Don Carlson appointed WVU Parkersburg dean

Donald Carlson named WVU Parkersburg Dean of Corporate and Community Education and Chair of Business and Economics Division.

CONTACT: Donald Carlson, 304-424-8271.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A former Southeast (NE) Community College administrator is the new dean of Corporate and Community Education and chair of the Business and Economics Division at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Photo of Don Carlson Donald Carlson recently assumed the appointment of dean following a national search. He was appointed to fill the position of chair of the Business and Economics Division this month.

"Don brings a wealth of extensive experience to the college's Corporate and Community Education division," said Marie Foster Gnage, president of WVU Parkersburg.

"I look forward to working with him and his staff to broaden our capacity to deliver workforce training and provide community programming to a range of audiences from youngsters to senior citizens," she added.

"His strong business background will provide an opportunity to expand our capacities to respond to the needs of the business community through his leadership with the Business and Economics Division."

Integrating business-related academic programs with workforce development offerings is expected to provide a new direction and focus to the college's two divisions.

"The relationship that exists between the training done by Corporate and Community Education and the academic programs in the Business and Economics Division make this a natural fit," noted Joseph L. Badgley, executive dean of academic affairs.

A native of Omaha, NE, Carlson most recently served as dean of the Business/Mass Media Occupations Division at Southeast Community College in Lincoln. Prior to that he was associate dean of instruction, Business and Information Technology, at Central Community College in Grand Island, NE. He also worked in the continuing education field at Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi and at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha where he was involved in coordinating and marketing non-credit programs primarily for the business community.

He received his bachelor of science degree in history and his master's of business administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

"I relish the opportunity to strengthen and expand WVU Parkersburg's community-related programs and offerings as well as develop new opportunities to serve the business and workforce development needs of area employers," Carlson said.

WVU Parkersburg's CCE division coordinates the institution's business/industry training programs as well as personal enrichment, continuing education and professional development offerings. The Business and Economics Division includes certificates and associate degrees as well as the Bachelor of Business in Business Administration degree.

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
Office: 304-424-8203
Fax: 304-424-8315