady, a former volleyball player from Benton. “From the first time she met me on a Tuesday morning before 7, I knew she was a saint and would do anything to help me succeed,” Brady said. “Often, it brought me peace to just sit across from her in her office and listen to her speak fruitful words of encouragement that inspired me to keep going. I have never met anyone who is more devoted to helping her students succeed than Dr. Rockwell.” In addition to working with their busy schedules as student-athletes, Trojans appreciated that Rockwell would use examples related to their own life to explain material in a way that students could understand.

Photo of Casey Rockwell by Ben Krain.

“Professor Rockwell was always willing to meet and go over the material and explain it in the best way, so I was able to understand,” said Aaron Funk, a baseball player. “When we were studying contracts, Professor Rockwell used the analogy of negotiating a major league contact to help me understand the importance of ‘consideration’ and not just a salary.” Outside of the classroom, she is a dedicated Trojan fan who loves cheering for . ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student-athletes have dubbed Rockwell the “Professor of the Rock” for her commitment to Little Rock Athletics. “I love the Trojan athletic program. Getting to see my student-athletes demonstrate their skills inside and outside of the classroom is such a joy and the support that they receive from the campus is outstanding,” Rockwell said. “Each of the staff members is dedicated to the success of our student athletes. Each of our athletes has a high level of commitment and dedication. Whether it is watching shoot around in the gym or catching a baseball game on our beautiful field, our sports programs enrich the campus environment.�� Before joining ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2016, Rockwell taught at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College and Arkansas State University and served as dean of learning at the College of the Ouachitas. She is active in the community and serves as president of the Junior League of Little Rock, a service organization of more than 1,000 members. She is a past president of the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers and a past chair of the Continuing Education Committee with the Arkansas Bar Association. She’s been recognized by the American Bar Association with the Golden Gavel Award and by the Academy of Legal Studies in Business as an outstanding faculty mentor for student research. Rockwell earned a bachelor’s degree in education policy from Hendrix College, a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service, as well as a Juris Doctor and Doctor of Education from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s new flexible MBA program offers best of online, face-to-face classes

John Hill — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 13:51:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is offering Master of Business Administration (MBA) students the opportunity to embrace the best of on-campus and online learning through a new flexible MBA program. “What makes the program special is the degree of flexibility and convenience offered to our students,” said Sonya Premeaux, associate dean for graduate students in the College of Business. “Traditionally, they would come to campus one to three nights a week, depending on their chosen course schedule. Now they can come to campus whenever they want. It’s eliminated the commute, the fighting rush hour traffic, or having to rush out of work to make it to class.” Beginning in the fall 2020 semester, all required MBA courses will be offered via Zoom video conferencing. For students who prefer in-person classes, all courses will be taught on-campus in classrooms outfitted with advanced technology. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s MBA will allow the student to choose the delivery method that best suits them at the time – in class or through Zoom technology,” College of Business Dean Jane Wayland said. ”If life gets in the way, the class is recorded with a transcript for the student to view at any time. This provides the ultimate convenience for the student.” MBA students will have the freedom to attend classes on campus, online, or to switch back and forth at any time and as often as they like. Online and on-campus students will be able to see, hear, and interact with their instructors and classmates. “This MBA program solves one of the major problems we see for our students,” Premeaux said. “Many of them receive a promotion, transfer, or new job offer and move in the middle of their program, and they need a way to finish their degree. The new flexible learning option makes completing their education seamless. They can continue as if they were still here, even if they have moved out of town.” All classes will be recorded and made available for review. To make it easier for students, all class recordings will be accompanied by a searchable transcript indexed in the video recording that allows students to easily find content without the hassle of continuously fast-forwarding and rewinding the video. “The new option will help me earn my MBA by allowing me to have the option to either learn in person or at home,” said Michael Kramer, an MBA student from Heber Springs. “It also allows me to re-watch the lecture, in case something was missed in real-time. Students have different schedules and learning styles, and this option has broadened the ability to cater to all styles and schedules. These options allow for the utmost flexibility as most students’ schedules can change from week to week.” College of Business faculty and students have been testing the hybrid learning classes for the past academic year. “The faculty and students are loving the flexibility,” Premeaux said. “They are offering us invaluable feedback with suggestions to improve the experience for incoming MBA students.” Kyle Davis, an MBA student from Redwater, Texas, said the transition to a flexible MBA program is a “great move” for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I know that many people may have the desire to pursue higher education, such as an MBA, but cannot commit to the time constraints of a traditional curriculum,” Davis said. “By providing prospective students with online class options, I think that many more people will seriously consider obtaining the degree.” Since he is also pursuing a Ph.D. in pharmacy while completing his MBA, Davis said the new MBA option is offering him the opportunity to have the life and education he wants. “The increase in flexibility of the curriculum will hopefully allow me to have more control over my schedule and alleviate some of the pressures of time constraints,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of having the ability to complete my coursework on my own time, and I believe that the transition ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is making will drastically increase the likelihood that people will enroll to pursue a higher education with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Business honors Kelley, Burgess as Distinguished Alumni

John Hill — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 16:38:17 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor two accomplished Little Rock business professionals at the School of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon on Oct. 16.�� Henry “Hank” Kelley Jr., CEO, partner, and executive broker of Kelley Commercial Partners, has been named the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. Whitney Burgess, vice president of client services and strategy at Team SI, will receive the Dean’s Award for Excellence. The School of Business Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be held at the Little Rock Marriott, 3 Statehouse Plaza. Registration opens at 10:45 a.m. with lunch served at 11:30 a.m. Tickets to the event are $125 each and are available at .�� 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. “I’m honored to be the Distinguished Alumnus,” Kelley said. “I’m thrilled to have stayed connected with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and seen the changes in the institution since I graduated. I appreciate the efforts of the faculty and the administration to engage and stay connected to the business community. I believe promoting the university to central Arkansas residents is a very important thing for the community to do. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is a research institution that creates lots of different opportunities for businesses in the community.”�� Kelley graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with an MBA in 1984, the same year he joined the company that is now Kelley Commercial Partners. He leads a team of 65 employees to deliver results to investors, developers, landlords, tenants, and prospects. The company manages approximately 7.4 million square feet of properties in Arkansas. Actively involved in the community, Kelley serves as president of Rotary 99. Kelley is involved with the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Foundation, Baptist Health Foundation Board, Fifty for the Future, and the Board. Last year, Kelley and his wife, Stephanie, donated $37,000 to A.P. Vibhakar Endowed Scholarship at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Additionally, he previously served on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Business Advisory Council and as an adjunct instructor with the School of Business. “I would say the most important thing to focus on in a career is the Rotary theme of ‘Service Above Self,’” Kelley said. “Learning how to put the needs of others at the top of your to-do list as you go about your daily affairs. The process of getting an MBA at night taught me time management skills, and it also taught me that I needed to keep learning forever. I can never quit researching and reading and learning about what I do, because it changes so quickly.”

Dean’s Award for Excellence

Whitney Burgess, vice president of client services and strategy at Team SI, is the 2020 recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence. The award 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’m surprised and appreciative of receiving this award,” she said. “I went to the Distinguished Alumni luncheon this past year, and I remember being in the audience and hearing about the wonderful recipients. I put it on my list of goals to receive this award one day, and now I have!” Burgess earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013. “I really enjoyed my time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the support I received from the staff,” Burgess said. “When I was here, they brought back the Student Marketing Association, and I was president of that. We launched the Carnival of Clubs event for the first time, and we had such a good time that the College of Business had continued to have it. There were always people who were in my corner who served as my support team. I think that’s a really important part of what ��Vlog��ý Little Rock gives to their business students.” After graduation, Burgess began a career in digital marketing and later joined Team SI in 2015 in the automotive sector. She started as a senior account executive for a client in Minnesota whose company grew from 14 to 39 car dealerships in just one year. Since working in the automotive sector, she has become an award-winning strategist for her work with government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Her passion for marketing and new ideas transpires in her work and is supported with a talented team that continues to grow in size as well as continued business growth and client retention.�� Burgess is a member of Rotaract Little Rock and a volunteer for the Lonoke 2022 Initiative, which is an effort to bring more economic growth to Burgess’ hometown. Last year, she co-chaired the Go Red for Women’s luncheon in central Arkansas, which benefited the American Heart Association. She is a former social media volunteer for Riverfest and a graduate of the 33rd class of Leadership Greater Little Rock. Currently, Burgess works with Chambers of Commerce, small businesses, and nonprofits across the state to provide online marketing training. When asked to give one piece of advice for business students, Burgess advised them to find a great mentor, which she identifies as a key to her success. “I think mentorship is a big part of being successful. Having a mentor can really give you great perspective, help influence what organizations to be involved in, and give you a valuable sounding board,” Burgess said.

College of Business names 2019-20 Outstanding Students

John Hill — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 18:45:50 +0000

The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock College of Business has named the winners of the Outstanding Student Awards for the 2019-20 academic year. Faculty members from each department within the college select a student for their exceptional achievements in their respective programs.�� “Each year in the College of Business, the faculty choose a graduating student that represents both academic excellence and career promise in each major course of study,” said Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of the College of Business. A video of the winners can be seen on the . The College of Business Outstanding Student Award winners include:

Outstanding Student Award for Accounting – Minh Nguyen

Outstanding Student Award for Business Analytics – Ashley Baker

Outstanding Student Award for Business Information Systems – Michael Goldfarb

Outstanding Student Award for Economics – Jacob Hill

Outstanding Student Award for Finance – Nina Hoang

Outstanding Student Award for Human Resources – Lauren Smith

Outstanding Student Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – John Dudderar

Outstanding Student Award for International Business – Ashley Murguia

Outstanding Student Award for Management – Ian Quiroz

Outstanding Student Award for Marketing – Christopher Williams

Outstanding Student Award for Master of Science in Business Information Systems – DeAnn Almond
Outstanding Student Award for Master of Business Administration – Rita Chowdhury

Johnson named Harper W. Boyd Professor of Excellence

John Hill — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:54:05 +0000

Dr. Vess Johnson, assistant professor of business information systems at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has recently been appointed the Harper W. Boyd Professor of Excellence for 2020. The Boyd Professor of Excellence was established to recognize a professor for his or her distinction as a scholar, a teacher, and a leader in the college, university, and community. “I’m so very pleased to have been named the Boyd Professor of Excellence,” Johnson said. “It’s given to a professor that has a very strong research record over the past year, so it’s a great honor for any professor within the College of Business.” Johnson has a distinguished research record in the area of data analytics and continues to develop that stream of research and others. He teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses with all modalities of face-to-face, online, and hybrid with consistently high instruction evaluations. Johnson has been active in service to the college and department and readily takes on new projects. “Dr. Johnson is a valued and esteemed faculty member,” said Dr. Jane Wayland, dean of the College of Business. “He consistently publishes in top journals in his field and works collaboratively with other faculty. He is innovative in teaching students and works diligently for their success. His background in the private technology sector has a positive impact on both his teaching and research.” Johnson’s most long-term research project is the annual Information Technology Issues and Trends Study conducted by the Society of Information Management. Involved in the project since 2013, Johnson is part of a research team that surveys approximately 5,000 chief information officers and IT leaders at companies in the United States. He is also conducting a study of job postings from major employment companies in the U.S. to determine the true skill set needed to be hired for a job in a high-tech industry. His goal is to use the data to adjust college curriculum to better prepare graduates for the job market. “There tends to be a disconnect between jobs, job postings, and individuals trying to get jobs,” Johnson said. “Job postings are often more of a wish list of skills that no one individual will have. The filtering software used by companies prevents qualified candidates from getting to hiring managers. So, the result is that companies have trouble finding talent, and individuals have a hard time finding jobs.” Johnson attended Mississippi State University and received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, and a master’s degree in computer science. He earned a Ph.D. in business computer information systems from the University of North Texas. Prior to returning to academia, he served as the president and CEO of multiple companies in a professional career spanning more than 20 years. His work has appeared in journals including MIS Quarterly Executive, Information and Management, Communications of the ACM, Computers in Human Behavior, European Journal of Information Systems, and The Journal of Computer Information Systems.

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