FedEx Joins Blockchain Center of Excellence Executive Advisory Board

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FedEx has become the 11th member of the Executive Advisory Board of the Blockchain Center of Excellence at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

FedEx joins ArcBest, EY, FIS, Golden State Foods, IBM, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., McKesson, Microsoft, Tyson Foods and Walmart on the center’s executive advisory board.

Since its founding in 2018 within the Department of Information Systems in the Walton College, the Blockchain Center of Excellence has made the college and the U of A an academic leader in research and education of blockchain-enabled technologies and digital ecosystems. The center promotes research on blockchain’s impact and implementation to help it become a mainstream tool for businesses.

FedEx is involved in a number of blockchain initiatives, including those in which other Blockchain Center of Excellence member firms participate. FedEx is also a charter member of the Blockchain Research Institute and the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). Dale Chrystie, head of blockchain strategy at FedEx and chair of the BiTA Standards Council, is the FedEx representative on the board. 

Chrystie graduated from the U of A and has participated in Blockchain Center of Excellence workshops and conferences and in courses as a guest lecturer.

“FedEx has helped pioneer the concept of chains of custody — the idea that our customers trusted us to deliver shipments from any point in the world to any other — and to keep tabs on that shipment along the way. We believe that blockchain will take this concept to the next level and transform global commerce,” Chrystie said. “We are excited to join the Blockchain Center of Excellence and help train the next generation of business leaders at University of Arkansas.”

“FedEx will deepen our expertise in supply chains and broaden our expertise in blockchain standards,” said Mary C. Lacity, Walton Professor of Information Systems and director of the Blockchain Center of Excellence.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson launched the center in 2018 at a ceremony on the U of A campus, which featured Walton College Dean Matt Waller and Chancellor Joe Steinmetz.

“At the BCoE, we believe that future professionals with skills and knowledge in blockchain-enabled technologies and digital ecosystems will transform businesses and society into more efficient, sustainable and profitable networks,” Lacity said.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.