Executives from Walmart Enterprise traveled from Bentonville, Arkansas and from local Walmart stores and Sam’s clubs, to meet with Southern University (SU) faculty and students to discuss the University’s curriculum alignment with new workforce trends. ”Walmart Day” at SU started with a panel discussion at the newly constructed Valdry Center for Philanthropy (VCP), where Walmart executives met with faculty and senior administrators from the University’s Baton Rouge campus to discuss how current curricula in the areas of business, merchandising, marketing, engineering, science, computer science, and data analytics could better prepare our students for the increasingly changing workforce.
Walmart executives visited 12 classrooms to engage with SU students during the afternoon to discuss career opportunities at the Fortune 1 Company. Walmart also provided the opportunity for SU students to apply for high-demand internships in the United States and provided guidance to SU international students on how to apply for intern and full time positions abroad.
“We were excited to have several of our students joining Walmart and becoming new associates this summer,” said Monique Picou, SU alumnus and senior vice president, Walmart Enterprise.
The visit by Walmart stages a new model for capacity building between corporate America and the University. This model provides a greater opportunity for customization and alignment between corporate segments and University programming.
The SU Office of Career Services, VCP, and the SU System Foundation hosted this event. The newly developed program model will be offered to multiple corporations and organizations throughout the year.
“We are truly excited about our partnership with Walmart. The corporation’s engagement during Walmart Day certainly had an impact on the administration, faculty, staff and students. Walmart executives and team members gave us a first-hand view of their organization’s technology and the skills that our students will need to be successful in the workforce,” said Tamara Foster-Montgomery, director, SU Career Services Center.
For more information about this program, please contact Montgomery at: tamara_montgomery@subr.edu.
Executives from Walmart and Sam’s Club stores:
Top row (left to right) Reggie Wells, Club Manager – Sam’s, Myron Frazier, VP DMM Bakery and Prepared Foods, Sam’s, Tony Rogers, SVP and Chief Member Officer, Sam’s, Jontray Anderson*, Walmart Market Manager, April Legere, Senior Director, People Partner, Sam’s, Maggie Watson, Sam’s Assistant Manager, Donald Roberts*, Sam’s General Merchandise Manager.
Bottom/front row (left to right) Kelvin Coney*, Director, Supply Chain Management, Walmart, Rosalyn
“Roz” Dedeaux, Walmart Store Manager, Lori Furnell, Director of Talent Acquisition, Supply Chain, Wal-mart, Monique Picou*, SVP Flow & Specialty Networks, Walmart, Anjannette ‘Anjie’ Robertson*, Walmart Store Manager, Derrick Edwards, Market Manager, Walmart, Marlon McDonald, Store Manager, Walmart, Gregory Rutherford, Walmart Store Manager, Cordell White, Territory Assets Protection Manager, Sam’s
* Southern University Alumnus
