The search for the next dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business is underway.

As the leader of the Walton College, the dean will further the university’s land-grant mission of teaching, discovery and service. The dean will oversee all business operations for the college, support the college’s enrollment growth and engage with the business community. The dean will also combine outstanding academic programs with experiential learning that connects students and faculty to world-class scholarship, real-world business practice and industry executives.

Reporting directly to the provost, the Walton College dean is a vital member of the university leadership team and must support interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships. The dean will build strong relationships and trust with internal and external stakeholders.

The search for the dean of Walton College is a national search. Individuals interested in the position can view the job description and application details online. Campus interviews will likely be held in January 2024.

Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Ann Bordelon is chairing the search committee. 

In selecting Bordelon as chair, Provost Terry Martin said, “Ann is a graduate of Walton College and built an impressive career at Walmart before joining the University of Arkansas. Her experience as a U of A graduate and in executive finance roles at one of the world’s largest companies makes her the perfect person to lead the search committee in finding the next dean of Walton College.”

The search committee for the dean of Walton College includes the following members:

• Ann Bordelon, chair, executive vice chancellor for finance and administration
• Kelly Barnes, partner, Global and U.S. Health Industries Leader (retired), PwC
• Karen Boston, senior assistant dean for student success and chief student officer for Walton College
• Susan Bristow, assistant department chair and teaching associate professor, Department of Information Systems in Walton College
• Brian Fugate, chair, Department of Supply Chain Management in Walton College
• Michael Hairston, Executive M.B.A. student, Walton College
• Scott Hsu, associate professor of finance in Walton College
• Synetra Hughes, managing director for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion in Walton College
• Katy Nelson-Ginder, associate vice chancellor for development
• Anne O’Leary-Kelly, professor of management in Walton College
• Mario Ramirez, vice president, MRamirez Group LLC
• Tim Robinson, vice president of merchandising operations, Walmart
• Caroline Rogerson, undergraduate student in business management, Walton College
• Tanya Russell, assistant dean of finance and administration, Walton College
• Shelley Simpson, president, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
• Mark Zweig, entrepreneur-in-residence for Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Venture Innovation, Walton College
• Rifi Raindriati (support), assistant to executive vice chancellor for finance and administration

Russell Reynolds Associates, an external search firm, will also assist Bordelon and the search committee with identifying and selecting the Walton College dean. The firm has more than 50 years of experience helping clients find and develop future-ready leaders.

To learn more about this position and the search process, visit the Walton College dean search website.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business is AACSB-accredited and ranks among the top business schools in the nation. The Walton College is the largest college at the University of Arkansas, serving nearly 9,000 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. The Walton College is recognized among U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 “Best Business Schools,” and its undergraduate supply chain management program was ranked No. 1 in North America by Gartner. The college’s Master of Business Administration program was also ranked No. 11 for best return on investment by The Wall Street Journal. The Princeton Review ranked the college’s graduate entrepreneurship program as one of the top in the country for the first time in the 2022-23 year. And in partnership with the Global Campus, the U of A’s online business degree program ranked No. 12 nationally among 214 institutions by U.S. News in 2023.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas’ flagship institution, the U of A supports more than 32,000 students and provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.