Two alumni have made it possible for students, faculty and staff of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas to have free access to the online content of Barron's, one of America's premier financial magazines.

Douglas Jackson Jr. and John Engskov, partners in a wealth management group at Merrill Lynch, partnered with the Barron's in Education Program to provide the digital subscriptions starting this fall.

"Having this kind of access to Barron's online content will make sure that those of us at the Walton College stay abreast of the latest developments in all aspects of business. It will be especially valuable to our students as they learn about current business trends," said Matthew A. Waller, Walton College dean and Sam M. Walton Leadership Chair in Business. "We owe many thanks to Doug and John for their leadership in making our connection to the Barron's in Education Program possible and their generosity in supporting our students, faculty and staff."

Jackson earned a B.S.B.A. in finance from the Walton College in 1992. His daughter Lillian is a sophomore in the Walton College.

Engskov, who graduated from the Walton College in 1996 with a degree in management, is partner with Jackson in Jackson-Engskov & Associates in Little Rock. He was a walk-on with the 1994 Razorback men's basketball national championship team. His daughter Mary Elizabeth is a freshman at the University of Arkansas.

"It is an honor to give back to the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas," Engskov and Jackson said. "We are presenting this gift in honor of our clients that we have the privilege to serve. It is our hope this gift will provide an extra resource to enhance the learning experience and inspire the curiosity of students in the Walton College."

Barron's provides in-depth analysis and commentary on the markets, updated every business day online. The Barron's in Education Program benefits business students and faculty through:

• Barron's digital online subscriptions for business students, faculty and staff
• Distribution of Barron's "Weekly Review" for business faculty
• Guest Speakers/webinars for student engagement
• Opportunities to connect with Barron's corporate recruitment teams for intern and job opportunities

"We are pleased to provide the Barron's in Education Program to the Sam M. Walton College of Business with support from such philanthropic alumni as Douglas Jackson Jr. and John Engskov," said Joe Lanza, director of financial education at Barron's Group. "All business students and faculty will have access to Barron's digital content along with experiential learning elements designed to enhance financial proficiency for the next generation of business leaders." 

The program, now on campus at colleges and universities across the country, enhances business education by connecting real-world analysis to textbook theory, fosters professional growth by exposing students to a wide range of careers in global business, and shares knowledge from the world's top financial professionals.

Walton College students, faculty and staff have received emails from the dean with instructions on signing up for the digital subscriptions.