Diversity and Inclusion Champion Barbara A. Lofton to Retire

Sandra Cox

Barbara A. Lofton is retiring! Drop by Monday, June 26, to say goodbye.

After serving the University of Arkansas System for 30 years, Barbara A. Lofton, Ed.D., assistant dean for the Dr. Barbara A. Lofton Office of Diversity & Inclusion at the Sam M. Walton College of Business, is saying goodbye to the Fayetteville campus and returning to her home state of Mississippi. 

But what's a retirement without cake?  

Drop by to wish Lofton a fond farewell from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 26, in Willard J. Walker Hall (WJWH) Room 203. Please reply if you plan to attend.

Thirty Years!

Lofton started her U of A career in 1993 at as an assistant professor within the Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 1996, she followed her husband Jon to the Fayetteville campus where he was working on his Ph.D. In Fayetteville, she was named the director of Walton College's minority affairs office.

Over the last 27 years, Lofton has made her mark at Walton College. She has served as the chief diversity officer for the college and has implemented inclusion initiatives for students, staff and faculty. She created and managed several scholarships for underserved students and developed and implemented numerous outreach initiatives and summer camps for potential students.

While overseeing Walton College's Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Lofton also taught graduate level classes and led study-abroad classes to Ghana. She has served as a consultant to other SEC business colleges who are creating or strengthening their diversity and inclusion efforts.

She has received numerous accolades for her work: 

• 2014 - Received Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation. 
• 2017 -- Named an Honorary Alumna by the University of Arkansas Black Alumni Society. 
• 2019 - Received Tony Walker Diversity Champion Award from the Gerald and Candace Alley Foundation. 
• 2019 - Received American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) Exemplary Public Service Award. 
• 2021 -- Served as the keynote speaker for the 2021 SEC Diversity Conference.
• 2021- The University of Arkansas named Lofton as a Portrait of Progress, which chronicled prominent figures in the U of A's history for breaking racial barriers.

In 2020 Lofton was named assistant dean at Walton College. The following year Walton College announced a scholarship in Lofton's honor and renamed the office the Dr. Barbara A. Lofton Office of Diversity & Inclusion. 

"Ever since I took on the role of dean at the college, I have relied on Barbara's leadership and initiative in the areas of diversity, inclusion and recruitment," said Matt Waller, dean of Walton College. "I will greatly miss her support, enthusiasm for the well-being of our students and the college itself, and her dedication to fostering an inclusive atmosphere for everyone."

While her contributions are many, her biggest and most impactful contribution is how she makes others feel.

"Dr. Lofton is an institution for the Walton College. She poured so much into making sure that her students had all the tools for success inclusive of mentors, scholarships, tutors and sometimes even tough love," said Ebony Oliver Wyatt, vice president at General Mills and chair of the Walton College Dean's Alumni Advisory Council. "She was my family when I was away from home as a student. She helped me find success as a first-generation college student 20-plus years ago. I appreciate all the many ways Dr. Lofton supported me as a student at the university.  My goal is to honor Dr. Lofton by paying it forward every single day and helping those around me to be successful."

Lofton serves on the board for the Business School Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Collaborative. She received her B.S.Ed. from Jackson State University, M.A. from the University of Iowa, and Ed.D. from Grambling State University.