The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has recently welcomed Dr. April Sledge as its newest management professor, bringing her expertise in entrepreneurship to the School of Business. Originally from Canton, Georgia, Dr. Sledge is excited to share her knowledge and experience with students at UA Little Rock, teaching a series of entrepreneurship courses designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to launch and grow successful businesses.
Dr. Sledge’s passion for business and entrepreneurship dates back to her college years when she started her first business—a lawn care service company catering to mountain residents unable to maintain their lawns. She later ventured into real estate photography, establishing a successful business in a relatively untapped market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her husband operated a small family farm, meeting the increased demand for fresh, local produce and meat. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Sledge emphasizes the importance of identifying problems and finding innovative solutions—a mindset she instills in her students.
As an assistant professor of management at UA Little Rock, Dr. Sledge is teaching courses such as Venture Management and Decision Making and Entrepreneurial Perspectives this fall. She is particularly excited about the upcoming Creativity and Innovation class in the spring semester, which aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students from various disciplines. By encouraging students to identify and solve real-world problems, Dr. Sledge hopes to inspire them to think creatively and innovatively, even if they do not plan to start their own businesses.
Prior to joining UA Little Rock, Dr. Sledge served as an instructor of management and entrepreneurship at Kennesaw State University, where she taught courses on entrepreneurial thinking, marketing for entrepreneurs, and creativity and innovation. She also gained experience as the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant program coordinator at the University of North Georgia. Dr. Sledge holds a bachelor’s degree in art marketing, a Master of Business Administration, and a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship and innovation from the University of North Georgia, as well as a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University.
In her new role at UA Little Rock, Dr. Sledge is eager to engage with students and help them develop the skills and mindset needed to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. By fostering creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities, she aims to empower students to think like entrepreneurs and thrive in their future endeavors. With her wealth of experience and dedication to teaching, Dr. Sledge is poised to make a significant impact on the next generation of business leaders at UA Little Rock.
