Walmart finance exec writes U a big check

University of Arkansas alumni Ann and Gene Bordelon have contributed $100,000 to establish the Faculty Innovation Endowed Fund for the benefit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Ann Bordelon is a graduate of Walton College and serves as the Senior Vice President for U.S. Operations and Real Estate Finance and Strategy for Walmart. She joined the company in 2003 as assistant controller and has served in a variety of finance and accounting roles, most recently as senior vice president and chief financial officer for Walmart Asia in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Walmart, she was a senior manager in Ernst & Young’s Assurance and Advisory Services Business. She also worked for Tyson Foods in finance and accounting positions.

The Faculty Innovation Fund will create an endowment to provide funding to develop and support faculty who teach in Walton College. The proceeds from the fund are meant to promote innovative ideas and methods in teaching and research, such as developing curriculum in emerging disciplines, developing new courses to address topics and issues in the business disciplines and developing online courses for Walton’s online general business degree.

“Faculty resources are key for us to attract and retain the best and brightest educators for our students,” said Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Ann is an innovative businesswoman, and her gift will provide the resources for faculty to enhance their research and professional development and help them to develop innovative curriculum and courses. The ideas developed as a result of this fund will help propel both the Walton College and the university forward and ultimately benefit our entire state.”