Matt Waller, dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, participated in a panel discussion on Tuesday, May 8, at a Transformation Town Hall in Springdale conducted by Gov. Asa Hutchinson. 

The town hall, held at the Don Tyson School of Innovation, was one of a series of meetings around the state that the governor is conducting to answer questions and discuss his continuing efforts to streamline state government, including his plan to reduce the number of cabinet-level agencies that report to him by half. Hutchinson conducted one town hall in Jonesboro and had a third scheduled for El Dorado.

"Gov. Hutchinson's effort to transform government, to make it more efficient and responsive to the people of Arkansas, is going to be great for business and education in the state," Waller said. "I have two honors thesis students working on interesting projects related to the Transformation Advisory Board and the governor spoke to my class about it last semester."

Each of the panelists discussed an aspect of state government and how it might be made more responsive and efficient before being questioned by Hutchinson and then taking questions from the audience. 

"I enjoy the dynamics of town hall meetings," Hutchinson said. "The questions were substantive, and I was grateful for the opportunity to spotlight our ongoing effort to transform and streamline Arkansas government so that we can respond quickly to the needs of Arkansans. I want taxpayers to see that we are governing conservatively and responsibly. Our panelists, including Dean Waller, were tremendous partners in sharing that message, and I appreciate everyone for taking the time to participate in today's conversation."

Waller spoke about the governor's Transformation Advisory Board and talked about Walton College students in his Honors College class Arkansas Business who devised an organizational chart for state government which contained so many offices and departments that it stretched across an entire classroom. 

In February, Waller was named to the governor's 15-member Transformation Advisory Board along with a distinguished group of academics, business leaders and government officials.
The advisory board is a volunteer group to make policy recommendations on the transformation of state government. Hutchinson said in March that he would present a comprehensive reorganization plan for state government in time for the 2019 legislative session.

Also on the panel in Springdale were Amy Fecher, the state's chief transformation officer; Scott Hardin, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, and Ann Purvis, deputy director for administration for the Arkansas Department of Health.