New Walton College Dean Makes 3 Interim Appointments

Dean Eli Jones of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has named three faculty members to leadership positions in the college on an interim basis.

Jones named Anne O’Leary-Kelly, management department professor and holder of the William R. and Cacilia Howard chair in management, as interim associate dean; Vikas Anand, management department associate professor, as interim faculty M.B.A. director; and Molly Rapert, marketing department associate professor, as Walton College’s interim honors college program director.

“I’m excited about what each of these colleagues will accomplish over the next year,” Jones said. “It is important to note that the interim title is strictly for us to test the chemistry, so to speak. We’ll learn how well we will work together as a team.”

Jones said O’Leary-Kelly’s position would function as the chief operating officer of the college, allowing Jones time to meet and interac

t with academics and business leaders inside and outside the Walton College as he settles in to his new position. Jones took over as dean July 1.

O’Leary-Kelly earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Michigan and her doctorate in organizational behavior and human resource management from Michigan State.

Anand earned his doctorate from Arizona State and an M.B.A. in international business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in physics. His major areas of research include corruption and ethics in organizations, knowledge management in organizations and trends in the globalization of business practices.

Rapert has been widely recognized for her teaching, including being recognized by the university with the 2012 Charles and Nadine Baum Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2011 University of Arkansas Honors College Distinguished Faculty Award.