Making the Most of Your Alumni Network

Laura Katherine Schembri (BSBA ’05) and Taylor Atwood (BSBA ’06) are two alumni from the Walton College’s Portfolio Management Class who know how to make the most out of their alumni network. These two graduates (who both live in Dallas) work in the highly-competitive finance industry and want current Walton College students to realize how valuable their alumni networks can be for future job success.

Part one in this two part series with Laura Katherine and Taylor discusses the importance of students utilizing their alumni network to obtain jobs after graduation. Part two will discuss tips to make networking even more successful.

Part One: Utilizing Your Alumni Network

As students, both Laura Katherine and Taylor realized that they needed to be proactive in making connections for job possibilities after graduation. They utilized a portfolio management alumni list kept by Dr. Craig Rennie, their instructor, and began calling individuals on the list to discuss job opportunities and companies. Laura Katherine noted, “Most everyone I spoke to was willing to help and friendly as soon as I mentioned the University of Arkansas.” Taylor agreed with this sentiment and said that those he spoke with were very cordial, willing to bend over backwards, and understood the struggle of moving to Wall Street from Arkansas.

These days, students are finding alumni contacts more readily available through social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. Both Laura Katherine and Taylor recommended LinkedIn as a resource for networking with alumni and becoming introduced. However, Taylor warned, “If you’re going to use social networking sites, watch what you’re doing.” Laura Katherine added to this point by reminding students to be careful. She said, “Companies nowadays often check Facebook pages before students interview with them. It allows you to learn a lot about the person before meeting them. It’s very revealing.”

After students start building their professional network, the next step is to maintain it. Even alumni like Laura Katherine and Taylor admit that it’s a work in progress. Taylor noted, “It’s super important. Other than your work performance, it should be one of your top priorities.” Laura Katherine continued by saying, “It’s a daily thing. Even if you’re not utilizing those connections for something all the time, you still have the relationship. They’re always there for you and you’re always there for them.”

Finally, Laura Katherine reminds students that “No matter where you’re coming from, it takes a lot of work to build contacts and meet people. No matter who you are, it will take a lot of effort and time and dedication. It will pay off though.” Taylor agreed and said, “Being involved will also help students stay abreast of opportunities. You have to want it.”

Bon Appetit: Celebrity Caterer Winners!

Our northwest Arkansas alumni event held on October 20th was a great success! Our celebrity caterers outdid themselves and showed everyone that they are not just talented business people - they are talented chefs as well!

Special thanks to Tim and Mary Beth Brooks for allowing us to host the event at their beautiful home. And, thank you to Brittney Carlton with Focused Exposure Photography for these fantastic photos!

To view all of the photos from the event, check out our fanpage on Facebook!

Steven Hinds with Gamedaysuitesupply.com was the 3rd place winner in the Celebrity Caterer Competition with his recipe for "Hogwild" Grilled Pork Tenderloin.

The Walton College's faculty team, "Cooks and Books," was led by Dr. Molly Rapert (not pictured) and won 2nd place in the competition with Sausage and Chile Sombreros. Pictured above are her teammates, Dr. Anne O'Leary-Kelly and Dr. Gary Ferrier.

Dean Worrell congratulates Steve Brooks on his 1st place win. Steve teamed up with co-host Tim Brooks on their recipe for Sweet Loin Ribs with Pineapple BBQ Sauce.

Walton College alumnus Bao Bui took home the Dean's Choice Award for his Blackberry Wine Cake recipe.

Our Celebrity Caterer winners pose for a fun picture with Dean Worrell at the end of a fantastic evening.

Two out of Three Alumni Faculty Awards go to Walton College Faculty

This Friday, October 30, the Arkansas Alumni Association holds its 65th annual Alumni Awards Celebration at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. Two of the three Faculty Distinguished Achievement Awards will go to Walton College faculty members: Associate Professor Dub Ashton and Professor Amy Farmer. The association event recognizes all of whom personify the University of Arkansas’ tradition of excellence through service and leadership. Also among the 11 honorees is Governor Mike Beebe.

Dub Ashton holds a PhD in marketing from the University of Georgia. He teaches consumer behavior, market research and market strategy. Encouraged by the late Sam Walton, Ashton joined the University of Arkansas faculty in 1981. He has also served the college as associate dean of graduate studies and associate dean from 1994 to 1999 when he was assigned responsibility for the design, construction and use of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development. In 2000, he returned to teaching full-time. His research interests include brand imitation and consumer confusion and Generation Y’s brand choice. Ashton is a past vice-president of the Academy of Marketing Science. He served as editor of the Journal of Midwest Marketing from 1992 until 1996. He is a recipient of the Walton College Outstanding Teaching Award and Outstanding Service Award.

Amy Farmer holds a PhD in economics from Duke University. She spearheaded the University of Arkansas Global Community Development Program, which takes students to Belize. The project exposes students to different cultural and social environments and involves teams of students from the Fulbright, Bumpers, Engineering and Walton colleges. Farmer also has developed two new courses during the past three years: a doctoral-level public policy course and economics of life. She is also the holder of the Margaret Gerig and R.S. Martin Jr. Chair. Farmer's research is in the areas of law and economics and the economics of the family. Her recent publications have used game-theoretic analyses to study the role that asymmetric information might play in generating impasses to settlement in a bargaining situation. In addition, her work applies these theories of bargaining to the family in order to study issues such as domestic violence, divorce and child custody. She has published articles in the Economic Journal, Journal of Legal Studies, Public Choice, Journal of Development Economics, Economic Inquiry, and International Review of Law and Economics.

The Walton College is proud to have two faculty members represented at the 65th Annual Arkansas Alumni Association Awards. Congratulations to both and to all recipients!

Walton College M.B.A. Program Selected in Global 100 List

The Walton College Graduate School of Business is celebrating the recent international ranking of the MBA program by the Aspen Institute Center for Business Education in its 2009-2010 Beyond Grey Pinstripes/Global 100 List.

The Walton College MBA was ranked 28th among public universities and 91st on the list of 149 of both public and private schools. The institute compiled the list “over the past eighteen months ... from 149 M.B.A. programs in 24 countries about the depth and scope of integration of social, environmental and ethical issues in business school education.”

Beyond Pinstripes is a biennial survey and alternative ranking of business schools conducted by the institute, which undertook an effort to map the landscape of teaching and research issues pertaining to business and society. In addition, the Walton College MBA ranked in the following categories among the 149 public and private schools:

· Relevant courses — 106th
· Student exposure — 95th
· For-profit impact — 71st
· Faculty research — 49th

Marion Dunagan, assistant dean for graduate programs in the Walton College Graduate School of Business, said, “We are very excited to be included in this international group, especially at 28th place among public schoos and at 49th for research. The Aspen ‘100’ recognizes the schools that are best preparing the next generation of leaders to innovate at the intersection of corporate profits and social impacts.”

Jon Johnson, executive director of the University of Arkansas Applied Sustainability Center, which is housed in the Walton College, will receive the award for the college at the Aspen Institute Center for Business Education celebration on Nov. 5-6 in New York City.

Alan Ellstand, director of the Walton College MBA program, said, “To be ranked among MBA programs around the globe is a great honor. Over 40,000 pages of data were analyzed to come up with the 100 top MBA programs.”

Judith Samuelson, executive director, Aspen Institute’s Business and Society Program, said, “The best business students move quickly into the front ranks of business — and the attitudes and values they bring to the table are deeply influenced by their time in business education. Will they accept the status quo or act on their passion about the positive role business can play at the intersection of corporate profit and social impact? The schools that are competitive in the Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking are the real trailblazers — they assure that students have the right skill as well as the will to make things happen.”

For more information, go to: http://gsb.uark.edu/
http://waltoncollege.uark.edu/news/view.asp?article=732 and http://www.beyondgreypinstripes.org/.