FAYETTEVILLE -- A $175,000 gift from a J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. executive and her husband will support an organization for women studying supply chain management at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
The gift from Rogers couple Shelley and David Simpson includes $75,000 to help Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence, or WISE, a student organization; and $100,000 for a WISE "future leaders" student symposium to examine gender equity issues in supply chain industry and education.
Shelley Simpson is executive vice president at Lowell-based J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. where she also is chief commercial officer and president of highway services.
"An important part of my job is my obligation to help everyone learn how to connect while offering a female perspective. I also believe in helping other women," Simpson said in a statement released by UA.
The money for an endowment will help the student group for years, so it "becomes more than just a project or trial," said Simpson, who earned a business degree from UA.
In the fall of 2019, 350 male students and 159 female students were enrolled in UA's Department of Supply Chain Management, according to university data.