Rollin L. Ford, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Walmart), will be addressing John Brown University’s graduating class of 2012 at the 110th John Brown University commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 5, 2012. The undergraduate commencement ceremony will be held in the Bill George Arena at 10 a.m., and the graduate and degree completion ceremony will be held in the Cathedral of the Ozarks at 2 p.m.

More than 300 students will conclude their undergraduate, degree completion and graduate careers. Activities leading up to the ceremonies will begin on Friday with the awards convocation and baccalaureate service.

Ford is a graduate of Taylor University in Upland, Ind. and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and systems analysis. He joined Walmart in 1983 and worked his way up through the logistics organization, managing all aspects of the supply chain. In 2006, Ford was named Walmart’s Chief Information Officer, and in 2012 he was named Chief Administrative Officer, leading Walmart’s global Information Systems Division, Global Business Processes, Global Shared Services, Global Customer Insights and Global Sourcing organizations.

Ford sits on the Board of Directors for John Brown University, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. He also is a board member of the GS1 Management Board.

John Brown University is a private Christian university, ranked first among Southern regional colleges by U.S. News & World Report and is listed as one of America’s Best Colleges by Forbes. JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 41 states and 44 countries. JBU is a member of the council for Christian Colleges and Universities.