Walton College Hires New Director of Communications

Photo Submitted

David Speer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Sam M. Walton College of Business has named David L. Speer as its new director of communications. He will be responsible for promoting the work and achievements of the students, faculty and staff at the Walton College to local, state, national and international audiences. He assumes his duties June 13.

"I am excited and honored to be coming back to the University of Arkansas to help tell the story of the Walton College," Speer said. "People need to know all the great things that are happening at Walton College, and I wanted to play a role in getting that message out in many different ways across Arkansas and the world."

Speer is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in English and journalism. He has a wide background in newspaper, magazine and wire service journalism, having worked on the editorial staffs of Arkansas newspapers in Forrest City, Bentonville and Fayetteville, where he served as managing editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times. He also worked as photo department manager at the Casper Star-Tribune newspaper in Wyoming.

He worked for the Associated Press as a news reporter in Jackson, Miss., and Little Rock, and as correspondent in Iowa City, Iowa. He was the AP state news editor for Iowa in Des Moines for nine years. Among other duties in that position, he helped direct coverage of the Iowa presidential caucuses.

Most recently, Speer worked with the Better Homes and Gardens family of magazines at the home offices of Meredith Corp. in Des Moines. There he was the editorial manager of the Better Homes and Gardens Features Syndicate and edited Flower Gardening and Dream Gardens magazines before becoming manager of the corporation's new e-commerce initiative, the Better Homes and Gardens online garden store.

Speer was a National Merit Scholar and attended the university on an Alcoa Foundation scholarship. He grew up in Mabelvale, Ark., just south of Little Rock, and lived for several years in Northwest Arkansas. He and his wife Jody, also a University of Arkansas graduate with bachelor's and master's degrees in English, can't wait to be a part of life in the Fayetteville area again.

“The Walton College is very pleased to have David joining us as our new director of communications. His photography, editing and writing skills coupled with his many years of experience with two of the most trusted and enduring brands in publishing, Better Homes and Gardens and the Associated Press make him an ideal choice to enhance the profile and visibility of the Walton College,” said Walton College Dean Dan Worrell.