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Students Share Impacts of Donor Support

On March 12, we have 24 hours to come together and make a difference for students. Gifts that support students are truly life-changing.

Hear from our senior business students of all majors as they share how UCA’s Day of Giving contributes to scholarships and experiences that drive them toward success. Every gift matters!

You can make an impact right now by visiting uca.edu/go/DOGCOB and giving to any of our business funds. Current business students want you to know that all gifts, large or small, impact their success when you participate in UCA’s Day of Giving.

KIMBERLY NURICUMBO

UCA Economics major with a Finance minor, expected graduation in May 2026

Thanks to the support of our donors, it has been possible for me to dive into life-changing academic and personal growth opportunities, like pursuing my passion for Economics and Finance while studying abroad. As a first-generation student, that support makes a profound impact on my success, and that kindness inspires me to eventually give back to the community that has so generously supported me. I’m beyond grateful we have donors ready to invest in the future of our community, and I am truly honored to be a recipient of that support!

TYMERA MARSH

UCA major in Marketing with a minor in Computer Information Systems, expected graduation in May 2026

The scholarship I received has played an important role in my success as a student at UCA by significantly reducing the stress I experienced during my first two years of college. Before receiving it, my family had to contribute toward my tuition, which often caused anxiety—especially around class registration time when payments were due. Since receiving this scholarship, a financial burden has been lifted off me and allowed me to focus more on my academics, leadership roles, and overall college experience rather than worrying about how my education would be paid for. Beyond financial support, the scholarship has created meaningful opportunities for connection and growth. At the Scholarship Reception, I met other recipients, networked with faculty, and heard inspiring stories from panelists that reinforced the importance of perseverance, community, and giving back. This scholarship has not only supported my education financially but has also encouraged me to stay motivated, pursue opportunities, and continue working toward my goals as a marketing student. It makes me feel even more connected to and supported by the UCA community, reminding me that I am truly a part of the UCA family.

IZZY SAETELLE

Current Master of Accountancy student with expected graduation in May 2026, BBA in Accounting in ’25

With the help of generous donations to the UCA College of Business, I have been able to supplement my education with trips to student conferences and competitions to gain real world experience and expand my professional network beyond central Arkansas.
The scholarships I received have allowed me to keep my education at the front of my mind by helping alleviate the financial pressures of college, but a scholarship can do so much for a student beyond just helping pay the bills. It can be a vote of confidence that someone believes in you, and that extra reassurance that you deserve to be here.

MASON SMITH

UCA double major in Finance and Insurance & Risk Management, expected graduation in May 2026

Being a recipient of scholarships has provided me with the stability and confidence to excel within the College of Business. This generous support has allowed me to participate in opportunities that have bridged the gap between the classroom and the real world. Instead of focusing on financial constraints, I’ve had the time to engage deeply with my coursework and secure internships that are preparing me for a career in finance. I am honored to share my story to ensure future students have access to the same life-changing resources, and I’m incredibly grateful to the donors who invest in our success and make these opportunities possible.

ABBY BOUNDS

Current Master of Science in Data Analytics Student, BBA in CISA ‘ 25

Being a part of the College of Business has been one of the greatest blessings of my college career. My classmates have become close friends and my professors have become mentors through my time here. Because of generous donations to the college, I have also been on 3 life-changing trips. The first was the chance to compete at Manhattan College, and the second and third trips were there WECode Conference at Harvard University (2025, 2026). In my time here, I have been able to teach 11,000+ Arkansas students about computer science and technology, and the college has more than supported me on this dream. I never imagined that my college would become one of my greatest cheerleaders. These experiences gave me experiences, insights, and connections that have directly led to me pursuing a higher degree and being competitive in the job market. I am so grateful for the growth I have seen in myself over these past few years, and it is special to look back and see how the College of Business was a part of that journey. When you give, it makes a difference, and we get to grow.

On March 12, Bears across the country will come together to support scholarships, academic programs, and the organizations that help students thrive. It’s one day to show what this community can do when we stand together.

Your participation matters. Every gift. Every voice.

Take it directly from these students – By giving to the UCA College of Business, you can help students reach their educational goals and impact their lives for the better. Stay tuned for more student stories as we build toward UCA’s Day of Giving on March 12!

If you want to learn more about UCA Day of Giving or give to other UCA funds, visit uca.edu/go/DOGCOB.

 

Posted in: COB News, Featured News on March 9, 2026 Tagged: , , , ,

Senior NASA Executive to Serve as Executive in Residence

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) College of Business will host Amir Deylami, chief operating officer (COO) of NASA’s Ames Research Center, Tuesday, Feb. 17, for the first of three Executive in Residence Leadership Series presentations. The UCA campus is invited to attend, and the events are free and open to the public.

Deylami is the COO of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, where he oversees $8B in assets and leads enterprise operations, infrastructure modernization and strategic transformation across a $1B annual portfolio supporting more than 3,200 employees, 160 NASA projects and 100 partner agreements.

Deylami’s UCA Leadership Series will include:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 1:40 p.m.: Lessons in Leadership, Purpose, and Resilience.
  • Tuesday, March 31, at 1:40 p.m.: Building People-Centric Cultures of Innovation and Trust.
  • Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m.: Leading Transformative Vision in Complex Organizations.

All events will be held in the UCA College of Business Auditorium in Conway, Arkansas.

“Amir Deylami is recognized as one of NASA’s top-performing executives,” Dr. Tim Bisping, dean of the UCA College of Business, said. “We are thrilled he will engage with our students, faculty and staff, and community partners and share his successful strategies on innovation, operations and technology.

“We asked Amir to serve as our Executive in Residence because he is deeply committed to mentorship and leadership development. He is a successful Arkansan with two decades of executive experience at NASA, and we look forward to his visits to our campus.”

The Executive in Residence program connects successful industry experts with students, faculty and local business professionals. The college maintains an innovative curriculum that provides real-world experiences and engagement to prepare UCA students for the global business environment.

 

Posted in: COB News, Featured News, _All Opportunities, _Events, _Networking, _Speaker on February 9, 2026 Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

COB Bulletin: Fall 2025


The COB Bulletin shares news and highlights from the recent success of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Each semester, we send a newsletter highlighting some accomplishments, but this is a more extensive list of accomplishments.

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.

  • 7 students pose after winning first at the Beta Alpha Psi annual conferenceLucas 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 “Arkansas Trucking Report” (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 COB Advisory Board 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.
  • Eight firms competed bowled with students and networked while they had fun at the 11th annual Fear the Strike event.UCA Accounting held the 11th annual Fear the Strike. Eight firms bowled with UCA accounting students: Frost PLLC/Facta, Fair & Company CPAs, HCJ CPAs & Advisors Hudson Cisne, HoganTaylor, Forvis Mazars US, Landmark CPAs, Bell and Company PA, 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 UCA Board of Trustees meeting. Representing the chapter were Izzy Saettele, vice president of membership, and Lucas Hayes, chapter president.
  • Dr. Stephanie Watson provided her expertise twice to WalletHub 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 UCA Career Services video where Madelyn shares about her internship at Berkley Southwest 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 published a journal article with economics major David Tooley. 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 National Association of Real Estate Brokers. 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. G&G Independent Insurance guest speakers, Zane Harrod 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 news, on blogs, and on social media.
  • Dr. Stephen Yao also contributed his expertise to WalletHub.
  • Justin Long, 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 FoxDen Capital, 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.
  • Dr. Collin Hodges’ research was published, “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. See a video of the event.
  • 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 Arkansas TV and other Central Arkansas organizations — gaining real-world experience while giving back. His research on the process was just published 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!
Posted in: Accounting, CISA, COB News, EFIRM, Featured News, Gamma Iota Sigma, Girls Who Code, Insurance and Risk Management program, Marketing & Management, _Awards, _Competition, _Events, _Scholarships, _Service Learning, _Speaker on December 14, 2025 Tagged: ,

Four Students Represent COB in Miss UCA 2026 Pageant

14 UCA students pose in evening gowns as they compete in the Miss UCA 2026 Scholarship CompetitonHeld on Sunday, November 16, 2025, the Miss University of Central Arkansas Scholarship Competition showcased the talent, intelligence, and leadership of remarkable UCA students. The College of Business was proudly represented by four outstanding women who not only participated but also earned recognition for their efforts and excellence. We are proud of you all!

Congratulations to:
– Izzy Saettele: Graduate Student in Accountancy and Data Analytics, COB Student Ambassador, Awarded Academic Achievement Award
– Gabrielle Russell: Accounting Major, Awarded Bear Spirit Award
– Kierra Collier: Marketing Major, COB Student Ambassador
– Abby Bounds: Information Systems Major, Awarded Third Runner Up, Producers Award, Miss Congeniality, Overall Evening Gown Award, and People’s Choice Award

Posted in: Accounting, CISA, COB News, Featured News, Girls Who Code, Marketing & Management, _All Opportunities, _Awards, _Competition on November 19, 2025 Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UCA Accounting Holds Its 11th Annual ‘Fear the Strike’ Networking Event

UCA Accounting held the 11th annual Fear the Strike on Monday, November 10, 2025. Eight firms bowled with UCA accounting students: Frost, Fair, Hudson Cisne, Hogan Taylor, Forvis Mazars, Landmark, Bell, 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.

Eight firms competed bowled with students and networked while they had fun at the 11th annual Fear the Strike event.

Posted in: Accounting, COB News, Featured News, _Networking on November 12, 2025 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: , , , , , , , , , , ,

UCA College of Business Launches Student Managed Investment Fund

Pat Moon, Marshall Moon, and SMIF Students

Pat Moon, Marshall Moon, and SMIF Students

To add to the success of its students, the inaugural investment of the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) was started in a course taught by Dr. Mike Casey. The students in the spring 2025 class selected and invested in the fund’s first portfolio, which is currently up more than 17% as of early fall 2025.

In the Student Managed Investment Fund Class, students manage a portfolio of stocks drawn from each major industry sector. Students decide which stocks to keep, which to sell, and which to add to the portfolio. Students research the financial prospects of companies by examining their financial data and by evaluating how companies will be affected by current events. This class provides excellent training for students who plan to seek jobs as wealth managers.

Experts were regularly invited to share successful advice with the spring students:

  • Pat and Marshall Moon (pictured) from Meridian Investment Advisors visited the Student Managed Investment Fund. Pat runs a wealth management company that manages $800 million in assets.
  • Drew Gainor, one of Arkansas Business’s top 40 under 40, a COB Advisory Board member, a very successful wealth manager, also joined the class to share his success.

UPDATE: As of November 2025, the portfolio shows a total gain of 25%. Stay updated on the fund’s performance here.

Drew Gainor and SMIF Students

Drew Gainor and SMIF Students

Posted in: COB News, EFIRM, Featured News, _Hands-On Experience on August 10, 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: , , , ,