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Brandi Mikula felt better prepared to begin her career because of the type of education she received at the UCA College of Business.

Her experience in the College of Business went beyond the didactic learning that is crucial to any worthwhile education and extended into real-world experiences and assignments. One of those opportunities was her class splitting off into groups and providing a local dentist with a fresh marketing strategy.

As a double-major in marketing and management, the assignment gave her a chance to see what a day in her career might look like.

“I really appreciated that type of experience in the classroom,” said Mikula. “It prepared me more for jobs after college.”

Having meaningful relationships with faculty like Joe Cangelosi helped Mikula navigate her college career and the many things students juggle while in school including coursework, studying, projects, internships, and the future.

“Dr. Cangelosi loves his students and wants to build that relationship with you,” said Mikula. “He’s so approachable and willing to help whether you’re dealing with something at school or contemplating the future.”

Mikula said he was more than willing to help her find jobs, and she found his class during her senior year helped calm a lot of angst she felt as she prepared to leave college to begin her career.

“Brandi was an excellent student, very cooperative with good leadership and analytical skills,” said Cangelosi. “She can do anything she wants.”

Since graduating in 2014, it has been a whirlwind for Mikula. She was among the first class of Arkansas Fellows, and the first Arkansas Fellow from UCA.

As part of the fellowship, she spent two years immediately after college working for Hayseed Ventures, a startup company in Fayetteville. The fellowship provides a two-year experience for recent graduates that includes a salaried position, a mentorship program, and professional development and networking.

Related: If you’re interested in being an Arkansas Fellow, click here

“Those years were so valuable,” said Mikula. “You’re in a fast-paced, fast-growing company and gain access to upper-level management for mentorship, and you’re able to see all aspects of the company.”

Mikula spent a good portion of her fellowship running her own company with Hayseed Ventures serving as a parent company. For a person who’s had entrepreneurial aspirations since childhood, it was an incredible experience.

“Being put in that role, it’s not an experience you normally get a job,” said Mikula. “It is an amazing program for anyone interested in entrepreneurship.”

Mikula now serves on the Arkansas Fellowship board and remains involved in the organization. The Arkansas Fellowship is currently accepting applications through Oct. 26. Click here to apply.

Mikula works at OneStone, an e-commerce agency in Rogers. As content and digital assets team lead, she services online retailer clients, including Amazon and Walmart, to optimize their pages. It includes managing a staff of contract writers and photographers to make sure the end product meets the client’s satisfaction.

She still harbors the same entrepreneurial spirit she’s always had and hopes to harness it moving forward.

“I’ve always wanted to run my own business,” she said. “I’ve been entrepreneurial minded since I was 5 or 6 years old. I hope to be able to start pursuing that soon, but I am still figuring out what that business will look like.”

The Business & Information Technology (BIT) Club is having its Fall Welcome Meeting and Kick-Off on Thursday, September 20th.  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.  Paul Bradley, a UCA alum who is the Conway Market Leader for Edafio Technology Partners, will be the featured speaker.  Paul is both an MIS and MBA graduate and we are delighted to welcome him back to campus.  Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.  All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend.

Arkansas Fellowship is accepting applications for its 2018 class of Arkansas Fellows.

The fellowship is open to graduating seniors looking for a unique experience after college. Here are some of the fast facts of the fellowship:

• Two-year experience
• $40,000+ salary
• Fast-paced environment
• Build a network of business leaders and entrepreneurs
• Attend lectures and hear renowned speakers
• 100 percent job placement rate

Apply and learn more at arkansasfellowship.org.

Six PBL members competed at the PBL National Conference June 23 – June 26 in Baltimore, MD, and we had some winners:

Emily Ketchum

1st place in Client Services

4th place in Job Interview

Tyler Gum

2nd place in Contemporary Sports Issues

Russell Holley

6th place in Impromptu Speaking

Ciara Devine

7th place in Retail Management Concepts

First Service Bank established a scholarship for students studying Marketing in the College of Business. The scholarship recipient will receive $1,500 per academic year. The recipient will be majoring in Marketing and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 and have at least 30 hours of coursework remaining for graduation. Preference is given to students who graduated high school from a Faulkner County high school. This scholarship is housed in the UCA Foundation and will begin being awarded in the Fall 2018 semester.

Auto-Owners Insurance, headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, recently made a gift to the UCA College of Business Insurance and Risk Management program. Their gift of $15,000 will go to support the Dr. John Bratton Endowed Professorship, departmental needs and a departmental scholarship. Auto-Owners Insurance has a local office in Little Rock that has hired interns and graduates of the Insurance and Risk Management program. Auto-Owners Insurance is a mutual insurance company that offers auto, home, business and life insurance to policyholders exclusively through independent agents.

Announcing the winners of the College of Business Research and Project Presentation Day

There were 30 research and projects on display and 44 student participants. A team of 10 judges, faculty from the College of Business, evaluated and scored projects for clarity, strategy, quality, resolution, and presentation excellence.

Jennifer Westpfahl

UCA Day of Giving on March 8 resulted in a historical outcome for the university as a whole, raising $434,526 for dozens of departments and initiatives across campus, but it was also an important day for the College of Business. On this day, the Jennifer J. Westpfahl Women in Finance Scholarship was established as the very first scholarship with the goal to support women pursuing a career in the finance industry was established.

UCA Alum Jennifer Westpfahl ’99 established the scholarship to advocate on the behalf of female finance students. “I want this to be a gift that inspires others to give back but also makes an immediate impact on students,” Westpfahl stated.

Upon completing her finance degree at the UCA College of Business, Westpfahl embarked on a path to achieving her dream of working on Wall Street.

“There were not many opportunities for women to work in the financial services industry when I began my career. That has changed considerably, but there is still work to be done,” said Westpfahl.

Westpfahl did achieve her dream of working on Wall Street as she was recently promoted to Executive Director, Head of Field Services at Morgan Stanley. This came after her role as Head of FAA Talent Management where she was responsible for recruiting and developing the next generation of advisors in the financial services industry. In that role, she encouraged those who have not traditionally considered a career in finance in the past, specifically females, to do so.

“I want to bring to the forefront the importance of chasing your dreams and hard work. I hope this provides young women who want to work in the financial industry the opportunity to continue their coursework and pursue their dreams,” said Westpfahl. “Additionally, I am aiming to inspire other alumni to give back and support the College of Business and its students. UCA made a significant impact on my life, both personally and professionally, and I am grateful to have the capability to give back now. I challenge other UCA alumni to think about doing the same thing.”

The Jennifer J. Westpfahl Women in Finance Scholarship will be available for awarding beginning in Fall 2019. The scholarship will be awarded to students who are female and have a declared major of finance in the College of Business. The recipient shall be at least in junior-level standing and have a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The scholarship will be housed with the UCA Foundation, Inc.

Students on tour at US Bank

Last month, students studying economics, finance, accounting, and banking took a trip to the US Bank location in North Little Rock. On a tour guided by Arkansas and Missouri Region President for US Bank and UCA alum, Mike Richardson, students were exposed to all sides of banking including commercial lending, underwriting, and retail. Students met directors and managers of local US Bank locations and were able to ask questions and get an up-close look at all of the different career paths that are available in the field of banking.