Coldwater Creek establishes lecture series, adjunct professorship

Coldwater Creek establishes lecture series, endowed adjunct professorship at WVU Parkersburg.

CONTACT: Dr. Rhonda Richards, executive dean of academic affairs, 304-424-8242.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Coldwater Creek Inc. is establishing a lecture series and an endowed adjunct professorship at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

The Coldwater Creek Adjunct Lecture Series and Endowed Adjunct Professorship represent a commitment to collaboration with WVU Parkersburg in offering real-world business perceptions in classroom and seminar settings, college officials noted.

Coldwater Creek’s gift is a $10,000 annual contribution to WVU Parkersburg in support of the lecture series and professorship.

"Coldwater Creek is pleased to partner with WVU Parkersburg and establish the Lecture Series and Professorship," said Gerard El Chaar, Coldwater Creek Inc. Senior Vice President.

"It is important that today’s business students are familiar with the real-world challenges and issues faced in the emerging global marketplace," he noted. "The lecture series and professorship provide an opportunity to create this dialogue with the area’s future business leaders."

The Coldwater Creek Endowed Adjunct Professorship is an award established to support a talented adjunct faculty member in the college’s Business and Economics Division. The professorship will provide for the delivery of instruction and seminars by the endowed position.

Jim Strader, retired public school administrator and business executive, is the 2007-2008 Coldwater Creek Adjunct Lecturer and coordinator of the Adjunct Lecture Series, college officials announced.

"Coldwater Creek’s commitment to the college exemplifies how business and industry partnerships can enhance the teaching/learning process by linking innovation and emerging trends with textbook content," said Marie Foster Gnage, president of WVU Parkersburg.

"We are delighted to have Coldwater Creek as an integral part of our campus community," she added.

The Coldwater Creek Adjunct Lecture Series will offer opportunities for the campus community to consider business concepts, advances and ideologies in real-world practice. The series will foster interaction of students and community members with regional business leaders who will share experiences and expertise.

The first Adjunct Lecture Series program featured Beatrice Selotlegeng, currently executive-in-residence faculty in Ohio University’s College of Business and interim director of OU’s newly established Women's Center.

"Students are encouraged to take full advantage of opportunities availed to them through this lecture series with business executives/practitioners/educators in order to broaden their horizons on a variety of global topics and never to underestimate the importance of developing a network of contacts," she noted.

Her presentation was "African Business Environment - The Success Stories." She has held numerous senior management positions, including acting chief executive officer/airline adviser of the National Airline of Botswana.

The Lecture Series continued this week with David Edwards, director of IT distribution at Coldwater Creek, who spoke Tuesday (Nov. 13) to WVU Parkersburg students, faculty and staff on the importance of leadership in times of transition.

Future seminars will cover customer service, distribution and Six Sigma.