Hales Invest in Conway County Students Through Land of Opportunity Scholarship

Todd and Suzette Hale have committed $25,000 to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship, expanding access to higher education for Arkansas students with high financial need. Inspired by the opportunities that helped shape their own lives, the Hales hope their gift will ease the financial burdens of college and allow students to fully embrace the academic, personal and professional experience that define a U of A education.

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship helps bridge the gap between free aid and the direct costs of attending college, including tuition, mandatory fees and housing. In addition to reducing financial barriers, the scholarship provides mentorship, academic coaching, financial planning and access to opportunities such as undergraduate research, study abroad and internships with Arkansas companies. Together, these resources strengthen student success as a key pillar of the university’s 150 Forward strategic plan and its land-grant mission, improving access and outcomes for students across all 75 Arkansas counties.

"Todd and Suzette Hale understand the life-changing difference a University of Arkansas education can make, and we are grateful they are helping extend that opportunity to students from Conway County,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Their support will help generations of Razorbacks develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and build brighter futures for their families and communities."

For Todd Hale, a 1990 graduate of Morrilton High School, the decision to give stems from the time he spent in Fayetteville, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences in 1994 and an M.B.A. from the Sam M. Walton College of Business in 1996.

“I spent six great years at the university pursuing my undergraduate and graduate degrees,” Hale said. “The experiences that I had at the university were foundational to both my personal and professional life. I made strong connections and learned how to be independent—probably most importantly, coming from a small town in Arkansas, I gained the confidence to trust in my abilities and take advantage of opportunities that were presented to me throughout my career.”

That small-town upbringing, and the experiences Hale had at the U of A, never really left him, even after decades of living and working outside the state.

“There’s in the state that I’ve observed as I’ve lived in other places,” said Hale, who now lives in Florida. “I’ve met so many people with Arkansas connections, and they endure.”

What drew Todd and Suzette to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship was its ability to designate support to a specific place: Todd’s own home county. 

“I felt the Land of Opportunity Scholarship was unique in that it’s likely someone from Conway County will benefit from the donation,” Hale said.

"Todd and Suzette's generosity demonstrates the powerful role alumni can play in creating opportunities for students from their home communities," said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. "Their support will enable more students from Conway County to make the most of the academic and career-building opportunities available to them. We are grateful for their leadership and investment in student success at the University of Arkansas."

After graduating from the U of A, Hale spent nine years in operational and technology roles with the Eckerd Corporation, a national drugstore chain based in Tampa, Florida. In 2004, he joined Office Depot, where he spent 17 years in the company’s IT organization—roughly half of that time as chief information officer overseeing technology for the company’s stores, distribution centers and global operations, and the other half in technology leadership roles.

Hale then became CIO of ConnectWise, a private equity-backed software company. He has since been doing independent IT advisory work. Along the way, he was named Palm Beach County’s “CIO of the Year” in 2015 and served as vice chair for the board of directors for the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

Todd and Suzette are both members of the Arkansas Alumni Association. Reflecting on the university’s impact on his life, Hale said he hopes others will consider how their own experiences can help create opportunities for Arkansas students.

“I would encourage people to take stock of the things that have been really important in their lives and try to ensure that those things can continue to make an impact on other people’s lives,” Hale said.

About the Land of Opportunity Scholarship: The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign is an initiative to further educational access opportunities for students from all 75 counties in Arkansas, improve graduation rates, create two-way engagement between the university and businesses throughout the state, and fulfill the institution’s land-grant mission to uplift Arkansas. As of July 31, 2026, the campaign has raised 71% of its $200 million goal through more than $141,383,441 in pledges and commitments.   

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 $3 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 few 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 and Economic Development News.