Walton College Institute to Host Women in IT Conference

Ryan C. Versey

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson addresses technology needs and initiatives at the 2017 Women in IT conference attendees at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

The Information Technology Research Institute at the Sam M. Walton College of Business is hosting the 2018 Women in IT conference April 17-18 at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development on the University of Arkansas campus. The theme of this year's conference is Sustaining Growth for Women in the Field. All faculty, staff, students and industry professionals are invited to attend.

On Tuesday, April 17, at the eighth annual National Center for Women and Information Technology Aspirations in Computing award dinner, 23 young women in high school will be recognized for their achievements, aspirations and interest in the field of technology.

The speaking sessions for the conference will be held on Wednesday, April 18. Annitre Edison, senior director of IS Applications, Tyson Foods Inc., and Kristen Williams, senior director eCommerce, Walmart Stores Inc., will serve as keynote speakers. The conference will feature sessions on blockchain, data modeling, change management, cloud computing and other topics covering professional, lifestyle and technical subjects important to women in the field of technology. Melissa Wagner, director of IT for FedEx Services Inc., will serve as the main facilitator for the conference.

Tickets for the event are $225 for the general public, $180 for university faculty or staff and $20 for students. Students are required to provide a student ID.

For more information and to register, visit itri.uark.edu/women_in_it_conference.php.