The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the U of A recognized several faculty and staff members at an all-faculty and staff meeting for their impactful teaching, research and special initiatives.

Outstanding All-Around Faculty Award

Jon Johnson, professor in the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation at the Walton College, has been honored with the Outstanding All-Around Faculty Award for 2024-25. Over his 29-year tenure since joining the faculty in 1996, Johnson has made significant contributions to both academic excellence and the broader mission of the college. He teaches the M.B.A. capstone strategy course and classes in the Outdoor Industry Certificate program. Johnson was founder of The Sustainability Consortium, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering more sustainable consumer products, and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. He currently serves as lead faculty for outdoor industry programs at the university. Johnson's research focuses on corporate governance, social network theory and corporate sustainability.

Employee of the Year

Andrea Partain, fiscal support analyst for the Walton College's Accounting Center, has been with the college for almost a decade, beginning as a HEI program coordinator before moving into her current role in May of 2024. Partain has quickly distinguished herself through her proactive learning, exceptional accuracy and unwavering dedication to supporting and uplifting her team. She has been with the college for over seven years, and her calm leadership and commitment to improvement have made a lasting impact, earning her recognition as a standout Employee of the Year.

"Our faculty and staff are exceptional," said Brent D. Williams, dean of the Walton College. "They've contributed significantly to the college's growing prestige, both nationally and globally. I'm happy to show my appreciation for their hard work and dedication."

2024-25 Walton College Faculty and Teaching Award Winners

Walton College is pleased to announce the remaining Outstanding Faculty, Teaching and Staff Award Winners for the 2024-25 academic year:

• Faculty Excellence in Research Award: John Aloysius (supply chain)
• Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award: Rodney Thomas (supply chain)
• Faculty Excellence in Service Award: Dobrina Jandik (finance)
• Rising Scholar Excellence in Research Award: Trent Krupa (accounting)
• Teaching Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award: Barry Bryan (accounting)
• Lecturer Excellence in Teaching Award: Flint Harris (marketing)
• Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award: Rafaela Canova Davide (marketing)

2024-25 Walton College M.B.A. Awards

• Full-Time Teacher of the Year: Tomas Jandik (finance)
• Executive MBA Teacher of the Year: Christian Hofer (supply chain)

2024-25 Walton College Staff Award Winners

• Excellence in Service Award: Jeff Waits (computer support specialist, Technology Center)
• Professional Contribution Award: Nathan Bramwell (director of marketing & events, Graduate School of Business)
• Innovator Award: Hailey Wilson Lindsey (marketing program manager, Department of Marketing)
• Collegiality Award: Jamie Tucker (director of graduate recruitment, Graduate School of Business)
• Rookie of the Year Award: Erin Dixon (assistant project manager, Facilities Management)

Team Awards

• High-Performance Team Award: Salesforce Implementation Team
  • Jason Niebauer (analytics and insights)
  • John Bell (analytics and insights)
  • Nathan Bramwell (Graduate School of Business marketing)
  • Lori McLemore (Graduate School of Business marketing)
  • Jaime Tucker (Graduate School of Business recruitment)
  • Brock Daniels (Graduate School of Business recruitment)
  • Yulia McClelland (Graduate School of Business admissions)
  • Michael Madakasira (Graduate School of Business admissions)
  • Joy Estepp (Graduate School of Business admissions)
  • Jamie Kern (Graduate School of Business administrative)
  • Mike Waldie (Graduate School of Business administrative)

• Outstanding Team Achievement: Walton College Human Resources Team
  • Diane Walsh-McNutt (director of human resources)
  • Michele Crippen (senior operations assistant)
  • Christy Wade (human resources analyst)

Building Community, One Award at a Time

The Special Events Committee brings together faculty and staff who are passionate about building Walton's culture and fostering collaboration across departments. They handle the initial selection of staff award winners before sending their top picks to Walton College Leadership for final decisions.

When it comes to recognition, the college has structured awards with different prize amounts. Most staff awards come with a $1,000 reward, though Employee of the Year receives $750, and Employee of the Quarter gets $250. For team achievements, groups can either split their $1,000 award among members or pool it together for professional development opportunities that benefit everyone.