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UCA College of Business Names 2020-2021 Outstanding Students

On April 8, 2021, the UCA College of Business held its annual Student Honors Banquet to celebrate the academic achievements of the College’s students and recognize the outstanding students for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Outstanding students are those who take advantage of educational opportunities and show exemplary academic performance through internships, professional development and experiential education, volunteerism, and participation in clubs and activities.

The following students were awarded an outstanding status, chosen from over 1600 undergraduate and graduate students:

OUTSTANDING STUDENT FOR THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS: ELSA MATTSON

Elsa Mattson was named the overall Outstanding Student for the College of Business because of her many academic achievements.

A triple major with a 3.95 GPA, Elsa earned a BBA in Economics with International Trade Concentration, a BBA in Management Information Systems with a Business Analysis Concentration, and a BA in Chinese. Elsa also earned a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).

As a Research Fellow for the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) for two years, she published a refereed journal article about occupational licensing requirements and its effect on workers during the Great Recession; published an Op-ed about Pennsylvania’s licensing requirements, which was noticed by their Governor’s office; and presented her studies at the International Academy of Business Disciplines conference. She also earned a Mainframe Apprenticeship at Ensono in summer 2020.

She served as President of Team Global at UCA and was selected to represent the College at recruiting and accreditation events during her senior year.

Elsa will begin a Master of Science in Business Analytics at William & Mary on a merit-based scholarship starting in the fall.
ACCOUNTING
OUTSTANDING MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY STUDENT: DEVIN GILBERT

Devin Gilbert completed his BBA in Accounting at UCA and did two internships. He is currently a Graduate Assistant and tutors students in our “Principles of Accounting” and “Intermediate Accounting” courses. Devin has proven to be cool under pressure.

After graduation with his Master of Accountancy (MAcc), Devin is going to work for PricewaterhouseCoopers, the largest accounting firm in the world.
OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTING STUDENT: CLAIRE DeBUSK

Claire DeBusk just completed her BBA and is starting the UCA Master of Accountancy program this summer. While she was an undergraduate, she did five internships, served as an officer of Beta Alpha Psi, placed second with her team for Best Practices in Investing in Yourself, and was involved in service opportunities in Conway and overseas.
ECONOMICS, FINANCE, AND INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT
OUTSTANDING ECONOMICS STUDENT: ELSA MATTSON

A triple major with a 3.95 GPA, Elsa Mattson earned a BBA in Economics with International Trade Concentration, a BBA in Management Information Systems with a Business Analysis Concentration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese. Elsa also earned a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). She served as President of Team Global at UCA and a Research Fellow for ACRE, earned a Mainframe Apprenticeship at Ensono in summer 2020, and was selected to represent the College at recruiting and accreditation events during her senior year. Elsa will begin a Master of Science in Business Analytics at William & Mary on a merit-based scholarship starting in the fall.
OUTSTANDING FINANCE STUDENT: DARYL ADOPO

Daryl achieved a 4.0 GPA, majoring in Finance with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. While at UCA, he co-authored a paper with Dr. Chen and presented it at the 2021 International Academy of Business Disciplines conference; worked as a Life Peer Coach for Housing and Residence Life; and volunteered for several organizations and events, including the Big Event, Team Global and others. Daryl would like to pursue an MBA in Finance and earn a Data Analytics Graduate Certificate or a Masters of Science in Business Analytics, after which he may then work toward a Doctorate.  He wants to eventually work as a financial analyst at the African Bank of Development.
OUTSTANDING INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT STUDENT: BETHANY ARNOLD

Bethany is a first-generation student completing a BBA in Insurance and Risk Management with expected graduation in December 2021. She is the Vice President of Gamma Iota Sigma and currently an intern at State Farm while maintaining a 3.82 GPA. She plans to begin her career in the insurance industry after graduation.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
OUTSTANDING GENERAL BUSINESS STUDENT: ASHLEY PHIPPS

Ashley Phipps is a non-traditional student who completed her BBA in General Business completely online while raising two boys under the age of five. She graduated in May 2021 with a 3.36 GPA. She plans to begin a career in banking.
OUTSTANDING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS STUDENT: KAYLA DEAN

In May 2021, Kayla Dean completed her BBA in Management Information Systems with a Programmer/Analyst Concentration. She finished with a 3.94 GPA and earned a Mainframe internship at Ensono in summer 2020. Kayla also was active in volunteer work serving in the AmeriCorps Urban Safety Program from fall 2018 to spring 2019, as a UCA Peer Coach from fall 2018 until graduation, and as an AmeriCorps BearsServe Member at the UCA Food pantry from fall 2020 to spring 2021.
OUTSTANDING INFORMATION SYSTEMS STUDENT: ROHAN SAXENA

Rohan Saxena graduated with a 3.49 GPA in May 2021, earning a BS in Information Systems with a Computer Science minor. He stayed busy during his UCA undergraduate career by studying abroad at The Hague University, earning an internship at Granules Pharmaceuticals, serving as Housing & Food Services Committee Chairman for the UCA Student Government Association, and working at UCA International Engagement and the Department of Biology. Rohan has accepted a job as Tableau Administrator at Lucid Motors, a Silicon Valley luxury electric car company.
MARKETING & MANAGEMENT
OUTSTANDING INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDENT: LOGAN TRIBBLE

Logan Tribble is working toward his BBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He is not only a great student in the classroom but also an active participant in the activities of our partner, The Conductor, and the activities of the “Central Arkansas Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.”
OUTSTANDING LOGISTICS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT STUDENT: JACK BORNHOFT

Jack Bornhoft, the Outstanding Logistics & Supply Chain Management student, has a 3.83 GPA, is the student representative on the board of the Arkansas Trucking Association, and completed an internship with Insight Logistics Management.
OUTSTANDING MANAGEMENT STUDENT: LUCAS SOUTHARD

Lucas Southard has 3.84 GPA as he works toward a BBA in Management with a concentration in Human Resources Management.
OUTSTANDING MARKETING STUDENT: LAURA LANE & EMMA McKNIGHT

This year we have two winners for the BBA in Marketing. Both Laura Lane and Emma McKnight are outstanding students in the classroom earning GPAs of better than 3.8, and both have demonstrated tremendous potential to achieve success in their chosen field of marketing.
OUTSTANDING MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION STUDENT: BRANDON SCOTT PHIPPS

Brandon Scott Phipps is the Outstanding Student of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Phipps received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from UCA and has excelled in the MBA program. In addition to being a veteran, Brandon is launching a new Homewell Health Services franchise in Conway with the help of College of Business Professor Dr. Jeff Standridge.  Phipps was also recently named a member of the new class for the Conway Area Leadership Institute.
ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

The UCA College of Business includes:

The goal of the UCA College of Business is to provide a hands-on, experience driven, education that prepares graduates to take on global issues. Through our diverse programs of study and distinguished faculty and staff, we take creative, engaged students and give them the tools to succeed when they earn their degrees. Our students travel the world, start their own innovative businesses, and join established businesses across the country.  Whatever their next step, our students are ready to make a positive impact.

Learn more about our programs of study and distinguished faculty and staff.

Posted in: COB News on June 3, 2021 Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Senior Kaddie Bailey Elected as FBLA Collegiate National Officer

On June 2, 2025, at the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference held in Dallas, Texas, senior accounting major Kaddie Bailey was elected to serve as the 2025-2026 Vice President of Development on the FBLA Collegiate National Officer Team.

Currently, Kaddie serves as the FBLA Collegiate President at the University of Central Arkansas, where Kaddie leads with a passion for service, education, and empowering others. In this new role, Kaddie is responsible for advancing FBLA’s mission via their platforms by expanding financial literacy initiatives, strengthening national partnerships, and creating innovative opportunities for fundraising and growth.

Colin Williams, VP of Operations; Kaia Dolor, VP of Communications; Jonathan Nevenhoven, President; Meri Mikoyan, Executive VP; Kaddie Bailey, VP of Financial Development; (not pictured – Brianna Le, VP of Membership).

Kaddie says, “As Vice President of Development, I am excited to collaborate with my fellow national officers to create resources, build opportunities, and ensure that FBLA Collegiate continues to equip students nationwide for leadership, professional success, and lifelong impact.”

As a National officer, Kaddie will be involved in the planning and production of two conferences: the Career Connections Conference in November in Des Moines, Iowa, and the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference, which will be held in Las Vegas next year.

Kaddie will lead professional development workshops with current members at these events, as well as travel to different chapters and states. Kaddie will also be working to promote financial literacy awareness and accessibility at the national level via their platform and the officers’ joint Program of Work.

Posted in: COB News, Featured News, _RSOs, _Volunteer on September 17, 2025 Tagged: , , , ,

‘Girls Who Code’ Shines at Tinkerfest 2025

Members of Girls Who Code at UCA brought their tech skills to the big stage on September 13 at Tinkerfest 2025, hosted by the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock. The event drew hundreds of curious minds from across the state for a full day of hands-on STEM fun – think robots, rockets, coding games, and more!

Our UCA students ran interactive coding stations designed especially for K-6 participants, helping young kids (and their parents!) explore the basics of programming in a fun, friendly setting. It was a great opportunity to inspire future tech leaders and show that coding isn’t just for computer science majors – it’s for everyone.

Girls Who Code at UCA is open to all students and all majors. Big shoutout to our COB students who helped out! Bridging business and tech has never looked better!

Posted in: CISA, COB News, Featured News, Girls Who Code, _RSOs, _Volunteer on September 16, 2025 Tagged: , , ,

UCA’s Beta Alpha Psi Chapter Takes First Place at National Conference, Earns “Gold” Status

Please help us celebrate and congratulate UCA’s Theta Lambda Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi for their first-place win at the Annual (international) Conference in San Antonio this weekend.

They competed in the Best Practices category “Impacting Your Profession,” presenting the game show “The Major is Right,” developed by the faculty advisors and many members of the chapter.

With 10 regional winners competing in this category, UCA came out on top! Several schools and the American Institute of Public Accounting have requested the game to be used to promote accounting as a great major and a great career. Lucas Hayes, Rebecca Gaither, and Izzy Saettele were the presenters of the project that brought home the win!

Also, while in San Antonio,

  • Two UCA students, Kaddie Bailey and Lakoda Caldwell, participated in Project Run With It, a case competition to solve a problem for a not-for-profit.
  • Also attending from UCA are Allie Wayne and Jaxson Adams, plus faculty advisor Ashley Phillips, and regional chapter advocate Connie McKnight.
  • UCA was recognized as a Gold Chapter for this past academic year. Gold is the highest recognition for professional and service activities by a chapter.
  • Three chapters of Beta Alpha Psi from Arkansas (UCA, UofA, and UALR) got together for a river cruise sponsored by the Arkansas Society of CPAs.

Posted in: Accounting, COB News, Featured News, _Awards, _Competition, _RSOs on August 19, 2025 Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT: Crystal Calhoun, BBA ’25

Crystal Calhoun

  • Bachelor of Business Administration, fully online
  • Named 2025 Outstanding Online Business Student

Why did you choose your major?

As a non-traditional student, wife, and work-from-home mom of six, I bring over 20 years of experience working as an accountant for small businesses. I’ve always had a passion for numbers and math, but over time, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by business strategies and what drives success. Through my experience working in the back office of various companies, I’ve come to realize just how crucial business planning and strategy are for any organization.

Now that I have graduated, I hope to secure a remote job where I can grow with a company and contribute to its success. I plan to apply the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to make a meaningful impact. Additionally, I am excited to continue brainstorming business ideas and hope to start my own business in the future.

What is your advice for other COB students?

The UCA COB program is an excellent opportunity! My advice to fellow students is to put in 150%, work hard, and take advantage of networking opportunities while in the program. These are lessons I learned in the workforce before returning to school. A strong work ethic and the right connections can make all the difference in your career. The impressions you make and the relationships you build in the COB program could prove invaluable down the road.

Crystal with COB Associate Dean, Dr. Laci Lyons

Posted in: COB News, Featured News, _Awards on June 24, 2025 Tagged: , , , ,

SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT: Jane Nim, BBA ’25

Jane pictured with Dean Mike Casey receiving her award for College of Business Outstanding Student of the Year

Jane Nim

Why did you choose your field of study?

I chose my major because I was inspired by my dad and my oldest sister, Denise. Growing up, I saw how passionate they were about their work in this field, and they became my role models. Their influence, combined with my own love for working with data and statistics, made this the perfect path for me.

What are your plans post-graduation?

After graduation, I hope to build a career in my field where I can apply my academic knowledge in a professional setting and contribute to meaningful work. I want to work in a company that not only cares about earning profits, but also cares about its shareholders and other ethical concerns within the community.

What is your advice for other students?

I’m deeply grateful to those who supported me throughout this experience. College isn’t easy, especially when we’re juggling full-time studies, part-time jobs, and the challenges of adulting. It’s important to work hard for what you want, but don’t forget to prioritize your emotional well-being. Remember, you’re not alone—reach out for support because we’re all on this journey together.

Jane received the President’s Medallion from President Houston Davis upon graduation

Posted in: CISA, COB News, Featured News, _Awards on June 16, 2025 Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

COB Bulletin: June 2025

The COB Bulletin shares news and highlights from the recent success of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

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 ranked #17 in Affordable Degree Guide’s 2024 Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration rankings.
  • Dr. Louisa Moseley was recognized for her use of immersive simulations in Introduction to Business, and she was named UCA Learning Communities Faculty Associate of the Year for her work at BUILD@Carmichael.
  • Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield experts “took over” our College of Business 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, “Financial distress and stock return: A finite mixture approach” 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 “Fintechs and Banking: A Note on Neobank Risks” 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

  • 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 contributed his economics expertise to several blogs for economistwritingeveryday.com and contributed to news outlets like THV11, CNN, Arkansas Week, New York Times, and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
  • For all of his extensive work, the Cato Institute named Dr. Horpedahl an Adjunct Scholar.
  • Dr. Stephen Haibo Yao shared his expertise with WalletHub about car insurance and credit cards, while Dr. Jacob Bundrick contributed his educated opinions about Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) issues. Professor Ivan Hudson also shared his expertise with WalletHub about liability insurance.
  • 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 UCA Risk Manager on Campus program welcomed Mr. Carey Bond, 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 Spencer Educational Foundation 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 was awarded a scholarship 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 75Strong, 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 2025 Arkansas Governor’s Cup: 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 JB Hunt’s 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.
  • Arkansas PBS partnered with Dr. Benjamin Garner‘s Content Marketing students to create 13 published blogs. Dr. Garner’s students also produced marketing videos for 9 community clients.
  • 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 UCA 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!

Posted in: Accounting, CISA, COB News, EFIRM, Featured News, Gamma Iota Sigma, Girls Who Code, Insurance and Risk Management program, Marketing & Management on June 9, 2025 Tagged:

ARKANSAS INSURANCE HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2025 CLASS OF INDUCTEES

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 class of distinguished inductees. Six new Arkansans will be honored at the 2025 Induction Banquet on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Thomas C. Courtway Student Recreation Center on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.

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.

Table sponsorships 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: www.arinsurancehof.org.

The University of Central Arkansas (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 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame Scholarship.

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 www.arinsurancehof.org.

Posted in: COB News, EFIRM, Insurance and Risk Management program on June 5, 2025 Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Summer Courses: Catch Up, Get Ahead, Stay on Track

Study from anywhere this summer with online courses or take one in person at COB! Summer courses can help you catch up, get ahead, or stay on track to graduate on your timeline. Many options are offered at every level.

What next?

1. Look at the courses offered this summer (Summer I starts June 2, and Summer 2 starts July 7).

2. Talk to your advisor about what classes you should take this summer.

3. Learn more: uca.edu/summer

Posted in: COB News on May 13, 2025 Tagged: ,

UCA College of Business Celebrates Outstanding Students of 2024-2025

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.

The awards given celebrate students who stood out this year in our academic programs and 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.

Outstanding Students of the Year

ACADEMIC AWARDS

College of Business Outstanding Student of the Year
Also: Outstanding Information Systems Student
Jane Nim

Jane Nim pictured with Dean, Dr. Mike Casey

Outstanding General Business Student
Caitlin Hambuchen

Caitlin Hambuchen pictured with Dr. Ashley Phillips, Associate Professor of Accounting

Outstanding Fully Online Undergraduate Student
Crystal Calhoun

Crystal Calhoun pictured with Associate Dean, Dr. Laci Lyons

Outstanding Accounting Student
Matthew Warren

Matthew Warren pictured with Accounting Department Chair, Dr. Stephanie Watson

Outstanding Computer Information Systems Student
Olivia Balentine

Olivia Balentine pictured with Dr. Jim Downey, Professor of CISA

Outstanding Cybersecurity Management Student
Caleb Goines

Caleb Goines with Dr. Jim Downey, Professor of CISA

Outstanding Data Analytics Student
Elizabeth Yancey

Elizabeth Yancy pictured with Dr. Mike Ellis, Associate Professor of CISA

Outstanding Economics Student
Perla Zapata

(not pictured)

Outstanding Finance Student
Cooper McClellan

Cooper McClellan pictured with Dr. Joe McGarrity, Chair of the EFIRM Department

Outstanding Insurance & Risk Management Student
Emma Daughtrey

Emma Daughtrey pictured with Ivan Hudson, Director of the UCA Center for Insurance and Risk Management

Outstanding Management Student
Joshua Baros

(not pictured)

Outstanding Marketing Student
John Brady Littler

John Brady Littler pictured with Dr. Benjamin Britton, Assistant Professor of Marketing

Outstanding Innovation & Entrepreneurship Student
Ally Loter

Ally Loter pictured with Dr. Ron Duggins, Associate Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Outstanding Logistics & Supply Chain Management Student
Matthew Moix

Matt Moix pictured with Dr. Michael Cross, Lecturer of Management

Outstanding Human Resources Student
Brandon Miller

(not pictured)

Outstanding Master of Accountancy Student
Sidney Mack

Sidney Mack pictured with Dr. Stephanie Watson, Chair of the Accounting Department

Outstanding Master of Applied Data Analytics Student
Brittany Miller

Brittany Miller pictured with Dr. Samira Nichols, Assistant Professor of CISA

Outstanding Master of Business Administration Students
Caitlyn Bellamy & Jason Brown

Jason Brown pictured with Dr. Mark McMurtrey, MBA Program Director

Caitlyn Bellamy pictured with Dr. Laci Lyons, Associate Dean

SERVICE AWARDS

Outstanding College of Business Ambassadors
Izzy Saettele & Michael Isaac

Izzy Saettele and Michael Isaac pictured with Lainey Morrow, COB Student Ambassador Program Coordinator

Outstanding Beta Alpha Psi Student
Carson Griffin

Carson Griffin pictured with Dr. Ashley Phillips, co-sponsor of Beta Alpha Psi

Outstanding Accounting Club Student
Lucas Hayes

Lucas Hayes pictured with Accounting Professor Dr. Ashley Phillips

Outstanding Gamma Iota Sigma Student
Gabriella Adkins

Gabriella Adkins pictured with Ivan Hudson, Director of the UCA Center for Insurance and Risk Management

Outstanding BASCOM Student (Bears for Advancing Supply Chain and Operations Management)
Matthew Moix

Matt Moix (not pictured – BASCOM Sponsor, Dr. Michael Cross)

Outstanding BIT Club Member
Jane Nim

Jane Nim pictured with Dr. Mike Casey, Sponsor of the BIT Club

Outstanding Girls Who Code Member
Abby Bounds

Abby Bounds pictured with CISA Lecturer Susan Shaw, co-sponsor of Girls Who Code

Outstanding Marketing & Sales Club Member
Emily Greer

Emily Greer (not pictured, Dr. Ben Britton, sponsor of the Marketing & Sales Club)

Outstanding BUILD Student
Nick Self

Nick Self pictured with Dr. Louisa Moseley, Director of Student Experiences and BUILD@Carmichael Academic Coordinator

Posted in: Accounting, CISA, COB News, EFIRM, Featured News, Gamma Iota Sigma, Marketing & Management, _Awards, _Volunteer on April 26, 2025

Accounting Students Volunteer to Prepare Community Tax Returns at United Way

This spring UCA Accounting majors participated in the Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) program at United Way of Central Arkansas (UWCA). The VITA program delivers financial support to hundreds of families across Central Arkansas through free tax preparation and filing services. Students participate in this program each year with mentorship from Dr. Ashley Phillips.

 Financial Impact 

  • 414 tax returns prepared
  • Over $440,000 returned to community members through federal and state tax refunds
  • Over $75,000 saved in tax preparation fees
  • Serving households with a median adjusted gross income of approximately $23,500

 Beyond the Numbers

This free service is vital for supporting individuals who might otherwise struggle to afford tax preparation or miss out on critical refunds.  For families struggling to make ends meet, these refunds represent:

  • Relief from mounting bills
  • Critical funds for home repairs, medical expenses, or education
  • Opportunities to build emergency savings

This program delivers support precisely where it’s needed most, helping families move toward greater financial stability and self-sufficiency.

 Community Effort and Investment

 This program is a community effort. UWCA provides VITA site location, resources, financial and administrative support, along with organizing community members as intake volunteers. UCA Accounting department provides accounting majors to prepare tax returns. This experience provides students with invaluable real-world experience. This hands-on training allowed students to:

  • Apply classroom knowledge to actual tax situations
  • Develop client communication skills
  • Navigate tax software and documentation requirements
  • Build professional confidence through meaningful community service

This dual-impact approach not only serves community members in need but also strengthens the professional development of future accountants, creating a powerful educational experience that textbooks alone cannot provide.

 Every dollar returned through the UWCA VITA program strengthens our local economy and enhances the financial resilience of Central Arkansas families. This vital service exemplifies how targeted support can create ripple effects of positive change throughout our communities.

Posted in: Accounting, COB News, Featured News, _Volunteer on April 17, 2025 Tagged: , , , , , ,