Mervin Jebaraj of the Center for Business and Economic Research in the Sam M. Walton College of Business recently accepted an invitation to join the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Arkansas Program.

The program encapsulates a statewide view of the economic and political challenges that face Arkansas, providing Jebaraj and fellow participants with an opportunity to address these issues.

"I am excited about the opportunity to meet and work with leaders from other parts of the state to gain a better understanding of the opportunities, challenges and respective visions of the state, " he said. "This serves as a chance to learn from each other and work on ideas that will help the entire state grow economically."

The program involves attending seven seminar sessions, each about a month apart. The first was in Hot Springs and focused on Arkansas tourism. There are sessions in Little Rock about the political set-up of the state and in Fort Smith about the manufacturing sector in the state.

Other sessions are in El Dorado, Bentonville, West Memphis/Jonesboro, and Central Arkansas and will cover the economies in those geographic areas.

Jebaraj received a bachelor's degree in economics and international relations in 2007 from the University of Arkansas. Following graduation, Mervin began working for the Center for Business & Economic Research. In 2011, he earned a master's degree in public administration with an emphasis in public policy.

"I enjoy the great people and the culture of the workplace here," Jebaraj said of the Walton College. "People work hard, and at the same time, there is a lot of work/life balance."

In his free time, he enjoys hiking and traveling around the world. Next year he plans to embark on a four-day hike of the Inca Trail in Peru.