FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – U of A apparel merchandising and product development students recently spent a day at Walmart Corporate Headquarters meeting with leadership from various offices and divisions, including product development, buying, merchandising, human resources and more.

The students are members of the program's Walmart Mentoring Circle, which was created to help them develop professional and leadership skills, and learn about career opportunities.

"The goal of the mentoring circle is to help students develop their professional career potential, which is a key component of successful leadership," said apparel merchandising and product development teaching associate professor Kathy Smith. "The focus is to create opportunities for future business leaders in a corporate environment. This mentoring circle is primarily for students who have a strong desire and interest in learning more about Walmart, the apparel industry and the business world. In its fourth year, the program has had a positive impact on students who have participated."

The group toured the offices, attended a presentation on product development and sourcing, participated in a merchandising panel discussion and shadowed different groups for the afternoon.

"One of our graduates, who helped with the job shadowing portion of the day said 'last year when I visited Walmart as a mentoring circle student, my whole life changed. I decided that day to pursue a Walmart career and I couldn't be happier with my decision,'" said AMPD instructor Stephanie Hubert. "That is impact. That is life change because these executives give of their time for the students."

Gokul Krishnan, vice president of apparel and footwear/jewelry and accessories product development and sourcing, and Brandy Lackey, senior director of product development and sourcing for kids apparel, led the presentation on product development and sourcing.

Twilla Brooks, vice president for DMM menswear apparel, Stephanie Reibling, vice president of merchandising for kids apparel, and Matt Duhon, vice president of DMM ladies apparel, were panelists for the merchandising discussion.

Students also visited with Ricci Grimes, DMM jewelry and accessories, Kathryn Miller, ladies senior director of product development and sourcing, Kelsey Casey, associate buyer in mens apparel, and Kim Nguyen from human resources.

Miller and Casey are graduates of U of A's apparel merchandising and product development program, which is housed in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

"In addition to Kathryn and Kelsey, we visited with 17 other graduates from our AMPD program," said apparel instructor Stephanie Hubert. "They, and several of their colleagues, led the students during the job shadowing sessions. It was a great day."

The Walmart Mentoring Circle was established in 2016, primarily for apparel students with interests in business, Walmart and the apparel industry.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.