News

As we close out another year in the College of Business, we want to thank all our friends and supporters, and look back at some of the milestones and achievements of the last year.

UCA Day of Giving

In 24 hours, our college received nearly $200,000 in donations, named three spaces in the college and created seven scholarships for our students. The UCA Day of Giving included Greenway Equipment establishing the Greenway Equipment Cultivating Successful Leaders Scholarship Fund, Modern Woodmen sponsoring a classroom, C.H. Robinson sponsoring our Imagine Lab used for the Innovation & Entrepreneurship program, and Leanna Godley, of Goddess Products, establishing the first Minority in Business scholarship in the college.

Diversity in Business Night

How do we achieve diversity in business? It was the discussion our accounting and Biz@Bear students had with business community members in our college in March.

 Student Awards Banquet

In April, we honored the best of the best in the college, awarding our students for their academic and service achievements throughout the 2018-19 academic year. Kelsey Carter, an accounting major, was won our 2019 Outstanding College of Business Student Award.

MIS Student Wins Student Worker Award

Darby Ketron, an MIS student, was awarded the 2018-19 Student Worker of the Year Award by UCA Career Services in April.

John W. Allison Entrepreneurial Speaker Series: Bunny Adcock

Bunny Adcock, chair of the UCA Board of Trustees, spoke to our Innovation & Entrepreneurship students in April as the latest speaker of our John W. Allison Entrepreneurial Speaker Series. Adcock shared about the work he does with his organization, Opportunity Matters, which assists undocumented immigrants purchase a home.

HR Club Wins at State Competition

Danesha McCraney and Kaitlyn Reeves won the student case competition at the Arkansas Society for Human Resource Management Conference in April. Reeves was also named a recipient of the J.C. Cote Scholarship.

Phi Beta Lambda Racks Up Awards

Our Phi Beta Lambda students won 11 awards in April at the State Leadership Conference. The awards covered categories such as contemporary sports issues, sports management and marketing, computer applications, information. Management and insurance concepts.

Beta Gamma Sigma Inducts New Class

Beta Gamma Sigma is the premier business honor society in academics. Being a part of AACSB allows the exceptional students from the College of Business to enjoy membership. In April, we had the pleasure of inducting our newest class of members.

Beta Alpha Psi Named Student Organization of the Year

Beta Alpha Psi, the national honors organization for financial information professionals at UCA, was named the campus’ Student Organization of the Year in April.

Celebrating 50 Years of Business Education Excellence

July 1, 1969. The day our college was established. Much has changed since then. What was the State College of Arkansas became the University of Central Arkansas. We’ve called multiple buildings across campus our home, established new departments, created new programs and started new fields of study.

In all our growth and advancement, the one thing left untouched is our mission. We have the same commitment to providing a high-quality business education to our students as we did a half-century ago. We are honored to be celebrating 50 years.

Standridges Establish First Endowed Scholarship in Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Jeff and Lori Standridge established the first endowed scholarship in Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the UCA College of Business in June. The Dr. Jeff and Lori Standridge Innovation & Entrepreneurship Scholarship will be awarded to one upperclassman majoring in Innovation & Entrepreneurship each year.

UCA/Acxiom IT Careers Camp

Our IT Careers Camp brings together young students interested in information technology with young business professionals for a two-day camp on our campus. The students enjoy an engaging series of sessions with hands-on learning and activities.

Insurance Program Named Global Center of Insurance Excellence

This summer, our Insurance & Risk Management program was designated a Global Center of Insurance Excellence by the International Insurance Society. Our program is the only four-year program of its kind in Arkansas. UCA is one of 34 universities in 11 countries to have obtained the designation.

Insurance Hall of Fame Inducts New Class

Six new members were inducted into the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame in October. The inductees were: James Howard Atkins, of Herrington, Inc.; Matthew Cashion, of Cashion Company, Inc.; Daryl Coker, of Spradley & Coker; Gail James, of Bituminous Insurance Companies; Ron Lensing, of BancorpSouth; and Jim Spradley, of Spradley & Coker.

The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created to recognize leaders of the insurance industry in Arkansas, and to remind the public of the important role insurance plays in securing the well-being of both individuals and businesses. The Hall of Fame is housed in the UCA College of Business, which offers the only insurance and risk management program in the state.

Dean Hargis Appears on Talk Business

Dean Michael Hargis appeared on Talk Business & Politics with Roby Brock in August to discuss the college’s 50^th anniversary and the future of higher education.

Meet The Firms 2019

Business suits, polished resumes and big smiles were on full-display in September as our accounting students met with dozens of firms and companies at our annual Meet The Firms event on-campus.

Anthony McMullen Wins Master Teacher Award

Anthony McMullen, associate professor of business law, is a long-time fan of “The Simpsons.” With a little inspiration, he found a way to incorporate clips of the popular animated show in his classroom to teach aspects of business law. His efforts won him the Academy of Legal Studies in Business’ Charles M. Hewitt Master Teacher Award.

#ArcBestDay in the COB

ArcBest took over our building Tuesday, visiting several classes and setting up tables to visit with students and tell them about the opportunities in various fields that await them at the company.

Davis Family Lecture Series Welcomes Curtis Barnett

Curtis Barnett’s career at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has taken him across several divisions of the company from product development, primary care network and operations on his way to being president and CEO of the largest health insurer of the state.

Barnett’s journey began at the University of Central Arkansas. He shared that journey today with students as the keynote speaker of our Davis Family Lecture Series. Our students learned the occurrences in Barnett’s life that impacted his future and how he leveraged those moments to his advantage. It was an honor to host Barnett and allow our students to be inspired by his story.

TIDA Awards 3 Scholarships in the COB

Karen Xiao, Lane Granberry and Lani Meares are the latest recipients of scholarships from the Trucking Industry Defense Association. We appreciate TIDA for its continued support of our Logistics and Supply Chain Management program.

MBA Program Named to Best Business Schools List

Our MBA program was named recently to The Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools list of Best On-Campus MBA programs. The MBA program has 141 students and offers concentrations in finance, health care administration, information management and international business. It is accredited through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB).

Accounting CPE Workshop

One-hundred and twenty accounting professionals were on-campus in December for the Department of Accounting’s annual Continuing Professional Education in Accounting Workshop. The participants received updates on real estate taxes, estate and financial planning, compliance issues for financial institutions, current expected credit losses and auditing.

Corey Throneberry has been named the senior director of development for the University of Central Arkansas College of Business.

Prior to joining UCA, Throneberry worked as a business development officer at First Service Bank. He also worked with Centennial Insurance Agency in Conway.

Throneberry graduated from the UCA College of Business in 2008 with a bachelor’s in insurance and risk management.

“Through his prior work experience, Corey has established valuable contacts in the business community that will serve us well as we continue to enhance the College of Business for our students, faculty and staff,” said Michael B. Hargis, Ph.D., dean of the UCA College of Business.

The UCA College of Business has more than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers 13 baccalaureate degrees, two master’s and one graduate certificate across four academic departments and houses the state’s only insurance and risk management program. The UCA College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Visit uca.edu/business for more.

The Business & Information Technology (BIT) Club is having its last meeting of the fall semester on Thursday, November 14th.  The event, which will be held in the College of Business Auditorium (Rooms 107/208) during X-period (1:40 – 2:30 p.m.), is open to all majors on campus.   Dwight Southerland, an Arkansas native with over 39 years of experience in software development, consulting, project management, and systems optimization, will be the featured speaker. He has a BA and MBA from UCA, a secondary education certification from UALR, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

It is his experience and proven collaboration with stakeholders that has provided him with the skillset required in his position as Deputy Secretary of State.  Dwight’s role is that of Chief of Staff, and as such, he oversees the operations of all divisions of the Office of the Secretary of State through the facilitation of effective decision making, organizational strategy, and implementing process solutions. Dwight is committed to working for the citizens of Arkansas and serving the mission of the Secretary of State.

Refreshments will be served (PIZZA!) and door prizes will be awarded.  All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.

Looking for a way to spend all that free time this weekend during Fall Break? Consider picking up one of these books recommended by COB faculty!

Teach Yourself How to Learn: Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level
by Saundra Yancy McGuire
Want to improve a grade or two after a bad midterm? Pick up this book recommended by Stephanie Watson, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Accounting. Or, read one of the Perfect Phrases series that Dr. Watson also recommends.

The Top Performer’s Field Guide: Catalysts for Leaders, Superstars and All Who Aspire To Be
by Jeff D. Standridge
Did you know we have our own best-selling author right here in the COB? Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D., instructor of finance and COB Advisory Board member, has a couple of best-sellers, including this one that details the habits of successful people.

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
“The author has a Ph.D. in business and another in psychology. He does a masterful job showing how behavioral economics applies to business decisions.” –Joe McGarrity, Ph.D., professor of economics

Field Presence, It’s Not Enough Just to Play the Game
by Wes Booker
Enjoy listening to UCA alumnus Wes Booker this week at BIT Club? Check out his book, recommended by Cindi Burleson, director of the Center for Insurance & Risk Management.

“We all have dreams. Sometimes those dreams become our realities and, sometimes, the dream doesn’t work out and we have to re-focus. This is a playbook for upping your game to being the best you can be, a successful leader and a successful person.”

Bored and Brilliant
by Manoush Zomorodi
“Since it is fall break, I found it with good timing that this book reveals that our brains are at their most productive and creative when we are bored. By taking a break from our gadgets, it gives students a chance to take control over their time, and using boredom to their advantage.

The one thing I found that separates this challenge from a typical and trendy unplugging or mindfulness challenge, is that actual baby steps are implemented to slowly bring awareness to even the slight urge to hold your phone. Plus, this emphasizes that we need to develop healthy phone habits, and not just shutting everything off.” –Tachia Awbrey, COB Academic Advisor

Free to Choose: A Personal Statement
by Milton Friedman
“Want an easy read that will help you learn about how the economy works, including the role of government? Your life will not be the same after reading the book and/or watching the videos.” –Tom Snyder, chair of the Department of Economics, Finance, and Insurance & Risk Management

Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are
by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
“It’s a fun and interesting book written from the perspective of a Harvard graduate in economics, who is also a former Google data scientist. The author explores how big data can be leveraged to find what people really want, and how our digital dossiers are used to get a peek inside of our minds.” –Mike Casey, Ph.D., assistant professor of management information systems

The Business & Information Technology (BIT) Club is having its second meeting on Tuesday, October 15th.  Gamma Iota Sigma is co-hosting the event.  It will be held in the College of Business Auditorium (Rooms 107/208) during X-period (1:40 – 2:30 p.m.) and is open to all majors on campus.  Wes Booker, a noted motivational speaker and current SEC Football Referee, will be our featured speaker.  Here is a little more about Wes:

Wes Booker is the owner and CEO of The Wes Booker Agency with the main office located in Maumelle, AR.  He also is the creator and director of the Wes Booker Football Officials Camp which takes place each year in Little Rock as well as speaking at and directing motivational workshops and events (https://wesbookerspeaks.com).  Mr. Booker is a 2017 Class member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and was a member of the University of Central Arkansas 1991 NAIA National Football Champions team. 

As a longtime UCA Bear, we are delighted to welcome Mr. Booker back to campus.  Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.  All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield President and CEO Curtis Barnett will be the keynote speaker of the Davis Family Lecture Series on Oct. 22 at the University of Central Arkansas College of Business.

Barnett’s talk, “Challenge & Culture: A Career in Healthcare at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” will begin at 1:40 p.m. in the College of Business auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Barnett began his career at Arkansas Blue Cross in 1993 as a primary care network plan manager and has served as manager of product development, director of enterprise managed pharmacy and vice president of operations for BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas. He was president and CEO of USAble Corporation from 2008 to 2016.

He was named president and CEO of Arkansas Blue Cross in 2017. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of internal operations. Arkansas Blue Cross is the largest health insurer in Arkansas with more than 3,000 employees.

Barnett serves on various industry boards, including BCS Financial, Life and Specialty Ventures, the National Institute of Healthcare Management, the Partnership for a Healthy Arkansas, USAble Corporation and the Western Conference of Prepaid Medical Plans.

He is an active supporter of UCA, his alma mater, and serves on the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences’ advisory board. In 2018, he received UCA’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.

The Davis Family Lecture Series was established in 2010 through a gift from Granger and Jan Davis, and Milton and Claudia Davis. The series features prominent business leaders who have made a significant impact in an industry. Past speakers include John W. Bachmann, Steve Williams, Hank Henderson, Reynie Rutledge, Marcy Doderer, Millie Ward and Johnny Allison.

The UCA College of Business has more than 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers 13 baccalaureate degrees, two master’s and one graduate certificate across four academic departments and houses the state’s only insurance and risk management program. The UCA College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Visit uca.edu/business for more.

The Business & Information Technology (BIT) Club is having its Fall Welcome Meeting and Kick-Off on Thursday, September 19th.  The event, which will be held in the College of Business Auditorium (Rooms 107/208) during X-period (1:40 – 2:30 p.m.), is open to all majors on campus.  Amy Beam, People Operations Manager for Edafio Technology Partners, will be the featured speaker.  Amy is a UCA graduate and we are delighted to welcome her back to campus.  Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.  All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.

The trade war and new tariffs put in place by the U.S. and Chinese governments dominate most of the headlines.

But what is the impact in Arkansas? How are Arkansans affected? How are Arkansas businesses and farmers coping with changing tariffs? What’s the impact long-term?

Jeremy Horpedahl, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and ACRE Scholar, discusses the issues and their impact at home in Arkansas. For more, check out the video below.

The University of Central Arkansas has been a part of Donna Townsell since childhood.

She grew up blocks from the university, rode her bike through campus, hit golf balls with her dad in the field that now houses the Pepsi Center near the corner of Bruce and Farris streets.

“Choosing UCA was an easy choice,” said Townsell. “It was a great school and close to home.”

Interested in a Business Degree? Check out the COB’S Programs of Study

It took her a few years to settle on a major and the College of Business, though. She spent her underclassmen years completing her basics, then, eased her way into prospective majors, which included marketing.

Townsell felt confident it could be a fit for her. She worked in many retail businesses as a teenager, including her family’s clothing business, a local photography studio, and a convenience store. Those work experiences showed her the value of marketing.

She enjoyed tasks that required creativity and writing. When one of her courses required her to create marketing material for an imaginary company, Townsell knew she had found the right place.

“It helped me utilize my skills and get a feel for different types of marketing tools,” she said.

Townsell’s career has taken her to many industries, including banking and finance where she has worked for Home BancShares for more than a decade. Now, she’s director of investor relations for Centennial Bank. Earlier this year, she became the first woman to be elected as a board member of Home BancShares and Centennial Bank.

Find Out More: UCA Marketing

No matter where she’s worked, Townsell said her degree from the UCA College of Business prepared her to compete and thrive.

“I soon realized the skills and knowledge I gained that can be used every day, whether directly or indirectly, in any field of work I’ve landed in,” said Townsell.

Townsell now serves the college as a member of its advisory board.