EXIM Bank Vice Chair Visits Campus and International Finance Students

Photo by Grant Schol

Judith Pryor speaks with international finance students about the role of EXIM Bank and how it helps small businesses.

Judith Pryor, first vice president and vice chair for the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) recently visited the U of A campus and spoke with international finance students about the structure and services of EXIM Bank.

Along with visiting with Dobrina Jandik’s international finance class, Pryor also met with the Global Business and Markets RSO within the Sam M. Walton College, where they held a “fireside chat” to talk about Pryor’s career, internship opportunities and career advice.

Founded in 1934, EXIM Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States government with a mission of supporting American jobs by facilitating the export of U.S. goods and services. 

As part of her presentation, Pryor shared how EXIM is creating more jobs by helping small businesses create pathways to export goods overseas, including businesses in Arkansas. 

Pryor was appointed as the first vice president of EXIM in 2021 by President Joe Biden after serving on EXIM’s Board of Directors from May 2019 – July 2021. Her portfolio included Africa and the Middle East, renewable energy, storage and efficiency, and minority and women-owned business. She also served during the Obama Administration as vice president, Office of External Affairs, at OPIC, now the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). 

She was responsible for all external engagement including congressional relations, public affairs, communications and U.S. small business development. She was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and held a seat on the agency’s Investment Committee, providing input on all projects valued at more than $20 million.

Before entering public service, Pryor spent nearly a decade with WorldSpace Inc., a multibillion-dollar satellite radio start-up company, servicing developing markets worldwide. As senior vice president for global corporate affairs, her work included establishing marketing and communications functions in 11 international offices, taking the company public, serving as corporate spokesperson and spearheading the strategy and execution for the company’s global brand.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Pryor holds a B.A. in communications from Bowling Green State University and studied at the Universidad de Madrid.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.