Mr. Walton received his B.S.Ch.E. from the University of Arkansas in 1981 and later returned to complete his M.S.Ch.E., which he received in 1983. As an undergraduate, he was National Merit Achievement Scholar, a campus “Who’s Who,” and served as RHA Judiciary Board member, Tau Beta Pi Pledge Trainer, and AIChE Vice President.

During his graduate career, Walton studied as an NSF Graduate Fellow and DuPont National Fellow, and in 1984, he continued further studies as a Clemson University R.C. Edwards Graduate Fellow. 

Industrial career experiences with DuPont Clinical Systems and W.R. Grace Cryovac Division Meat Bag Research and Development opened the door to Procter and Gamble Manufacturing Company, where he retired after 23 years, specializing in research and development, manufacturing operations, human resources management, and sales and customer development. 

From 2009 to 2017, Walton joined the University of Arkansas. Starting as Managing Director of the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission (NCREPT), his position later expanded to include roles as Managing Director of the National Science Foundation’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Grid-Connected Advanced Power Electronic Systems (GRAPES) and as Diversity Director for both the Vertically-Integrated Center for Transformative Energy Research (VICTER) and the Green Renewable Energy Efficient Nanoplasmonic Solar Cell (GREEN) Center, focused on K-12 outreach efforts in the State of Arkansas. Walton served as a member of Chancellor Gearhart’s Council on Diversity and is a member of the university’s Black Alumni Association’s Board of Directors. He was inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers in 2011.

He and his wife have awarded over 50 freshman book scholarships and later created an endowed scholarship fund with their son Christopher and his wife, Jazmin. Walton also supports the College of Engineering, Graduate Recruiting Office, and Honors College in efforts to identify high-potential students in the Arkansas Delta Area. He serves as a church deacon and school mentor in the local community and is an avid hunter and fisherman. 

Trent and Vivian have three children, Trent, Chris, and Sandra. Trent studied engineering at U of A before joining the U.S. Marine Corps. Chris earned a B.S.M.E. from the University of Arkansas before earning his M.S. and Ph.D. from Mississippi State University’s mechanical engineering program. Sandra earned a B.S.Ch.E. from the Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering at the U of A in 2017. The Walton family’s generational impact within the College of Engineering was featured in a University of Arkansas family profile titled “Walton Mom’s Influence Leads to Generational Involvement of Engineering Grads Since 1970s.”

Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers, 2011.