Some of life’s greatest accomplishments are those we never dreamed of tackling. That’s certainly true for Sue Walk Burnett, B.A. ’68, a celebrated CEO and an alumna of the Department of Journalism, which is now the School of Journalism and Strategic Media (SJSM).

This native Arkansan used her journalism degree to gain success in the business world, serving as founder and CEO of the nation’s second-largest employee-owned staffing firm, Burnett Specialists. Her life story is a testament to the potential for success that a liberal arts education can provide.

Her success story began in El Dorado, Arkansas, where she served as the lead editor of her award-winning high school newspaper. The experience sparked her love for news journalism, pushing her to pursue it as her college major.

“I picked journalism because I was interested in it,” she said. “I was never a good writer, but I was a good editor.”

After she arrived on the University of Arkansas campus and spent her freshman year working on the university newspaper, she discovered the ideal outlet for her talents in working with the Razorback Yearbook. The yearbook not only helped her sharpen her editorial skills but also taught her the importance of attention to detail, ensuring that every element, from the photos to the written copy, was perfectly aligned. Another central part of her U of A experience was her involvement in Greek life, specifically with the Chi Omega fraternity.

“Being in a sorority and learning how to rush people ended up being a real skill that has helped me because now, I am in the sales business,” she said. “I was always the one in the sorority that could help close people, so I think learning how to sell and be persuasive helped me in my career because even now, even as president, I am still doing a lot of sales.”

Between her responsibilities as a journalism student, yearbook editor, and secretary of Chi Omega, Burnett gained key time management skills and confidence in her abilities. After college, she immediately put her newsroom experience to use, working for KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“I was hired as a dictaphone typist for $2 an hour, which was minimum wage at the time, and then I was promoted to assistant promotion director after six months,” she said. “I really loved working in the television station. It was my first job ever, and the people there were some of the most witty, fun and interesting people that I’ve ever worked with.”

After moving from television to working for the nation’s largest dairy co-op, Burnett decided to move to Houston. It was there she was hired as a personnel consultant, finding she had a real talent in helping others find jobs.

“On my honeymoon, my husband said, ‘I think you should start your own company,’” she said. “I was only 27. I had never thought of running my own company and never really wanted to, but he kept encouraging me.”

“So, six months after we got married, I quit my job and started up my company,” she added. The pair had big dreams, but no start-up funds. Burnett recalls taking out a $10,000 business loan, using her car as collateral, and trusting she would be able to pay it all back.

// Sue and her husband, Rusty, celebrating her many accolades, including the Towers of Old Main ceremony (top left) and the dedication of the UATV Studio (bottom).

“In 1974, women could not borrow money from the bank, so my husband had to sign the loan,” she said. “We got started with $10,000 and repaid it that first year and made a profit. My company’s never been in debt since then.”

Burnett launched Burnett Personnel Consultants on August 1, 1974, with just six employees and that small business loan. The business quickly grew under her leadership, supported by her partner in business and life, her husband, Rusty.

Burnett credits many of the skills gained during her time at the university for her success. “[My journalism background] helped me a lot because, in this particular industry, you have to run advertising,” she said. “Back in those days, the only way that you could advertise was in the newspaper, so I wrote the ads.”

“So, because of my journalism background, I was and I still am after 50 years very involved in the marketing side of our company,” she added.

Now, Burnett Specialists (Houston, Austin, El Paso, and San Antonio) and Choice Specialists (Dallas) have grown into the second-largest employee-owned staffing firm in the U.S. They were recognized as the 5th largest woman-owned business and the largest placement organization in Houston by the Houston Business Journal. The now 51-year-old company has also received recognition from the Better Business Bureau and Forbes Magazine.

“What I will say about my career is that it has so far exceeded any expectations that I had,” Burnett said. “I never dreamed that I would be running a business or that I would be in the personnel business.”

Burnett’s impact has expanded far beyond the business world, though, returning to the program where she got her start. Alongside supporting yearly scholarships for journalism students, she has created a meaningful legacy within the School of Journalism and Strategic Media through supporting facilities that promote hands-on educational experiences.

After learning that the Journalism Reading Room required necessary updates, Burnett fully funded the project, donating $5,000 for the room’s restoration.

While on campus for the room’s dedication and naming, a conversation with Professor Larry Foley, B.A. ’76, alerted her to the greater needs within the school. This prompted her to sponsor five scholarships for journalism students, returning to campus regularly to visit with the winners.

It was during one of these visits that she decided to make her largest gift yet, establishing the Sue Walk Burnett Journalism and Media Center.

“I think that it’s important for people who are getting degrees in the arts and sciences to realize that there are a lot of careers out there that will be able to use the skills you’re learning.”

– Sue Walk Burnett

“I was in Larry’s office, and I saw these plans on his coffee table [and] I said, ‘What is that?’ and he replied, ‘Well, it’s this building that we want to build for the TV station because our TV station was in the basement, but I don’t think we can build it,’” Burnett recalled. “He said, ‘We don’t have a donor, and the university board won’t approve money unless they have somebody that will donate money to start the process.’”

“So, I came home, and I said to my husband, ‘They need this building,’ and I said, ‘You know, I think this is something I’d like to do,” she added.

Her seven-figure gift prompted a total renovation of the journalism space, a $4 million project that resulted in state-of-the-art facilities for the next generation of journalism students. These students can now gain experience like those of Burnett’s early career, participating in newsroom roles both on screen and behind the scenes.

“It’s very ironic that the building I donated was the TV station,” she added. “It was a real full-circle moment.”

In addition to her recognition as a major SJSM supporter, Burnett was also recognized as a distinguished alumna, a Tower of Old Main and inducted into the U of A Journalism Hall of Fame. She also serves on the Foundation Advisory Committee for the Chi Omega fraternity.

Looking back, Burnett celebrates the influence of an interdisciplinary education.

“I think that it’s important for people who are getting degrees in the arts and sciences to realize that there are a lot of careers out there that will be able to use the skills you’re learning,” she said. “Certainly, my career is an example, because I didn’t have a business degree, but yet I was able to start a business.”

“People should keep an open mind to different types of careers because you don’t know how you’re going to utilize the experience and skills you have until you realize that there are a lot of different careers that involve marketing, advertising, journalism, writing and editing,” she added.

Despite her history of success, Burnett isn’t slowing down yet. “I’m 79 now and I never thought that I would still be working at the age of 79 and still running my company, but, truthfully, I think the best years of my career have been since I was 50,” she said.

Burnett proves that a liberal arts degree can take you places you never imagined, opening doors to careers you never expected and success beyond the bounds of dreams.