Jane pictured with Dean Mike Casey receiving her award for College of Business Outstanding Student of the Year

Jane Nim

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems, minor in Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Studies | graduated magna cum laude May 2025
• Named 2025’s College of Business (COB) Outstanding Student of the Year, Information Systems Outstanding Student, and Business & Information Technology (BIT) Club Outstanding Member
• Served in 听as an officer and traveled to compete on many winning teams at conferences, as a COB Student Ambassador, and on the Executive Board of Team Global
• Completed an internship
• Completed her听: “Unveiling the Invisible: Understanding Public Awareness of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Applications.”

Why did you choose your field of study?

I chose my major because I was inspired by my dad and my oldest sister, Denise. Growing up, I saw how passionate they were about their work in this field, and they became my role models. Their influence, combined with my own love for working with data and statistics, made this the perfect path for me.

What are your plans post-graduation?

After graduation, I hope to build a career in my field where I can apply my academic knowledge in a professional setting and contribute to meaningful work.听I want to work in a company that not only cares about earning profits, but also cares about its shareholders and other ethical concerns within the community.

What is your advice for other students?

I鈥檓 deeply grateful to those who supported me throughout this experience. College isn鈥檛 easy, especially when we鈥檙e juggling full-time studies, part-time jobs, and the challenges of adulting. It鈥檚 important to work hard for what you want, but don鈥檛 forget to prioritize your emotional well-being. Remember, you鈥檙e not alone鈥攔each out for support because we鈥檙e all on this journey together.

Jane received the President’s Medallion from President Houston Davis upon graduation

How are you involved at 每日大赛网站?

I work at the Veterans & Military Resource Center, and I am in the Student Veterans of America. I am able to work here and join SVA due to the courage of my parents. They both served in the military, and this is my way to show appreciation and do my part without enlisting.

I was “Most Outstanding Freshman” in the 每日大赛网站 Bear Marching Band for color guard. I also was “Dean for a Day” last semester, one of the few students selected to meet with their College Dean as well as the Provost.

What drew you to the business industry?

Every time I see an advertisement, I analyze every aspect of it – why they chose the colors they are using, why that font, how there is blank space on one side, and how I could make it better. This constant analysis made me want to pursue marketing to better understand and improve all aspects related to marketing for wherever I end up working.

Tell us about your experience outside the classroom that will help your career.

Research
I learned about the opportunities and joy that arise from taking the path of doing research. I did not know much about how to take this path, but presenting at the听Atlantic Marketing Association conference听in September increased my interest. Dr. Jihoon Jhang and I presented “The Effect of AI Disclosure on Donation Intentions.”听The study examined how AI disclosure influences donation intentions. It utilized a 2×2 between-subjects design, investigating whether revealing the use of AI and whether the girl in the photo was smiling or frowning impacted people’s willingness to donate.

Internship
I learned about the internship through Handshake. I chose my internship because it was related to my field and allowed me to view other aspects of the company and paths that are not related to my major directly. I was able to spend a week with each different sector of the company and broaden my knowledge of what it takes to run a business.

Service
I have also volunteered at the Arkansas Food Bank often, and it has helped me with soft skills. I talk to strangers while I volunteer, and it helps with networking. It helps me also be grateful for the position I am in and reminds me how important it is to give back.

What do you plan to do after graduation?

After I graduate in December 2024, I plan to go into the field of marketing and use the knowledge from my degree to leverage my application above others.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?

Network with your professors. Going to my professors during their office hours or talking to them in the hallways has helped them remember me and get to know me better. In turn, they can be a reference for you or you can know them better and feel comfortable asking questions in class. That all together helps not only you and the professor, but also other students who might follow your lead.

Involved at 每日大赛网站:
Accounting Club President
(Outstanding Accounting Club Member 2024)
Girls Who Code Treasurer
COB Student Ambassador 2022, 2023, 2024
Beta Alpha Psi member
Business Analytics Competition 2023

Why did you choose your field of study?
I was originally a marketing major. During my sophomore fall semester, I had to take Accounting 1, and I was absolutely dreading it. Once I got into it, I found that not only is it not that bad, I really enjoyed it. Before the end of the semester, I officially changed my major. In accounting, even if the answer is hard to find at first, I feel satisfied when I can figure it out and get the right answer. It isn鈥檛 frustrating for me like homework can sometimes be.

Tell us about your internship experience.
I have had one internship in the spring, and I’m starting another this summer. Handshake – I received a message from someone at the firm wanting to tell me about their internships, and then I got to meet some of the team at . For the first internship I have completed – I felt really comfortable with this firm. I could tell that they really care about their employees, and they were patient and understanding with me as I was learning. It was a paid internship for a minimum of 25 hours a week but not to exceed 40. They also let me set my own hours and were very understanding of other school commitments.

How do you think this internship will be/has been beneficial in your career?
I learned so much more about taxes. Since I鈥檝e never had an office job before, it has been really nice to get to see the dynamic and community of it. I鈥檝e gotten so much experience actually working on the tax forms that I feel like I definitely have a better understanding of everything I鈥檝e been learning in my tax classes. I definitely have a better understanding of why we do things a certain way.

What advice do you have for students who may (or may not) be considering an internship?
It is definitely a very beneficial experience if you are ready for it. I think it is important to be honest with yourself and see if you think now is the right time for you to do one because you don鈥檛 want to take away from school. An internship is really the best way to see if a certain career is right for you. My internship solidified my belief that tax is the right place for me.

Something that really helped set me apart from other candidates when applying for internships was the fact that I worked on campus for two semesters as a supplemental instruction leader. I worked for Student Success here on campus to plan activities and games to help students in Accounting 1 understand the material better. Employers really liked this because, in public accounting, it is so important to be able to explain accounting concepts and regulations to people who don鈥檛 know much about accounting. Leading supplemental instruction gave me so much experience with communication and working with others. It definitely helped me prepare for my internship.

How do you plan to use your degree?
After I graduate, I鈥檓 going to stay at 每日大赛网站 to get my MAcc and prepare for the CPA exams. I鈥檓 planning to stay in the central Arkansas area and work in tax at a public accounting firm.

What tips or advice would you give to new, current, or prospective business students?
Get involved! The College of Business always has fun stuff going on. Club meetings are a great way to meet fellow students and to connect with professors. Talking with faculty members is so beneficial, even if they aren鈥檛 in your department.

I 100% would recommend the 每日大赛网站 College of Business to anyone looking into going to school for business. Something I really like about it is that 每日大赛网站 as a whole is big enough that you鈥檙e always meeting new people, but the College of Business is small enough that you are able to build relationships with people in it. I think our college is the perfect size because we are big enough to bring in so many amazing opportunities for students yet still small enough that I feel like I am valued as a student. 每日大赛网站 was the only college I applied to. That is a decision that I will never regret because 每日大赛网站 has made me feel valued as as student and cared about as a person since the day I moved onto campus.

The O’Malley School of Business hosts the for undergraduate students studying Business Analytics or related fields to test their knowledge and hone their skills. Competing teams engage in decision-making as well as practice their ability to draw business insight from a comprehensive analysis of relevant data.

The group arrived at the Manhattan College campus on Monday, May 20, to begin the first phase of the competition. That afternoon, students presented their poster multiple times to a revolving set of judges. Tuesday morning marked the beginning of the second phase of the competition, when they were given an additional analysis to perform using the same dataset, challenged to submit their results as a slide deck before 9pm that evening for the next day’s presentation. On Wednesday morning, they presented their Phase 2 results to industry judges.

This excellent opportunity gives students a wealth of practical business knowledge and feedback before the enter the workforce. The students on the team included:

• Houston Baber – May 2024 graduate, BS Cybersecurity Management
• Abby Bounds – Senior BS Information Systems major
• Linda Galeano Midence – Senior BBA Finance major/Data Analytics minor
• Ben Scallion – May 2024 graduate, BBA Computer Information Systems

Mrs. Susan Shaw, Lecturer of CISA, was the primary faculty advisor and led the project course in spring 2024, and Dr. Mike Ellis,听Associate Professor of CISA, served as co-advisor. Both mentored the students and accompanied them to Manhattan for the competition.

Related: CISA Lecturer Susan Shaw Offers Data Project Course in Spring 2024, Plans to Take Students to Competition Again

Abby Bounds, a junior Computer Information Systems and Analytics (CISA) major and the President of Girls Who Code, was presented with the Outstanding Community Outreach by a Student at the 2024 University of Central Arkansas Student Involvement Awards on Thursday, April 25.

This award is presented to a student who prioritizes volunteerism and service to 每日大赛网站 and the local community. It is given to a student who has made an impact within an organization by leading with courage and being a positive role model to others.

Talley, Bounds, and Shaw

Bounds is pictured here with the two faculty who recommended her for the award, COB Lecturer Susan Shaw and CNSM Lecturer Michelle Talley, both of whom advise the student group Girls Who Code.

“What truly sets Abby apart is her proactive approach to extracurricular involvement,” said Talley in her recommendation letter. “The success of the Girls Who Code club, earning the ‘New RSO of the Year’ award in 2023, is the result of Abby’s tireless energy and unwavering enthusiasm.”

Citing Bounds’ efforts as a student, RSO leader, and student worker, Shaw echoed Talley’s comments about Girls Who Code. She also reported about Bounds’ leadership at the annual IT Careers Camp for High School Students that Shaw organizes.

“She was an integral part of the camp, helping to plan, coordinate, teach classes, and serve as a mentor for the high school students,” said Shaw.

To name a few of her involvements and accomplishments, Abby Bounds served as:

• Founder, Former Vice-President, and President of Girls Who Code, named 每日大赛网站’s 2023 “New RSO of the Year”
• Active member and officer of the Computer Science Club for 2 years
• Active member of the Robotics club
• Speaker at the Arkansas State FBLA Conference for High School Students
• Computer Information Systems IT Career Camp mentor and instructor
• Student worker for the Arkansas Coding Academy
• Guest instructor in Camden, AR to teach Harmony Grove’s robotics class for a day
• A helpful peer in classes

Speaking of the impact of her experiences, Bounds said, “Growing up, I had very little exposure to anything STEM-related. I never thought I could make it into a related field because I thought I did not have the power to learn the necessary skills. That鈥檚 why these opportunities are what I love most because I get to reach more rural areas and leave a personal impact that state-wide and nationwide programs aren鈥檛 always able to reach.”

Dr. Chen with Jessica Kao

Jessica Kao is an exceptional alumnus of the Management Information Systems (MIS)* department at the University of Central Arkansas ( 每日大赛网站). Since January 2020, she has been working for Qualcomm Semiconductor Inc. in Taipei, where she has demonstrated her commitment to her work and the skills she developed during her studies at 每日大赛网站.

As part of her role at Qualcomm, Jessica is responsible for identifying key inefficiencies and issues across different projects. She develops user guides and training materials and conducts training sessions for both internal and external clients. She collaborates with multinational teams to develop and test various programs and projects. Additionally, she leverages her system analysis skills to work on supply chain operation and procurement systems for clients across APAC, the Americas, and Europe.

Jessica credits her success in the professional world to the rigorous training she received from 每日大赛网站’s outstanding faculty members, particularly those in the *, Marketing, and Management departments. She believes the College of Business at 每日大赛网站 provided her with a balanced, practical, and valuable education, which equipped her with the necessary tools to excel in her field.

Working alongside colleagues who mostly hold master’s degrees from prestigious universities in Taiwan and the United States, Jessica’s exceptional performance and professionalism have earned her the respect and trust of her teammates. She has also received substantial raises for her outstanding achievements. To learn more about Jessica’s achievements, check out on LinkedIn.

* When Jessica graduated in 2019, the department and program were named Management Information Systems; in 2021, the name was changed to Computer Information Systems & Analytics to reflect updates to the program.

After her summer Database Tester internship at 听was extended into fall, Aubrie was surprised in mid-September with a full-time offer to join the company. She has accepted a position to be a Delivery Support Analyst after graduation.

Learn more about Aubrie’s success in her path to career development from her own words:

Why did you choose to major in business?

I chose to major in business on a whim, but I think what’s more important is why I stayed. I stayed majoring in business because of the amazing individuals I met when I changed my major; I stayed because my advisor in the COB encourages me and pushes me to be my very best, and right alongside him, my professors do the same. Majoring in business can be tough, but I wouldn’t want to struggle and succeed in any other major. The College of Business has given me endless opportunities to learn and grow in an environment that allows me to be surrounded by fellow peers and professors who have the same drive and passion as I have.听Being a business major has made my time at 每日大赛网站 worthwhile.

Why did you choose this internship?

I chose this internship as a Database Tester at because I saw it as an opportunity for growth with a company that I could see myself working for one day. The internship aligned with skills I had prior knowledge of, but it also grabbed my attention because it required me to expand my knowledge and pick up new skills along the way.

What did you learn at this internship?

At this internship, I learned a variety of skills. I learned very quickly that problem-solving and communication were going to be key in this career. Being a Database Tester required me to think outside of the box daily and pushed me to practice concise communication with both my co-workers and the client. I worked with SQL Database every day, and I enjoyed that I was exposed to hands-on experience with software that I have been taught at 每日大赛网站.

How do you think this internship will be beneficial in your career?

Internships can be beneficial to students’ careers in many ways. It can show you what you do or don鈥檛 want out of a future job and help you grow in your skills. This internship allowed me to exercise the skills I already have and obtain new ones, and it allowed me to network with people who have experience in my future career field. I know this internship helped me me to grow as a student and a future businesswoman in technology. Ultimately, it helped me earn a full-time position with the company.

How do you plan to use your degree?

I have always planned to use my degree in Computer Information Systems and Analytics to work for a technology company that is focused on innovation and creativity. My eventual goal is to go into Business/Data Analytics, and I plan to pursue my master’s degree in Applied Data Analytics.

What advice do you have for students who may (or may not) be considering an internship?

My advice for anyone who is considering applying for or accepting an internship is 鈥� just go for it! I never thought I would land such an amazing internship, but I applied anyway and got an interview. The worst-case scenario might be that you get real-life experience filling out applications and interviewing for a company. Don鈥檛 let big companies and competitive interviews scare you off; believe in yourself, what you are capable of, and bring that to your interview because that鈥檚 what companies want to see.

The 每日大赛网站 College of Business delivers experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities. We are committed to a culture of excellence across all programs, activities, and events, with a focus on action-based learning and student success and retention.

Despite disruptions due to COVID during our last academic year, our students and alumni have overcome obstacles and risen as leaders. Several COB alumni were honored for their efforts in their communities and workplaces while our students volunteered at food pantries, prepared free tax returns for low-income Arkansans, and earned awards.

This annual review gives a brief look at this year’s student, alumni, and faculty success as well as evidence of our commitment to engaged learning.

If you have a story of success or accomplishment from 2021-2022 to add to this list, or anytime in the future, please听send听it to US.

Sincerely,
Michael Hargis
Dean, 每日大赛网站 College of Business

NEW & NOTEWORTHY

To address the changing business environment,听COB expanded to add three new Applied Data Analytics programs:
– a Bachelor of Science
– a Master of Science
– and a technical certificate.

COB welcomed new Marketing & Management Department Chair,听Dr. Tracy A. Suter, who began his role at the start of the spring semester.

Dr. Suter has taught and led at 5 institutions over the past 25 years; has authored many academic articles and textbooks and served in other administrative capacities; most extensive experience was as a 15-year faculty member at Oklahoma State University.

Learn more听about his credentials, career, and interests.

COB Student Ambassadors听engage, connect, and serve as representatives for our college.听Twenty-one students听took on the task of serving as COB’s first ever group of ambassadors.

They have talked with incoming students, received swag and headshots, and experienced unique development opportunities available only to ambassadors.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Economics student Caleb Vines won the Student Research Award at the 2022 Society of Business, Industry, and Economics (SOBIE) conference.

Several other COB faculty and students across all disciplines also presented papers at the SOBIE and International Academy of Business Disciplines (IABD) conferences this spring.听 MORE

COB named its Outstanding Students who were chosen because they combined exemplary academic performance with internships, volunteerism, professional development, experiential education, and participation in clubs and other important experiences.

Daisy Martinez Carranza took home the top honor of COB’s 2022 Outstanding Student.听READ MORE

鲍颁础鈥檚听Master of Business Administration (MBA)听program was named to the听Programs and University HQ鈥檚听听Programs list.

Associate Professor of economics and听ACRE Scholar听Jeremy Horpedahl received the Public Choice鈥檚听Duncan Black Prize听for the best article contributed by a senior scholar.

Karen Shaw, a member of the COB Board of Advisors, was named 2021听CFO of the Year听by Arkansas Business.

Shaw was a leader even during her 每日大赛网站 days, as a charter member of Beta Alpha Psi, but her leadership development didn’t stop there.听Learn more听about Karen’s leadership as a business and community leader.

Several COB alumni, including听听(辫颈肠迟耻谤别诲),听, and听听were named as rising business and community leaders by Arkansas Business.

Three teams representing 每日大赛网站鈥檚 MBA program placed among the top 100 performers in a worldwide business simulation competition called GLO-BUS. Nearly 2,000 teams from 99 colleges and universities competed.

Congratulations to COB’s听Theta Lambda Chapter听who earned first place at the 2022 Beta Alpha Psi regional conference competitions in the category of Best Practices in the Art of Engagement and will compete at the conference in Orlando this summer. The chapter also earned a second-place win for Best Practices.听MORE

In addition, 每日大赛网站’s chapter of Beta Alpha Psi achieved superior status for 2021-2022 from the national chapter. To be a superior chapter, the registered student organization met the following requirements:

• Average member听completed at least 32 hours of service and professional development (at least 12 each)
  >265 hours of professional development
  >555 hours of service
• Chapter completed at least 8 reaching-out activities including attending conferences; competing in best practices and project run-with-it; alumni activities鈥� multi-chapter events; and promoting careers in accounting, finance, information systems, and/or data analytics.

Congratulations to our听听students and to听Connie McKnight听补苍诲听Ashley Phillips, our tireless faculty advisors, for another year of superior status!

CAREER DEVELOPMENT & SERVICE LEARNING

More than 65 volunteers and students from 每日大赛网站’s Biz@Bear Residential College collected over $1650 worth of personal care donations for children in Arkansas foster care.

This event ended an academic year with more than 1800 student engagement hours led by Academic Director, Dr. Louisa Moseley; over 200 of those were service hours.听MORE

Accounting Professor Ashley Phillips was awarded the Peter J. Mehl Service-Learning Faculty of the Year Award for her work with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Under her leadership, students听volunteered approximately 420 hours听to return more than $324,000 of taxpayer money to the community through the preparation of over 250 tax returns for low-income taxpayers in the region.

Sixteen business professionals connected with COB students at the annual听Women in Business Sixteen business professionals connected with COB students at the annual听Women in Business luncheon听for which a panel and table leaders shared the 鈥淭op 5 Things Women in Business Need to Know.鈥�

听听hosted a COB Escape Room of intricate puzzles for students to solve. To 鈥渆scape,鈥� participants applied tips for create an effective resume.听READ MORE

In ’21 & ’22, COB and Acxiom partnered to provide a four-day Information听Technology (IT) Careers Camp听for high school students.

During the camp, students听stayed on 每日大赛网站鈥檚 campus, were mentored by industry experts, and participated in exercises in programming, cybersecurity, robotics, 3D modeling, and 3D laser printing.

Congratulations to all of our graduates in 2021-2022!

If you have a story of success or accomplishment from 2021-2022 to add to this list, please听send听it to the 每日大赛网站 College of Business.

For year-round news and听updates听from the 每日大赛网站 College of Business, make sure to visit听.

Qualifications Needed:

• Have a passion for using technology to solve business problems for great clients
• Share their core values of commitment to client success, unquestionable integrity, and teamwork with humility and respect
• Must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an information technology related field
• Must have a GPA of 3.0+
• Must be a sophomore, junior, or senior graduating December 2021 to December 2023
• Previous help desk experience is a plus

Students can or apply by emailing their resumes听to听careers@edafio.com.