Conrad Carroll, College of Business inaugural dean, recalls stories of his time at 小草影院.

Carroll, who was awarded distinguished professor emeritus recognition in 2003, is the inaugural dean of the College of Business and served at the university for more than 30 years before his retirement in 1991. He led the college through its initial undergraduate accreditation in 1984 and the Master of Business Administration program accreditation in 1990.听

鈥淲e have built a comprehensive college of business and we’re providing a world-class education to students,鈥� said College of Business Dean Michael Hargis. 鈥淎ll those accomplishments at this institution are a direct result of the early foundation built by Dr. Carroll and the faculty, staff and students that helped establish a culture of success from the foundation of this college.鈥�

Gary Reifeiss, the vice president of marketing and sales at Producers Rice Mill, Inc., has been connected with the 小草影院 College of Business since the 70s. He was one of the first students to earn an MBA from 小草影院 and now serves on the advisory board.听

College of Business Dean Michael Hargis addresses attendees.

鈥淚 was probably the first graduate assistant for Dr. Carroll,鈥� Reifeiss said. 鈥淚t has been a good relationship. I value and appreciate having started my career and education here at 小草影院 because it has given me the knowledge to begin a career out in the business world.鈥澛�

Educational excellence requires resources, and the Dr. Conrad Carroll Society will provide the 小草影院 College of Business with the resources to invest in its programs and people. This annual giving wall will position the college to pursue unique opportunities as fresh possibilities emerge and ensure that the college is positioned to thrive in the years ahead.

Retired College of Business faculty member Don Bradley talks to Gary and Sandra Reifeiss during the ceremony honoring Conrad Carroll.

The society recognizes the highest level of leadership in annual giving to the 小草影院 College of Business. Individual and company names will be displayed in the lobby to inspire future leaders who walk the halls.听

鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased you chose to use my name for this society. I hope 20 years from now we can look at this board and see the legacy,鈥� Carroll said. 鈥淭his College of Business started with one piece at a time, one degree at a time, and I appreciate the work you all have done.鈥�

聽The College of Business intends to use the funds to provide enhanced professional development to its faculty, assist students in paying for certifications, send students to conferences and competitions, upgrade classrooms as technology evolves, purchase state-of-the-art equipment and provide outreach.

Carroll was accompanied by Theda Carroll, his wife of 64 years, and his children James Carroll and Constance Carroll.听

Anyone who would like to make a pledge to join should contact the college’s Senior Director of Development Jaime Briggs at (501) 852-1263.

“We talk a lot in academic circles about the core of teaching, research and service,” said Tracy Suter, chair of the Department of Marketing and Management and organizer for the event. “This is an opportunity to define service broadly.”

Faculty and staff divided themselves into groups around tables to create different types of packages. One group focused on craft kits, including toys, coloring books, crayons and play dough. Another put together snacks and gift cards, while others assembled kits with toiletries. Volunteers also decorated handwritten cards with words of inspiration and encouragement for the patients.

Amanda Craig, the administrative assistant in the Department of Marketing and Management, was instrumental in organizing and coordinating logistics for the service project as well as purchasing necessary materials for the kits.听

鈥淎manda spent a lot of time coordinating the event and communicating the needs of patients and families with the college鈥檚 faculty and staff. We鈥檙e grateful for her efforts,鈥� said Laci Lyons, associate dean in the College of Business.听

Craig also ensured everything was boxed according to the hospital鈥檚 requirements and helped deliver the kits to Little Rock.听

“Even if people are not in a position to bring something, those who volunteer their time for this project from assembly to note writing will be impactful,” Suter said.听

The college delivered the packages to the hospital on Friday, Nov. 11.

Before the meeting started, the students enjoyed an Arkansas BAP Connection breakfast sponsored by the Arkansas Society of CPAs. During the meeting, the students networked, provided community service, attended professional development meetings and participated in multiple competitions. The Beta Alpha Chapter earned several honors. Click here to read more.听

小草影院 Students Kaidan Zheng (L), Harris Felton, Tristen Porter, Sarah Rogers, and Daniel Wheeler.

小草影院 alumna Ebony Mitchell was crowned Miss Arkansas 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Organization)

Ebony Mitchell, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in from 小草影院 in 2019, was selected as from a field of 45 contestants. She will represent the state of Arkansas at the 95th edition of the Miss American pageant later in 2022.

“It was an indescribable feeling to be crowned Miss Arkansas 2022,” Mitchell said. “I cannot wait to represent the best state in America and serve Arkansas and the people. ”

Mitchell won nearly $150,000 in scholarships, awards and gifts during the competition. During the course of the weeklong Miss Arkansas competition, Mitchell won several awards and honors, including:

• Preliminary Evening Gown聽
• Preliminary On-Stage Interview聽
• Preliminary Talent聽
• Asher Ray Mentor Award聽
• The 鈥淎ll Grown Up鈥� Award聽
• Overall Dance Award聽
• Grace Scholarship in Memory of Madelyn Grace Johnson聽
• Bill Tarkington Overall Evening Gown聽
• Sarah Slocum Overall Private Interview聽
• Scott Landers Business Profession Marketplace Scholarship

鈥淚t鈥檚 just been so overwhelming,鈥� Mitchell told KATV Monday afternoon. 鈥淭he amount of joy and the amount of inclusion that I鈥檝e received over the past week. I鈥檓 just excited for the coming year. I can鈥檛 stop smiling.鈥�

A native of Harrison, Arkansas, Mitchell performed a tap-dance routine to 鈥淩espect鈥� during the talent portion of the competition. Her personal platform was called 鈥淎 Responsible Digital You,鈥� which aims to educate Arkansas children about safety in online spaces.

鈥淚鈥檝e been really fortunate to partner with the Office of the Attorney General as well as the Arkansas Department of Education,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to speaking to schools, civic organizations and with anyone I can about keeping our children safe while they鈥檙e online.鈥�

A former Miss 小草影院, Mitchell was a member of the cheerleading squad as a student at 小草影院.

Mitchell was joined on the Miss Arkansas stage by five other contestants with 小草影院 ties.

Current Miss 小草影院 Nia Renee Kelly, a freshman majoring in vocal performance, was a Top 11-15 semifinalist and was the Preliminary Talent Scholarship award winner and the Alpha Talent Scholarship award winner.

Senior nursing major Hannah Rainwater was the Mu Group Alpha Private Interview winner. Mattison Gafner, a junior double majoring in broadcast journalism and public relations, Hannah Hagerman, a senior public relations major, and Shalexis Shelton, a first-year graduate student in occupational therapy, also competed at the event. Shelton also earned her undergraduate degree in health services administration/pre-occupational therapy from 小草影院 in 2021.

By Philip Allison

小草影院 alumna and adjunct faculty member Kimberly Raup was recently selected as the 2022 Arkansas Computer Science Educator of the Year.

Kimberly Raup, a three-time 小草影院 graduate, received the award from Gov. Asa Hutchinson at the sixth annual Governor鈥檚 All-State Coding Competition. She had initially won $2,500 after being chosen as one of five finalists but was awarded an additional $12,500 from the Arkansas Department of Education鈥檚 Office of Computer Science when she was named the overall winner.

A teacher at Conway High School, Raup had previously been a finalist for the award in 2019, 2020 and 2021 before capturing top honors this year. In addition to her CHS teaching role, she is also an adjunct faculty member in the College of Education鈥檚 Department of Leadership Studies at 小草影院.

鈥淚 am very fortunate to receive this award,鈥� Raup said. 鈥淲e have amazing and talented computer science educators in Arkansas. Each one brings his or her own special and unique skills but everyone has the same goal of helping our students be successful. Computer Science is so much more than learning a programming language.鈥�

Raup earned a bachelor鈥檚 in marketing from 小草影院 in 1997 before returning to complete a bachelor鈥檚 in business technology in 2004. She finished her master鈥檚 in leadership studies with a focus on instructional technology at 小草影院 in 2011.

鈥淚 am so proud of all of the students I have had over the years, both those who work in computer science fields and those who use their problem-solving skills in other professions,鈥� Raup added. 鈥淎s teachers, we work so hard to make a difference for our students, and it is extremely rewarding to be recognized for that devotion.鈥�

By Philip Allison

Michael Hargis, dean of the College of Business

小草影院 College of Business Dean Michael Hargis has been selected to receive the 2022 Outstanding Dean Award from Beta Alpha Psi, an international honor organization for accounting and financial information students and professionals.

Hargis was nominated for the award by 小草影院鈥檚 Theta Lambda chapter.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen for this award,” Hargis said. “小草影院’s Beta Alpha Psi Theta Lambda chapter upholds the mission of the 小草影院 College of Business by offering students impactful professional development opportunities and by helping students to develop relationships in the business community. They are an outstanding group, and I am proud to support their work.”

Beta Alpha Psi students called Hargis a 鈥渇ierce advocate鈥� for the College of Business and cited his 鈥渁mazing impact鈥� on the Theta Lambda chapter.听 Their nomination detailed Hargis鈥� support of the chapter鈥檚 expansion, as well as chapter members鈥� development and achievements.听

A letter from Beta Alpha Psi notifying Hargis of the award said in part, 鈥淲hile this year鈥檚 nominees were very competitive, you stood out based on your consistent and longstanding commitment to Beta Alpha Psi. Your selection was based on your hands-on engagement and your significant financial and operational support to the chapter that positioned them to achieve their goals and objectives.鈥�

The award will be presented at the annual Beta Alpha Psi meeting in Orlando in July.听

The Theta Lambda chapter is identified as a superior chapter for its commitment to professional and service hours.听 The 小草影院 chapter focuses on honoring scholarship, professional development and service to the community. Members have the opportunity to meet and get to know professionals from all areas of accounting, and they learn skills needed to be successful in careers in accounting, finance, information systems and analytics.

About Beta Alpha Psi
Founded in 1919, is an honor organization for financial information students and professionals. There are over 300 chapters on college and university campuses with over 300,000 members initiated since Beta Alpha Psi’s formation.听

About the 小草影院 College of Business
Established in 1969, the 小草影院 College of Business offers 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates to equip current and future business professionals to successfully and ethically meet the changing business environment. Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the college offers a thorough business education as well as opportunities for hands-on experience and industry networking. For more information visit .听