Walton family announces Dr. David Mazyck as the inaugural president for future Bentonville-based STEM-focused university

Bentonville, Ark. (February 4, 2026) – Today, members of the Walton family announced the appointment of Dr. David Mazyck as the inaugural president of a new STEM-focused university in Bentonville, Arkansas, created to prepare students to succeed in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change. Most recently, Dr. Mazyck served as Professor and Head of the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University, where he led a multidisciplinary academic unit dedicated to experiential, hands-on education at scale. Dr. Mazyck will oversee the planning and formation of the non-profit, business-infused university, which will embed artificial intelligence across its academic programs, teaching methods, and institutional operations to help students create real-world value. The university intends to welcome its first class of students in 2029.

This appointment marks a milestone in the vision championed by Tom Walton and Steuart Walton to reimagine STEM education for the next generation of innovators, builders, and entrepreneurs. First announced in May 2025, the new university will be located on the site of the former Walmart Home Office, a location that fostered innovation since its opening in the 1970s.

“We set out to find a leader capable of turning an ambitious vision into a world-class institution,” said Steuart Walton. “Dr. Mazyck brings the imagination, intellectual rigor, and builder’s instinct to create something genuinely new in higher education. He has consistently challenged conventional models and is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to design programs that equip students to solve complex problems, lead with confidence, and build what comes next in an AI-driven world. His arrival marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, and we’re eager to get started.”

Multiple members of the Walton family are supporting this vision, including Alice Walton through the Alice L. Walton Foundation. Recently, Alice Walton opened Alice L. Walton School of Medicine and Heartland Whole Health Institute on the nearby Crystal Bridges Campus, and announced plans for a Bentonville-based health and wellness campus which will include learning spaces for high school students in health sciences, global business, technology, and engineering throughout Northwest Arkansas.

“We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Mazyck to Bentonville, and his spirit of collaboration and innovation will be an excellent fit for this new role,” said Alice Walton. “Our region has a strong legacy of entrepreneurship, and with Dr. Mazyck’s guidance, we look forward to developing the next generation of leaders for our region and beyond.”

“I am deeply grateful to the Walton family for the opportunity to build something truly new from the ground up. This STEM-focused university is being designed with an entrepreneurial mindset and a clear sense of urgency, purpose-built to deliver exceptional value for students, employers, and the region,” said Dr. David Mazyck. “We are creating an environment where learning and execution are inseparable, where industry is embedded as a partner, and where students graduate not just prepared, but confident in their ability to build, lead, and solve real problems from day one. The STEM-focused university will be a catalyst for regional talent, economic mobility, and long-term growth, strengthening Northwest Arkansas while shaping a national model for what STEM education can become.”

Dr. David Mazyck Bio

Dr. David Mazyck holds multiple degrees from Penn State, culminating in a doctorate in Environmental Engineering. His career spans more than two decades across leading public research universities, entrepreneurial ventures, and large-scale institutional initiatives, following service in the United States Army.

At Penn State, he oversaw one of the largest industry-sponsored experiential learning programs in the nation, engaging thousands of students annually. He also provided leadership oversight for engineering programs across Penn State’s statewide campus network and served as a Special Advisor to the University on strategic planning, capital fundraising, budget reform, and research commercialization. Dr. Mazyck is the 2026 recipient of Penn State’s Fox Graduate School Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes Graduate School alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their profession and have demonstrated loyalty to the University and the Penn State Alumni Association.

Previously, Dr. Mazyck was a Professor of Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida, where he held numerous academic and administrative leadership roles over a 22-year tenure. As Director of Electronic Delivery of Gator Engineering (EDGE), he launched and scaled online master’s and professional education programs, including innovative micro-credential offerings in artificial intelligence and workforce upskilling. His work helped establish nationally recognized models for flexible, industry-aligned STEM education.

In parallel with his academic leadership, Dr. Mazyck is a seasoned entrepreneur who has founded and led multiple technology and manufacturing enterprises. Serving frequently as a founding CEO, he guided companies from inception through growth to sustained operations, often mentoring students into executive and leadership roles. These ventures have included first-of-the-kind manufacturing facilities that reduce carbon footprints while delivering advanced solutions for air and water purification.