Newswise — H. Lee Scott, president and chief executive officer of Wal-Mart, and Johnnetta B. Cole, president of Bennett College for Women, will receive honorary degrees and address graduating students at the University of Arkansas 2007 All-University Commencement at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 12. The ceremony will be held in Bud Walton Arena. Scott will be given an honorary Doctor of Arts and Humane Letters degree; Cole will receive an honorary Doctor of Arts and Sciences.
H. Lee ScottScott was named president and CEO of the world's largest retailer in 2000. His career with Wal-Mart began in 1979, when he joined the company as an assistant director in the logistics division.
Under Scott's leadership, Wal-Mart has delivered record growth and continues to improve operations, formats and merchandise at the company's discount stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam's Clubs, international operations and walmart.com.
Scott launched an aggressive corporate sustainability initiative in 2005 and has been widely recognized for his leadership in making Wal-Mart a more environmentally friendly company.
Scott has also focused on reaffirming the company's price leadership position through aggressive rollbacks and innovations such as the $4 generic prescription drug program at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Neighborhood Market pharmacies across the United States.
Scott serves on the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the United Negro College Fund.
Born in Joplin, Mo., and raised in Baxter Springs, Kan., Scott received his Bachelor of Science in Business from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. He has also completed the executive development programs at Penn State University and Columbia University. He and his wife, Linda, live in Rogers, Ark., and have two sons, Eric and Wyatt.
Johnnetta B. ColeCole's academic and humanitarian careers span more than three decades. She made history in 1987, when she became the first African American woman to serve as president of Spelman College. She was also the first African American to serve as chair of the Board of United Way of America, a post she held from 2004 to 2006. Throughout her career, in her published work, her community service and her role as an administrator, she has consistently addressed the issue of discrimination in all its forms.
Cole has received numerous awards, including the TransAfrica Forum Global Public Service Award, the Radcliffe Medal, the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, the 2001 Alexis deTocqueville Award for Community Service from United Way of America, The Joseph Prize for Human Rights presented by the Anti-Defamation League, The Uncommon Height Award from the National Council of Negro Women, and The John W. Gardner Leadership Award from The Independent Sector.
Cole is the mother of three sons and has two granddaughters. In 1998, through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, she became the "big sister" of a teenager; and she is a mentor to many young women and men. She began her academic studies at the age of 15 at Fisk University, later attending Oberlin College and receiving her doctoral degree from Northwestern University.
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