The awards given celebrate students who stood out for their academic performance or their service to student organizations. The following students were selected because they have optimized their education by combining exemplary academic performance with internships, volunteerism, professional development, experiential education, and participation in clubs and other important experiences.

One student selected for an academic award is then chosen as COB’s Outstanding Student of the Year.

Outstanding Students of the Year

ACADEMIC AWARDS

College of Business Outstanding Student of the Year

Mason Smith
Also: Outstanding Finance Student of the Year

Future plans: “I have accepted a position as one of two banker foundation trainees at Simmons Bank. I will work at their headquarters in an 18-month training program rotating through departments such as corporate finance, retail banking, HR, and credit. I am excited to work with one of the best banks in Arkansas to learn how banks operate and contribute to helping communities.”

Outstanding Accounting Student

Lucas Hayes

Future plans: “I will assume an audit position at Ernst & Young in Rogers, Arkansas, starting in September.”

Outstanding Master of Accountancy Student

Jarrod Wheeler

Future plans: “Continue working at Landmark CPAs in the Tax Department.”

Outstanding Information Systems Student

Isaiah Kelly

Future plans: “After graduation, I intend to start my career as a data analyst and continue developing my technical and analytical skills. I plan on building experience with tools such as SQL, Python, and data visualization, with the long term goal being a senior data analyst.”

Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student

Wyatt Held

Future plans: “Work full time earning certifications, after experiencing work for a while I will consider grad school.”

Outstanding Data Analytics Student

Keegan Neeley

Future Plans: “Hopefully I’ll reach the job market with enough heat that they find me the best available candidate, but that’s not where I plan on stopping. I would love to go after my masters (or even my doctorate) in the future. Hopefully I can do both as me and my family move forward on our separate and joined journeys.”

Outstanding Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics Student

Katie Brown

Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to continue working in data analytics and use my skills to support data-driven decision-making and improve outcomes within my organization.”

Outstanding Economics Student

David Tooley

Future plans: “I intend to pursue my doctorate in economics at Florida State University.”

Outstanding Insurance & Risk Management Student

Macy Moring

Future plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in the insurance industry in the Central Arkansas area. I hope to work at an agency that offers a clear path toward becoming a producer. My goal is to continue building my knowledge of insurance and risk management while gaining hands-on experience in the field. I look forward to developing strong professional relationships, growing my skills, and establishing a long-term career helping clients protect what matters most to them.”

Outstanding Management Student

Ashlyn May

Future plans: “I am going to get my master’s in Information Management here at UCA and continue playing on the Women’s Soccer team.”

Outstanding Marketing Student

Rylie Melton

Future plans: “For the first 6 months after graduation, I plan to go through a 6-month online portfolio school program. So I will not immediately be applying for jobs after graduation. I will be going through an Art Direction program where I will learn everything about Art Direction in Advertising, including designing, creating campaigns, and working with Adobe. Once I complete that program, my goal is to pursue a full-time position in an Advertising Agency!”

Outstanding Innovation & Entrepreneurship Student

JoAnna Young

Future plans: “To find a job after graduation, connect with other entrepreneurs, and get started on opening my own business.”

Outstanding Logistics & Supply Chain Management Student

Angela Weng

Future plans: “I’ve interviewed for a job, and I’m in the onboarding process right now!”

Outstanding Master of Business Administration Student

Joseph Somervell

Future plans: “I aimed to begin teaching adjunct classes and take the next steps in my career. I started teaching the semester after I graduated. I use the skills I have gained in my current role and am exploring options for the right next full-time role.”

Outstanding Human Resources Student

Kierston Huff��(not pictured)

Outstanding General Business Student

Drew Duckhorn��(not pictured)

Outstanding Online Business Student

Savannah Smith��(not pictured)

SERVICE AWARDS

Outstanding BUILD Student

Logan Redd

Future plans: ” I intend to become an auditor for a firm with the future hope of becoming a forensic accountant.”

Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Leader

Alexandra L. Wayne

Future plans: “By utilizing my financial and healthcare administration skills, which I have developed over my academic career and will further develop through my internship, I want to pursue a career with a hospital or healthcare organization to make an impact on their long-term sustainability and achieve more favorable patient outcomes.”

Outstanding Accounting Club Leader

Kady Harper-Morrison

Future plans: “After graduation, I intend to pursue CPA licensure as I work full time as an audit staff.”

Outstanding Gamma Iota Sigma Leader

Madelyn Neel

Future plans: “After graduating in December, I plan to start working full time in the insurance industry and continue my education through attaining insurance designations.”

Outstanding BASCOM Leader
(Bears for Advancing Supply Chain and Operations Management)

Grant Kemp

Future plans: “After graduation I hope to land an inventory management role here in Central Arkansas. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned here at UCA and my internships at the Allen Lund Company and Tractor Supply Company.”

Outstanding FBLA Collegiate Leader

Kaddie Bailey

Future plans: “Upon graduation, I will start my MAcc degree in the fall of 2026. I then plan to prepare and sit for my CPA licensure exam. One day in the future, I plan to open my own consulting firm, focusing my services on small and family-owned businesses. I also aspire to open my own foundation that focuses on youth financial literacy. I also plan to eventually go to seminary and do a two-year Journeyman program with the North American Mission Board.”

Outstanding Girls Who Code Leader

Jewell Callahan

Future plans: “Work as a software engineer for a couple of years before eventually transitioning into DevOps or cybersecurity.”

Outstanding Marketing & Sales Club Leader

Rylie Melton

see also: Outstanding Marketing Student of the Year

Outstanding Finance Club Leader

Payton Jarvis

Future Plans: “After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in finance while continuing to grow my business experience. As a licensed pilot, I also hope to explore opportunities in corporate aviation, combining my passion for flying with my professional goals. Long term, I hope to build a career that blends finance and aviation.”

These are just a few of the success stories from fall 2025. To hear more good news, follow us on social media or on our��website.��If you have any good news, please send it to us. We enjoy sharing the success of our alumni, students, faculty/staff, and community partners.

• Lucas Hayes, Rebecca Gaither, and Izzy Saettele won first prize in the Deloitte Best Practices competition for their creative presentation at the Beta Alpha Psi annual conference; also, the chapter was recognized as ”Gold” status.
• Gamma Iota Sigma officers Amecia Ellis, Madelyn Neel, Mason Smith, & William Van Asche and Insurance faculty member, Ivan Hudson, travelled to the 2025 conference, where our COB chapter was recognized as “Excellent.”
• Many thanks to the Conway Chamber for allowing some of our Student Ambassadors and Girls Who Code Officers to attend the Women in Business ceremony this fall.
• The Girls Who Code��chapter has officially impacted��over��10,000 Arkansans through its outreach programming, thanks to its participation in the Launch Conway Career Expo! At this high-impact community event, student mentors from UCA introduced hundreds of K–12 students and families to coding, robotics, and technology career pathways.
• The Arkansas Trucking Association’s��“” (p. 38) magazine recently ran a feature on the 10th anniversary of the Arkansas Commercial Truck Safety and Education Program (ACTSEP).��UCA’s College of Business was significantly involved in��creating��ACTSEP, which��subsequently��provided funding for the Scott E. Bennett Arkansas Highway Commission Endowed Chair in Motor Carrier Management.
• Six FBLA Colliegiate students in our COB competed against over 2,000 from across the nation in business-related events at the FBLA Collegiate National Conference in Dallas, TX the following placed in competition:��Kaddie Bailey,�� also elected as National Vice President of Development;��Laney Bounds; and Melany Valesquez.
• Dr. Leah Boustan, Economic History Program��Director at Yale University, was invited by COB’s Arkansas Center for Research in Economics to deliver a public talk entitled “America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success.” She also spoke to classes and networked with students.
• Many thanks to the for setting aside a day to spend time with our students and share their expertise with us!
• Faculty and Staff were honored with 2025 Excellence Awards (pictured L to R): Engaged Teaching – Benjamin Garner, Associate Prof. of Marketing; Research – Bob Fang, Associate Prof. of Accounting; Innovative Teaching – Anthony McMullen, Associate Prof. of Business Law; Service – Joe Thomas, Associate Prof. of CISA; Boundary Spanner – Mike Casey, Prof. of Finance; Societal Impact – Connie McKnight, Prof. of Accounting; COB Impact – Jacob Bundrick, Lecturer II of Economics; COB Impact – Harrison Downs, Administrative Assistant.

ACCOUNTING

• Our Beta Alpha Psi chapter received a��commendation from the IRS for UCA’s commitment to VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), led each year by tax professor Ashley Phillips.
• held the 11th annual Fear the Strike. Eight firms bowled with UCA accounting students: , , Hudson Cisne, , , , , and Rasco Winter Thomas. Team Frost had the highest team score and won the bowling pin trophy. On top of the fun and networking, $1000 will also be donated to Haven Conway.
• UCA’s Theta Lambda Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi was recognized as a Bear CLAWS recipient at the October 51��¥ Board of Trustees meeting. Representing the chapter were Izzy Saettele, vice president of membership, and Lucas Hayes, chapter president.
• Dr. Stephanie Watson on the subject of budgeting.
• Dr. Stephanie Watson has performed Continuing Professional Education Opportunities for schools across Arkansas this semester.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS & ANALYTICS (CISA)

• Susan Shaw of Conway, Arkansas, was recently awarded a Love of Learning Award from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.��Shaw, a doctoral candidate at Marymount University and lecturer, will use the funds from the award to travel to the Academy of Management Annual Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Instructor Susan Shaw presented at the DSI Conference in Orlando and participated in the Best Student Paper Award Showcase.
• Dr. Saif Bhuiyan had three papers published, authored with his COB colleagues.
  • Bhuiyan, S., & McKinzie, K. (2025). Engagement and satisfaction in OS software development: The impact of job characteristics.��The Journal of Applied Business and Economics,��27(3), 64-90.
  • Bhuiyan, S., Lyons, L., & Thomas, J. (2025). The role of fairness in retaining open source software contributors: An organizational justice framework for platform engagement.��The Journal of Applied Business and Economics,��27(5), 100-123.
  • Julies, M., Bhuiyan, S., & McMurtrey, M. (In Press). Hotel Supply Chain: Enhancing Operational Efficiency, Sustainability, and Resilience.��The Journal of Strategic Innovation��and Sustainability,��20(4).

ECONOMICS, FINANCE, and INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT (EFIRM)

• The EFIRM Department launched a new minor program, Economics and Insurance of Healthcare Administration, to help students understand the business of wellness.
• The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame held its annual induction banquet on campus on October 16. Six Arkansans were inducted, and five scholarships were awarded to UCA insurance students.
• The UCA Finance Club was established this semester under the leadership of Sarah Campbell. Its first meetings invited speakers including Chris McClanahan, Head of IB Recruiting; Anna Grace Mills, Associate in the Financial Institutions Group and Head of IB analyst program; and Evelyn Griffith, UCA grad and Associate in Private Wealth Management.
• Internships are an important way to get experience before graduation. Just ask junior insurance major Madelyn Neel! Check out this video where Madelyn shares about her internship at and the ways she’s gaining experience.
• Insurance major Connor Black received a $1,000 scholarship from PIA. PIA is the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of Arkansas. PIA is on campus a couple of times each academic year hosting The��Forum, in partnership with UCA’s Gamma Iota Sigma (the insurance student club). The goal of the forum is to maximize networking opportunities and career readiness for students, especially students that have chosen Insurance & Risk Management as major or minor.��This is a campus-facing event, and industry professionals will also be in attendance.
• Encore Banks’s Erin Simpson shared expertise with Dr. Huiqiong Duan’s Money and Banking class.
• Dr. Mavuto Kalulu . The paper is titled, “Ethics Committees��and Corruption: Do Ethics Committees Reduce Corruption Cases within State Legislatures?” When faculty coauthor with students, the faculty give these students valuable experience and increase the students’ chances of getting into graduate school.
• Ivan Hudson, Director of the UCA Center for Insurance, was recently��sworn in as the Treasurer for the Arkansas Association of Realtist, the local Board of . Ivan has been a member of NAREB for about 8 years.
• Students in our insurance program had the opportunity to hear guest speakers from one of the fastest-growing independent agencies and companies in the Inc 5000. ��guest speakers,�� and Luke Koenigseder, shared some incredible insights on the industry, gave an account of a day in the life of an independent insurance agent, and explained why their organization is poised for growth. It wasn’t just the classroom presentations that impressed, but the conversations that continued afterwards. They are committed to investing in the next generation of insurance and risk management talent.
• Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl is busy as always making everyday economics more accessible for scholars and citizens. Here are a few of his publications in the , on blogs, and on social media.
• Dr. Stephen Yao also .
• , CFO of Restaurants at FoxDen Capital, spoke to Sarah Campbell’s Student Managed Investment Fund class on October 27. With a 14-year career as a Research Analyst at Stephens before he joined the private equity firm , Justin brought a wealth of insight into evaluating investment ideas and opportunities.
• Granger Davis from Edward Jones put his whiteboard skills to the test for Sarah Campbell’s Student Managed Investment Fund class. Bringing decades of experience advising clients on investing for their futures, Granger provided a terrific perspective on how to bring finance skills to bear on behalf of clients.
• Representative David Ray had a discussion with Thomas Snyder’s Law/Econ class.�� He talked about the job of a legislator, the role of government, lawmaking, and economic policy.
• Justice Rhonda Wood from the Arkansas Supreme Court talked to Dr. Snyder’s Law and Economics class, sharing about recent relevant cases.
• Dr. Snyder��Thomas invited David Friedman to talk (via zoom) to his Law and Economics Class. David Friedman has had a distinguished career, including authoring the textbook used in Dr. Snyder’s class (“Law’s Order”). ��During class, David Friedman talked about “Legal Systems Very Different from Ours,” which is the title of another book he wrote.
• Sarah Campbell invited Jay Strickland from Legacy Capital talk to her Student Managed Investment Fund class. Jay gave a wide-ranging talk that touched on how to build a portfolio and how to manage clients’ biases. Jay is a UCA alum, and we were thrilled to have him back.
• Dr. Horpedahl spoke to students at Samford University in Alabama on September 18th, discussing trends in the wealth of recent generations and previewing some of the results that will appear in his book on that topic. He was hosted by Samford professors Art Carden and Joy Buchanan.
• , “Prescription opioid spillovers: Retail pharmacy level analysis,” in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.
• ��Alumni Ryder Pierce is an investment manager for the Bank of the Ozarks and was recently included on Arkansas’s prestigious 40 under 40 list.

MARKETING & MANAGEMENT (M&M)

• As this fall’s Allison Entrepreneurship Series Speaker, Jakob Michaelis, a partner at Dave Creek Media, shared lunch and his extensive experience identifying timely solutions, including a new app, with students and faculty.
• Dr. Benjamin Garner led a new “Speed Selling” event this semester involving��10 companies and 24 marketing and sales students. Each student completed 3-4 interviews and received feedback on their performance from potential employers. Huge success – connections were made; internships and jobs discussed.
• The Introduction to Business (BUAD 1300) students gave presentations this semester, and the top 7 groups presented in front of a full auditorium. Professor Ben Britton got a shout-out by the group presenting on Best Buy. Professor Tracy Suter got shout out by the group presenting on Amazon. Joe Cangelosi advised the group that reasearched Fedex.
• Undergraduate students, Oluwadamilola Osundolire (Economics) and Robert Walker (Finance), mentored by Dr. Alex Chen presented their artificial intelligence research at the DSI conference in Orlando, FL. Dr. Ming Li also presented her research.
• Dr. McKenzie’s Project Management class completes service-learning projects each semester. One of those projects included a group of students who��organized a clean-up of the Stone Dam Creek to assist in preserving the natural beauty of the UCA campus.
• Drs. Jamila Maxie, Ben Britton, David McCalman, and Tracy Suter had their case study about Rhea Lana’s Children’s Consignment conditionally accepted for academic journal publication.�� This was part of a strategic effort to tie the John W. Allison Entrepreneurial Speaker Series to clearer, longer-term teaching and research outcomes by showcasing and highlighting local firms in global��outlets.
• Our Conway-area 75Strong��group met with our local coalition at the Conway��Chamber to build out an even stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem locally and statewide.
• Conductor hosted a widely attended series of workshops throughout the semester, including a student pitch competition.��Local CPAs Zee Barfoote and Austin Malone discussed handling a startup’s early finances in their Conductor session called “Your Startup’s First CFO: YOU!” as part of the Conductor��series.
• Dr. Steve Schlachter’s��class, MGMT 3346 Strategic Human Resource Management, hosted guest speaker Moriah Bruner, Manager of Health and Well-Being at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
• Kaddie Bailey was honored with the Postsecondary ACTE Region IV Outstanding Business Student Award, issued by Association of Career and Technical Education.��The Postsecondary ACTE Outstanding Business Student Award recognizes outstanding business students at the postsecondary level. To be eligible, students must be nominated by a member of the Business Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and must demonstrate leadership potential through business courses and involvement in career and technical student organizations. The award is designed to honor five postsecondary students from each region, including Region IV, who have made significant contributions to their field.
• A few years ago, Dr. Garner��created a Content Marketing course at UCA to help students blend creativity, storytelling, and strategy in today’s digital landscape. As part of the class, students completed service-learning projects with and other Central Arkansas organizations — gaining real-world experience while giving back. in Industry and Higher Education (2025).
• The Bears Advancing Supply Chain and Operations Management (BASCOM) club invited several guest speakers this semester, including J.B. Hunt’s��Jasmine John��— Early Career Recruiter, Corporate;��Bryan Epperson��— Capacity Procurement Representative; and student��Brody Patterson��— Integrated Capacity Solutions Intern.
• Dr. Tracy Suter was invited to join the Editorial Review Board of the Business Case Journal. It is one of three journals affiliated with the Society for Case Research.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

• Dr. Mark McMurtrey was honored this evening as an MVP, most valuable professor, for his impact on UCA’s student-athletes. He was nominated by Sugar Bear Samantha Cousins, who attends Dr. McMurtrey’s MBA Operations & Supply Chain Management course this semester.

It’s nearly impossible to highlight all the wonderful accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. If we missed yours,��please let us know!

COLLEGE NEWS

• Our new Dean,��Dr. Tim Bisping��(pictured at right), was selected. He will begin on July 1, 2025, and has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including as a professor and department Chair at our College of Business years ago; Dr. Bisping comes to us from the Nelson Rusche College of Business at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he has led initiatives to enhance academic excellence, foster faculty and staff development, and support student achievement. We are thrilled to welcome him as our Dean.
• The UCA College of Business owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Mike Casey, Professor of Finance, for his service as our Interim Dean during the past year. Serving as Interim Dean for the second time, he took on duties as Dean and continued teaching a full load of finance courses and authoring articles for Pearson. Dr. Casey is ready to return to EFIRM department faculty as Dr. Bisping joins us.
• UCA’s Beta Alpha Psi competition team (Rebecca Gaither, Carson Griffin, Jane Nim, Helen Sokha) presented at the Beta Alpha Psi Dallas Mid-Year Conference. Their project won the Deloitte Best Practices competition in the Impacting Your Profession category, and they will compete again at the annual meeting in August in San Antonio. The group is supported by faculty sponsors Dr. Connie McKnight and Dr. Ashley Phillips.
• Our College of Business was rankings.
• Dr. Louisa Moseley was recognized for in Introduction to Business, and she was named UCA Learning Communities Faculty Associate of the Year for her work at BUILD@Carmichael.
• experts to share their experience with students. They spoke about the jobs they do, the many opportunities available to students, and the skills those opportunities require. The BCBS representatives also spent their lunch networking with COB faculty and students. (Pictured from BCBS – from L to R: Ben McVay, Emily Shadell, David Martin, Trey Hankins, and Logynn Gambles; not pictured: Jason Carter)
• At its annual Outstanding Student Awards Banquet, the UCA College of Business announced and celebrated the Outstanding Students selected for the 2024-2025 academic year.

ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT

• Accounting majors participated in the Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) program at United Way of Central Arkansas under the leadership of Dr. Ashley Phillips. They prepared 414 returns, saving the community over $75,000 in tax preparation fees and returning over $440,000 to community members through federal and state tax refunds.
• Dr. Bob Fang‘s paper, “” was accepted for publication at the Journal of Corporate Finance.
• Dr. Bob Fang��won the Best Paper Award, 2024 for a paper he co-authored in the��Journal of International Accounting Research��and won Oustanding Paper in the 2024 Emerald Literati Awards for a paper he co-authored in the��China Accounting and Finance Review.
• Dr. Anthony McMullen, Associate Professor of Business Law, guided student Rebecca Myers in an independent study on vehicular title washing. This spring, Rebecca presented her research to an official from U.S. Representative French Hill’s office.
• Professor Anthony McMullen��was also awarded a Golden Gavel Award by the��Arkansas Bar Association in recognition of his longstanding service and continued dedication to the Mock Trial Committee.
• Dr. Ashley Phillips and Dr. Karen Oxner have a paper entitled��“Climate-Related Disclosures: Final SEC Rules” forthcoming in the Spring issue��of Oil, Gas, and Energy Quarterly.
• Three Master of Accountancy students – Sidney Mack, Carson Griffin, and Bradley Bulice – presented��research papers in March at the American Accounting Researchers and Educators annual Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sidney Mack presented two papers and won the Best Student Paper Award. These students were mentored by��Dr. Karen Oxner,��Dr. Ashley Phillips, and Luke Ferguson, J.D.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS & ANALYTICS (CISA) DEPARTMENT

• Jason Brown (student), Dr. K. Michael Casey, and Dr. Mark McMurtrey worked together on “” for publication in the Journal of Accounting and Finance.
• Abby Bounds, Senior Information Systems major and Girls Who Code President, along with Susan Shaw, College of Business CISA faculty and club co-sponsor, were invited to attend the WECode (Women Engineers Code) Conference at Harvard University.
• CISA celebrated with its graduates this semester. Here are pictured the most recent graduates receiving their Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics degrees (pictured:��Dr. Ellis, Dr. Nichols, students Jack Griffin (fully online), Kathryn Webb, Parvinder Singh, Brittany Miller, and��Dr. McKinzie).
• Dr. Joe Thomas was nominated as a Most Valuable Professor (MVP) for his work with student athletes.

ECONOMICS, FINANCE, AND INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT (EFIRM) DEPARTMENT

• The EFIRM Department added to the curriculum with a new minor,��The Economics and Insurance of Healthcare Administration, and a Transportation Economics class, two Student Managed Investment Fund classes, and a Financial Modeling class.
• Department Chair, Dr. Joe McGarrity, .
• Pat and Marshall Moon from Meridian Investment Advisors visited the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) course taught by Dr. Mike Casey.��Pat runs a wealth management company that manages $800 million in assets.

• Economics major Perla Zapata and Dr. Tom Snyder presented their research paper about Economic Development Incentives at the Arkansas College Teachers of Economics and Business (ACTEB) Conference.��Economics Student Veronica Bertolusso and Dr. Mavuto Kalulu also presented their paper about Campaign Financing and Economic Freedom at the ACTEB Conference.
• UCA’s Center for Insurance Director, Ivan Hudson, accompanied three UCA insurance majors to the Gamma Iota Sigma 2025 Regional Conference Series in Ft. Worth, Texas.
• Alumni Update: Sam Brown (BA Economics, 2025) will attend law school in the fall, and John Crocker (BA Economics, 2013) is now��overseeing 1,200 employees at the biggest pizza manufacturing plant in the world.
• Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl and�� like THV11, ,��, New York Times, and the .
• For all of his extensive work, the Dr. Horpedahl an Adjunct Scholar.
• Dr. Stephen Haibo Yao shared his expertise with WalletHub about and , while his educated opinions about Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) issues. Professor Ivan Hudson also shared his expertise with WalletHub about .
• Dr. Mike Casey also invited Drew Gainor to speak to his SMIF students. Drew was one of Arkansas Business’s top 40 under 40 and is a very successful wealth manager.
• The , Lloyd’s Head of US Claims, to share his extensive experience with our students, faculty and staff, and community insurance professionals. This event was made possible by a grant.
• Mr. Clint O’Neal,��Executive Director of the Arkansas��Economic Development Commission, spoke to Dr. Tom Snyder’s Economics Senior Seminar class. Dr. Snyder also invited��two economists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to speak about careers and different types of data that students can use.
• Dr. Ling He retired after 26 years of service at UCA.
• Arkansas Center for Research in Economics Undergraduate Research Fellows–Veronica Bertolusso, David Tooley, and Perla Zapata–presented their faculty-mentored papers at the 2025 Society of Business, Industry and Economics (SOBIE) Conference in San Destin, Florida.��Perla Zapata earned a student research award (for the second year in a row) and also won the Wesco Student Research award at the conference.
• Four students, Nathan Cannon, Anna Turgaeva, Jordan Scoggins, and Hunter Brown, wrote op-eds in Dr. Joe McGarrity‘s Modern Political Economy course that were published in newspapers around the state.
• After receiving encouragement from Dr. Rania Al-Bawwab, student Tyler Lister submitted an essay that earned first prize and from the Money Metals Exchange and Sound Money Defense League.
• Dr. Collin Hodges and Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl led discussions for a 10-week reading group that explored economic freedom, while Dr. Jacob Held, UCA Professor of Philosophy, led the Watchmen reading group from January to April. The reading groups were sponsored by the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics.
• Dr. Collin Hodges‘��paper “Prescription opioid spillovers: Retail pharmacy level analysis” was accepted at the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.

MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

• Dr. Tracy Suter, Associate Professor of Marketing, was selected among the first group of , a new statewide program designed to train economic developers and community leaders on entrepreneurship and small business development and to provide direct technical support for small businesses throughout Arkansas.
• Dr. Ron Duggins,��Associate Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, led two student teams to the semifinals of the : Ally Loter and Zoe McMillion & Clover Quill and Jacob Sanders.
• Seven COB students competed in business-related events at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate State Conference and earned top awards in their events: Kaddie Bailey, Laney Bounds, Abby Bounds, Grayson Gardner, Mason Smith, Johnny Vasquez, and Melany Valesquez. Five of these students competed at the national conference in May.��Dr. Marsha Carson sponsors the FBLA chapter at UCA.
• COB’s experiential education opportunities continued to win students great jobs. After visit to the Bears Advancing Supply Chain Management (BASCOM) club, supply chain student Julia Cockrell earned one of three positions in their��Intermodal Manager Trainee program.
• with Dr. Benjamin Garner‘s Content Marketing students to create 13 published blogs. Dr. Garner’s students also .
• Dr. Steven Schlachter had an article accepted at��The International Journal of Organizational Diversity titled “Out of the Shadows: LGBT Employee Resource Group Leaders Embracing Their Identity.”
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang��presented a paper titled “The Unintended Consequences of Stakeholder Resource Integration on Collective Consumer Engagement” at the��2025 AMA (American Marketing Association) Winter Academic Conference��in Phoenix, AZ.
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang had a manuscript entitled, “More variety-seeking in sorted versus non-sorted option displays in hospitality: The moderating effect of optimal stimulation level” accepted for publication in the��International Journal of Hospitality Management.
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang had a manuscript entitled, “AI-Generated News Content: The Impact of AI Writer Identity and Perceived AI Human-Likeness” accepted for publication in the��International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang was nominated as��Most Valuable Professor (MVP)��by 51��¥ Baseball and was honored at Bear Stadium.
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang had��two manuscripts, “When Humans Face Limits: How Perceptions of God Affect Purchase Decision Avoidance” and “The Unintended Consequences of Stakeholder Resource Integration on Collective Consumer Engagement,” accepted for presentation and will present both papers at the��2025 AMA (American Marketing Association) Summer Academic Conference��in Chicago, IL, this August.
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang‘s international research team, for which he serves as co-PI, has been selected as the recipient of��the 2025��International Collaborative Research Promotion Grant��by Ritsumeikan University,��Kyoto, Japan.
• Students��Robert Walker, Oluwandamilola “Dami” Osundolire, and Madison Wills conducted a survey under the mentorship of Dr. Alex Chen to understand students’ attitudes and behavior toward Artificial Intelligence (AI). They completed a preliminary report including a college comparison, class comparison, types of AI usage, AI software comparison, and purposes of AI usage.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

• Master’s graduates Philipp Haessner and Julian Haessner joined Dr. Mark McMurtrey to publish “Trends & Challenges in the Food Supply Chain” in the Journal of Strategic Innovation and Sustainability.

The wonderful accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff are too many to count. If we missed yours, please let us know!

The six 2025 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are:

– Sharon Allen (1944 – 2021) of Little Rock
– Kelley Erstine of Conway
– James D. Lewis of Little Rock
– Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw of Little Rock
– Tim White of Little Rock
– William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard, III (1945 – 2014) of Little Rock

* Sharon Allen

* Sharon Allen (1944 – 2021)
from Little Rock, AR
former President and Chief Operating Officer, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Kelley Erstine

Kelley Erstine from Conway, AR
CEO, Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas

James D. Lewis, RHU, REBC

James D. Lewis, RHU, REBC from Little Rock, AR
(retired) President, Lewis Marketing Group, Inc.
Independent Consultant for Mountaire Corporation

Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw, BA, MBA

Robert (Bob) L. Shoptaw, BA, MBA
from Little Rock, AR
(retired) President and CEO, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Tim White, CIC

Tim White, CIC from Little Rock, AR
Executive Vice President, Brown & Brown of Arkansas

* William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard, III

* William (Bill) H. L. Woodyard, III (1945 – 2014)
from Little Rock, AR
former Partner – Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

��*posthumous��

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership and professional excellence; have made broad encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society; and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.

��and various levels of recognition in support of the 2025 inductees are available through September 26, 2025, and can be found on the Hall of Fame website at:��.

The 51��¥ (UCA) College of Business partners with the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame to create and nurture a nationally recognized undergraduate degree program in insurance and risk management. Scholarships are awarded to students annually through the��.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame seeks to remind the public of the important role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach these high levels of accomplishment, and to encourage young Arkansans to consider careers in the insurance industry.

Learn more about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame on its website��.

The funds were given to support the 2025 Risk Manager on Campus. For this event, a Risk Management and Insurance Professional is brought to the UCA College of Business for class visits, campus-wide lectures, panel discussions, meetings with student organizations such as Gamma Iota Sigma, and meals with faculty and other IRM community professionals. This is a valuable opportunity to allow students to network and learn from the visiting Risk Manager.

Since 1997, has offered this rewarding educational experience for students and a chance to give back to the profession. Spencer’s Risk Manager on Campus program offers grants to universities and colleges in the United States and Canada to host a practicing Risk Manager on its campus for a 1–3-day residency.

The Spencer Foundation has supported the Risk Manager on Campus program for years, most recently bringing��Robin Roeder in 2024,�� in 2023, and��Lance Ewing in 2022.

(CONWAY, Ark.) – The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame (AIHF) has opened nominations for its Class of 2025 inductees. Nominations open February 15 and will remain open through April 15, 2025. Nominations may be submitted online at . The chosen inductees will be honored in October at the annual AIHF banquet.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership and professional excellence; have made broad-encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society; and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.

The 51��¥ (UCA) College of Business partners with the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame to create and nurture a nationally recognized undergraduate degree program in insurance and risk management. At each annual banquet, several students are recognized as scholarship recipients. In 2023, an endowment fund was established to ensure the future scholarships of insurance students.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame seeks to remind the public of the important role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach these high levels of accomplishment, and to encourage young Arkansans to consider careers in the insurance industry.

Learn more about the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame on its website .

Notably, the UCA College of Business . The College also recognized several faculty and staff for their exemplary service to students and their peers as well as for their impact in their areas of study and in the community.

ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT

pictured: Accounting Professors Dr. Patricia Mounce (retired), Dr. Stephanie Watson (Dept. Chair), COB Dean Michael Casey, Mrs. Susan Davenport, and Mary Bane Lackie, Ed.D., VP of University Advancement at UCA

• annual networking event was a success, bringing more than 25 firms to campus to speak with accounting students.
• Alumna Susan Davenport and her husband Dean were recognized as Outstanding Philanthropists by the Arkansas Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• Professor Anthony McMullen was named by The Arkansas Bar Foundation and the Arkansas Bar Association for his work with the Arkansas High School Mock Trial Competition and particularly his efforts in hosting the 2023 National High School Mock Trial Championship. He continued his work with the UCA Debate team this semester.
• Accounting Department alumnus John Albritton began his career with Landmark almost twenty years ago as an intern and was .
• UCA’s Theta Lambda chapter of Beta Alpha Psi nominated Richard Bell of Bell and Company for Business Information Professional of the Year, and Bell . This prestigious accolade recognizes outstanding professionals in education, industry & government, and professional services.
• The Theta Lambda chapter also achieved Gold status for 2023-2024.

COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS & ANALYTICS (CISA) DEPARTMENT

• Susan Shaw, CISA Lecturer and Co-Sponsor of Girls Who Code, helped the group participate in many activities during the semester, including giving a robotics lesson to 175 fifth, sixth, and seventh graders in Quitman, AR.
• Jason Brown (student), Dr. K. Michael Casey, and Dr. Mark McMurtrey worked together on “Investing in Timberlands Versus the S&P 500: Which Investment Outperforms?” to appear in the Journal of Accounting and Finance.
• Dr. Michael Casey, Dr. K. Michael Casey, and Carla Barber collaborated on “Covid-19, ESG Ratings, and Dividend Policy: Evidence from Utility Firms” to appear in Oil, Gas, & Energy Quarterly.

ECONOMICS, FINANCE, AND INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT (EFIRM) DEPARTMENT

• 

  Gabriella Adkins, Mason Smith, Cole Vangsnes, Samuel Roper, Peyton “Kai” Davis, William Van Asche, and Emma Daughtrey were named the 2024 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame Scholars at the banquet.

  Several guest speakers shared expertise with students in person and online, including Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood, Representative David Ray, EFIRM alumnus David Beale, and��Mark Chambers, the President and CEO of Thrasher and Chambers.

• Dr. Michael Casey shared “” in Arkansas Flavor. The magazine is also translated into Spanish and offered for free in establishments across the state.
• Ivan Hudson, Director of UCA’s Center for Insurance & Risk Management, moderated a session on the equity of healthcare navigation at the National African American Insurance Association’s annual conference.
• Dr. Yiling Deng published multiple papers, including “A Dynamic Analysis of the Impact of Household Portfolio Allocation: Decisions on the Demand for Life Insurance” in the��Financial Services Review��and “Market Discipline and Government Guarantees: Evidence from the Insurance Industry” in the Journal of Risk and Insurance.
• Jacob Bundrick published “Mixed Strategy and the Money Down: A Field Test from American College Football” in the Journal of Business Administration Online.
• Dr. Joe McGarrity centering around relevant economic topics and the election.
• Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl was very active , writing book reviews, and submitting regular posts for . Dr. Horpedahl lent his expertise to many news outlets like the and and .
• Dr. Stephen Yao to WalletHub about car insurance such as types a person needs or how to keep your premium from rising.
• Ivan Hudson and Dr. Yiling Deng brought several insurance students to Arkansas Insurance Day in North Little Rock. Connor Black, Samuel Roper, Mason Smith, and Emma Daughtrey are some of the best and brightest from our program and from Gamma Iota Sigma.
• Dr. Huiqiong Duan, Dr. Weici Yuan, and Dr. Thomas Snyder had an article accepted in World Development, entitled “Gender Imbalance and Temporary Migration: Evidence from Rural China.”
• during the Insurance Hall of Fame Induction Banquet.
• The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) brought Nadine Strossen to talk to our students. She is a Professor of Law Emerita and a past president of the ACLU.

MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

• Mrs. Rhea Lana Riner, founder of “Rhea Lana” Children’s Consignment, offered her experience as the featured speaker for the John W. Allison Entrepreneurial Speaker Series this fall.
  

  Mrs. Rhea Lana Riner pictured with Dr. Tracy Suter, Chair of the Marketing and Management department at UCA

• Undergraduate student Da’Mya Brittian and marketing professor Dr. JiHoon Jhang had a manuscript entitled, “The Effect of AI Disclosure on Donation Intention,” accepted for presentation at the Atlantic Marketing Association Conference in Charleston, SC.
• Dr. Ben Britton had a manuscript entitled, “Resolving the Salesperson Competitiveness-Performance Paradox: The Role of Benign vs. Malicious Envy,” accepted for publication in Industrial Marketing Management.
• Dr. Doug Voss Doug was interviewed by Mark Willis on SiriusXM regarding supply chain education, current events, and UCA’s supply chain program.
• Dr. Joe Cangelosi was awarded best abstract in the health care marketing track for his manuscript entitled, “Online Sexual and Reproductive Health Information: Consumer Dissemination on Social Media and Networks,” at the Atlantic Marketing Association Conference.
• Dr. JiHoon Jhang had another manuscript entitled, “Consumer Preferences for the Visual Presentation of Nonfungible Tokens (NFTs) of Luxury Products: The Role of Perceived Authenticity,” accepted for publication in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.
• Dr. Jamila Maxie, Dr. Ben Britton, Dr. David McCalman, and Dr. Tracy Suter had a manuscript entitled, “To B or Not To B: BrewDog’s Turbulent Relationship with B Corp Certification,” conditionally accepted for publication in the Journal of Critical Incidents.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

• ., a graduate of the MBA program, was highlighted as part of AMP’s Trailblazing Women in Arkansas Money & Politics.
• The MBA Program was named to the and the .

It’s nearly impossible to highlight all the wonderful accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. If we missed yours, please let us know!

Hundreds of industry professionals gathered as the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame honored five new inductees and awarded seven scholarships to insurance students at its annual Induction Banquet on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

The 2024 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are:

Sonia Bell, LUTC Retired owner, Sonia Bell Agency, Conway, AR pictured with her daughter Angela Bickford

* Charles C. “Buddy” Campbell (1923 – 2003)
Retired Executive Vice President, Rebsamen Insurance, Little Rock, AR
Campbell’s daughter, Pam Plummer, pictured

Jim House, CHC, CLU
Retired President and CEO, USABLE Life, Searcy, AR
pictured with his wife Sue

Roland W. Julian, CIC, CLU, ChFC
President, Rogers Insurance Agency, Rogers, AR

Terry Youngblood
President, Youngblood Insurance Agency, Inc. – a division of Crosspointe Insurance Advisors, LLC, Texarkana, AR

Gabriella Adkins, Mason Smith, Cole Vangsnes, Samuel Roper, Peyton “Kai” Davis, William Van Asche, and Emma Daughtrey were named the 2024 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame Scholars at the banquet.

Full-time UCA students qualify for the scholarship if they major in Insurance and Risk Management and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to identify and honor distinguished insurance industry professionals with strong ties to Arkansas who exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership, and professional excellence; have made broad-encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society; and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.

UCA was chosen as the host and beneficiary of the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame because of their diligent work to create and nurture a nationally recognized undergraduate degree program in insurance and risk management.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame seeks to remind the public of the important role the insurance industry plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses, to inspire the next generation of leadership to reach these high levels of accomplishment and to encourage young Arkansans to consider careers in the insurance industry.

Involved at UCA:
COB Student Ambassador 2022, 2023, 2024
Alumni leader for IDEAL freshman leadership
Community mentor for Build at Carmichael
President of the UCA debate and forensics team

Why did you choose this field of study?
I first studied accounting but later chose economics because I wanted to be able to utilize my knowledge of business on a global scale through the pre-law track.

Tell us about your internship experience.
I’m currently completing an internship. I learned about the Windstream Financial leadership program thanks to our amazing faculty over at Career Services. I chose this internship because I wanted to be able to use my knowledge of accounting in an environment that would help me grow as a professional and also as a leader in business. Here, I am learning that the accounting I have learned so far in the classroom is just the surface of what amazing things we can do with our knowledge base.

How do you think this internship will be/has been beneficial in your career?
I think it is going to be one of the most beneficial things I have done, so far. I think that through this internship I will meet a ton of people who will help me get my name in rooms that I otherwise would never be allowed to enter.

What advice do you have for students who may (or may not) be considering an internship?
Don’t feel pressured to go into the world of work; just be sure that you are using your time to connect with those who know how to help you achieve your goals. Mentors are very important, and if you do not want an internship at the moment, be sure to find a good mentor.

Has a volunteer position helped you gain skills? Tell us about it.
I have learned a lot about the art of personal connection through my volunteer work as a College of Business Ambassador. I use the skills of communication not only in my work but also when communicating with coworkers and creating strong relationships.

Michael was among the first class of COB Student Ambassadors in 2022

How do you plan to use your degree?
I plan to use my degree as a gateway to apply to law school and then use my knowledge of business to be an excellent Corporate Attorney who specializes in mergers and acquisitions.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?
Don’t be afraid to say yes to opportunities; when you get too comfortable you are only stopping yourself. Do what you can and say yes to every opportunity as long as you aren’t compromising integrity. I recommend the College of Business (COB) to anyone willing to listen. Thanks to the people at the COB, I have learned about how a knowledge of business can set one up for a lifetime filled with success.

COB awards banquet 2022

award-winning debate team, AR Capitol 2023

award-winning team, national competition 2023

Robin S. Roeder

Each year, an Insurance and Risk Management (IRM) professional is brought to the UCA College of Business for visits with students, faculty, and other industry and community professionals. Early this week, we were thrilled to welcome Robin S. Roeder,��senior vice president of risk management for Sedgwick, to share her experience with us. The program is supported by the Spencer Educational Foundation.

Roeder visited campus for two days. At the luncheon on Monday, April 15, we were joined by many students, faculty, and insurance professionals, including Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Alan McClain, who spoke a few words to highlight the significance of the IRM industry in Arkansas.

(Pictured from L to R: UCA Insurance Center Director Mr. Ivan Hudson, Ms. Robin Roeder, Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Mr. Alan McClain, and Mr. Kelley Erstine, 51��¥ Board of Trustees Member and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas.)

During her presentation, Roeder shared a compelling presentation called “Katrina: The Catastrophe, the Cost, the Claim.” She shared photos of the impact Hurricane Katrina had on Louisiana, but shifted to focus on the experience from the purview of Memorial Medical, a local hospital that had been known to weather many storms in the past. After the hurricane hit and levees broke, thousands of medically fragile patients and visitors were left stranded in the hospital; as the disaster unfolded over the course of days, hospital officials were forced to make heartbreaking decisions about who to evacuate, when, and how.

Many Memorial Medical patients died in this unprecedented catastrophe, and decisions made by Memorial Medical officials during that time were later analyzed as incorrect decisions. Roeder asked those in attendance what decisions they would have made if they were in charge at Memorial Medical during Katrina; still so many years later, the audience struggled with how to correctly respond, now knowing the devastation, limited communications, and scarce resources officials, individuals, and families faced during and after Katrina.

Despite the difficult question, Roeder stressed the need to make a plan for catastrophes such as Katrina and how risk and loss are addressed. In closing, Roeder shared lessons learned, and impacts that survivors — and the risk management profession itself — faced in the years since the disaster, including laws passed because of Hurricane Katrina.

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Later in the evening several students and faculty were invited to dinner with Ms. Roeder and her fiancé. This is a valuable time for students to network and ask questions with the Risk Manager on Campus.

On Tuesday, April 16, Ms. Roeder visited the student risk management organization Gamma Iota Sigma to speak about how soft skills can enhance their careers. With this group of students and faculty, Roeder held an interactive forum for groups to answer practical questions and complete exercises that occur as part of job interviews.

Ms. Roeder brought a wealth of experience to UCA. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Memphis and later earned a master’s degree in risk management and insurance from Florida State University. She is a RIMS Fellow and holds the Certified Risk Manager, Associate in Risk Management – ERM, Certified Environmental Strategist and Associate in Captive Insurance designations. She served as the senior manager for risk management and treasury at Wright Medical Technology for nearly 11 years before joining Sedgwick in 2011. There Roeder developed the strategic risk management vision and framework for the company’s program. Today, she leads operational risk management activities and oversees the management of claims, safety and loss control, physical security and travel risk management. Roeder is also responsible for risk management planning and response related to business interruption, crisis management, and business resiliency. Aside from her busy career, Roeder is highly involved in service to the IRM industry and education sector. Read more about Ms. Roeder.

The 2024 Risk Manager on Campus gave students, faculty, and community members a valuable opportunity to network with Ms. Roeder, an experienced Risk Manager who they may not have otherwise met. Her presentations were enlightening and thought-provoking. Many thanks to Ms. Roeder for traveling to UCA’s campus and to the Spencer Educational Foundation for the grant funds that brought Ms. Roeder to UCA.

To bring the Risk Manager to campus this year, the 51��¥ Insurance and Risk Management program was awarded a grant from the Spencer Educational Foundation, supporting a key experiential learning opportunity for students.��The Spencer Foundation has supported the Risk Manager on Campus program for years,����and��Lance Ewing in 2022.