Catalyst NEA Forum Highlights Arkansas Partnerships for Economic Growth and Workforce Development

Arkansas Leaders Map Future of Workforce and Innovation at Catalyst NEA

Business, education, and government leaders converged at the Embassy Suites Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro this Thursday for the annual Catalyst NEA forum. Hosted by Arkansas State University, the event served as a high-level laboratory for examining the friction points and growth opportunities currently shaping the state’s economy. As reported by Arkansas State University, the gathering focused on moving beyond traditional silos to create tangible, collaborative pathways between higher education and the private sector.

The stakes for this collaboration are clear: the state’s economic competitiveness hinges on how effectively academic institutions can translate classroom learning into the practical skills demanded by modern employers. Chancellor Calvin White Jr. framed the university’s role as a public utility for progress, stating, “Public higher education is a public good, and everything we do at Arkansas State is focused on our responsibility to educate and prepare students for success.”

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Research in Practice

The forum highlighted two specific initiatives that move the needle on workforce development. The first is a student-led Security Operations Center, a collaboration between A-State and the Jonesboro-based cybersecurity firm Kalmer Solutions. This project is designed to provide students with real-world experience in threat detection and cybersecurity operations, effectively creating a pipeline of talent that is ready to plug into the state’s technology sector immediately upon graduation. According to NorthArkNow, panelists at the event are already exploring how to scale this model of student-led industry collaboration across the broader Arkansas State University System.

Beyond the digital frontier, the event showcased a long-term engineering partnership between the university and the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Spanning over five decades, this collaboration has produced 23 distinct research projects. Current efforts are focused on the circular economy of infrastructure, specifically testing how steel and agricultural byproducts, alongside recycled materials, can be integrated into construction to lower costs and increase durability. It is a practical application of academic research aimed at solving the state’s logistical challenges.

Building the K-12 to Career Pipeline

While industry partnerships dominate the headlines, the forum emphasized that the foundation of a robust economy starts much earlier. Conversations throughout the day centered on the alignment between K-12 education, higher education, and industry needs. Randy Zook, president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, noted that these outcomes are not accidental. “It takes intentional collaboration among K-12 schools, higher education, and industry to ensure students are developing the skills and gaining the experiences employers need,” Zook said.

Catalyst NEA Spotlights Collaboration Driving Arkansas Growth — Photo: northarknow.com

Instagram

This mission is supported heavily by A-State’s College of Education and Behavioral Science, which maintains a footprint in every one of Arkansas’s 75 counties. Edie Stewart, CEO of Forward Arkansas, pointed to these collaborative forums as a vital mechanism for improving educational outcomes. The discussion also extended into the complexities of rural health care, with panels reviewing the impact of the university’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the partnership with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in addressing medical access in underserved areas.

As the state looks toward the next cycle of development, the momentum from this week’s discussions is already being carried forward. Organizers have confirmed that the next Catalyst NEA Economic Development and Leadership Forum is scheduled to return on November 4, 2027.