UA names Chris Tisdel as director of McMillon Innovation Studio

The University of Arkansas announced Tuesday (Nov. 4) that Chris Tisdel recently started as the director of the McMillon Innovation Studio, an innovation hub that the UA’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (OEI) oversees.

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a division of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Tisdel, who has a background in human-centered design, replaced former director Justin Urso, who left in September 2024. Jessica Andrews was named interim director after Urso departed. Andrews left earlier this year for a role at Walmart.

The McMillon Innovation Studio’s mission is to develop leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators “by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact,” according to a news release. Students in the studio receive access to mentorship and resources to help them develop creative skills and empower them to innovate.

A Texas native, Tisdel has worked in architecture, consulting, higher education, sales and project management. He founded Ruckus Innovation Consulting in 2009, and as president and CEO of the independent, boutique consulting firm, he helped clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies.

“Chris brings a wealth of knowledge in innovation facilitation and education and will expand our programs impact on companies across the United States,” said Phil Shellhammer, executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

According to the release, “Tisdel envisions igniting transformative students and using the studio as a catalyst for ‘groundbreaking ideas that empower the university community to redefine what’s possible.’”

Tisdel earned a master’s degree in architecture from Texas Tech University. Arkansas “may be one of the few places on Earth that can tempt a Texan to move from Texas,” he said. Tisdel said the McMillon Innovation Studio is a “launchpad for driven, innovative students who will become the young professional heartbeat of existing and new companies around the world.”

“I feel like McMillon, OEI and the University of Arkansas are all quickly becoming innovation magnets for students, faculty and businesses that will shape the world,” he added. “As (the studio) evolves, I would look to a future where it serves as an innovative hub within the state of Arkansas while becoming a globally recognized center for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Founded in 2016 with support from Walmart President and CEO and Walton College alumnus Doug McMillon and his wife, Shelley McMillon, the studio provides students with a space to prototype ideas and take on complex business and social challenges. In August, the McMillon Family Foundation committed $10 million to establish the McMillon Innovation Studio Endowed Fund and the McMillon Innovation Studio Construction Fund, permanently establishing the studio within the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

The McMillon family previously invested $2 million in the studio with additional support from Kelly and Steve Barnes, Claude and Don Harris, and Sunny Gosain.