Key Takeaways
- • Arkansas State University will host the third annual Catalyst NEA: Economic Development and Leadership Forum on November 5, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, educators, researchers, and innovators to address regional and state economic challenges.
- • The 2026 forum will feature four panel discussions designed to examine how research, education, industry, and public leadership can collaborate to strengthen the economy, prepare the workforce, and improve quality of life across Northeast Arkansas and the Mid-South region.
- • One confirmed panel topic—"Innovation and Resilience: Building the AI and Cybersecurity Workforce Together"—will address workforce preparation for an AI-driven economy while strengthening regional cybersecurity infrastructure through cross-sector collaboration.
- • The forum has demonstrated strong institutional engagement, attracting more than 600 attendees in each of its first two years, indicating sustained interest from regional stakeholders in addressing economic development challenges.
- • Arkansas State's interim chancellor Calvin White Jr. emphasized the forum's strategic value in translating university research into practical solutions, stating that "research has the greatest value when it moves beyond the university and helps solve real problems."
Summary
Arkansas State University has announced the 2026 agenda for Catalyst NEA, its annual economic development and leadership forum, scheduled for November 5 at the Embassy Suites Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro. The event represents the third iteration of the forum, which has become an established platform for convening regional stakeholders around economic and workforce challenges facing Northeast Arkansas and the broader Mid-South.
The forum brings together a cross-sector participant base including business leaders, educators, policymakers, researchers, and innovators for structured conversations addressing issues shaping the region's future. The previous two iterations have each attracted more than 600 attendees, demonstrating sustained institutional demand for dialogue on regional economic priorities. This year's programming will feature four panel discussions designed to explore how research, education, industry, and public institutions can collaborate effectively to drive economic growth, develop workforce capabilities, and enhance quality of life.
One confirmed panel topic, "Innovation and Resilience: Building the AI and Cybersecurity Workforce Together," signals the forum's focus on emerging economic priorities. The discussion will examine how the region can develop workforce talent for an AI-driven economy while simultaneously strengthening regional cybersecurity infrastructure—both critical competitive factors for regional economic development. The panel will assess how collaboration between educational institutions, private industry, and public sector bodies can build necessary talent pipelines and systemic resilience in response to rapid technological change.
Calvin White Jr., Arkansas State's interim chancellor, framed the forum as a mechanism for translating academic research into actionable solutions for regional stakeholders. "Research has the greatest value when it moves beyond the university and helps solve real problems for the people and industries we serve," White stated. This positioning underscores the forum's role in strengthening public-private partnerships and accelerating the practical application of research to regional economic challenges, extending potential impact beyond Northeast Arkansas to the broader state and region.
The forum brings together a cross-sector participant base including business leaders, educators, policymakers, researchers, and innovators for structured conversations addressing issues shaping the region's future. The previous two iterations have each attracted more than 600 attendees, demonstrating sustained institutional demand for dialogue on regional economic priorities. This year's programming will feature four panel discussions designed to explore how research, education, industry, and public institutions can collaborate effectively to drive economic growth, develop workforce capabilities, and enhance quality of life.
One confirmed panel topic, "Innovation and Resilience: Building the AI and Cybersecurity Workforce Together," signals the forum's focus on emerging economic priorities. The discussion will examine how the region can develop workforce talent for an AI-driven economy while simultaneously strengthening regional cybersecurity infrastructure—both critical competitive factors for regional economic development. The panel will assess how collaboration between educational institutions, private industry, and public sector bodies can build necessary talent pipelines and systemic resilience in response to rapid technological change.
Calvin White Jr., Arkansas State's interim chancellor, framed the forum as a mechanism for translating academic research into actionable solutions for regional stakeholders. "Research has the greatest value when it moves beyond the university and helps solve real problems for the people and industries we serve," White stated. This positioning underscores the forum's role in strengthening public-private partnerships and accelerating the practical application of research to regional economic challenges, extending potential impact beyond Northeast Arkansas to the broader state and region.
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