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BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Louise Epstein, an Austin native with a broad entrepreneurial background, has joined the Walton Family Foundation to serve as director of university partnerships. In this new position, Epstein will play a fundamental liaison role between the foundation and partners in higher education – with a strong emphasis on collaborations with the University of Arkansas. She brings a robust set of skills to help the University of Arkansas commercialize its research and become an institute of innovation. Before joining the foundation, Epstein was the managing director of the Innovation Center in the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.“We’re enthusiastic about the role Louise will play as a thought partner who will shape initiatives that meet shared goals with the University of Arkansas and other universities nationwide,” said Walton Family Foundation Executive Director Kyle Peterson.

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