Rachel Sullivant, director of entrepreneurial resources in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, has been named to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's 2026 Forty Under 40 class. The annual recognition honors emerging leaders for their career achievements and contributions to the community.
Sullivant also serves as managing director of the Entrepreneurial Law Project, a collaboration between OEI and the U of A School of Law that connects entrepreneurs with legal resources and pro bono support. Through the project, Sullivant also engages law students, providing hands-on experience for the next generation of business attorneys. Since launching in 2023, ELP has worked with law firms and attorneys across Arkansas to provide free legal clinics and connect founders with expertise in forming companies, hiring employees, negotiating agreements and protecting intellectual property. Sullivant's Forty Under 40 profile highlights that work and her efforts to bring together entrepreneurs, attorneys, students and university resources.
Sullivant's work with OEI has spanned entrepreneurship, innovation and student programming, with a consistent focus on building resources that help entrepreneurs succeed. As director of entrepreneurial resources, she leads many of OEI's core support offerings across the university, including mentorship, office hours, co-working spaces and other programming that connects founders with the expertise and resources they need to move their ideas forward.
As ELP expands its impact across Arkansas, Sullivant is focused on building the partnerships and long-term support needed to sustain its work. Her vision is to ensure entrepreneurs throughout the state can access high-quality legal guidance, particularly in the early stages when good counsel can make the greatest difference. With continued support, ELP can become a lasting part of Arkansas' entrepreneurial infrastructure, helping founders build stronger businesses while creating meaningful opportunities for attorneys and law students to serve communities across the state.