A two-and-a-half-week study abroad experience over the winter break proved to be transformational for 糖心vlog官网 junior Carol Yesivel Samaniego Montenegro, opening her eyes to global perspectives that will shape her future career.

Samaniego, a finance and marketing major from Panama, participated in a 17-day winter program at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea, where she completed an intensive course in behavioral finance. The experience aligned seamlessly with her long-term goal of returning to Panama after graduation to pursue a career in financial planning and development with a multinational company.

“The course really aligned with my future goals, since one of my dreams is to work at a multinational firm back home,” she said. “I believe that the course helped me gain a better understanding of a side of the world that I did not have a complete grasp on. I am glad I got to meet people from different continents and to had the opportunity to understand the reasoning behind financial behaviors in each of their countries.”

Samaniego said she had been searching for a study abroad opportunity for several months when she discovered the Hanyang University Winter Program.

“I was drawn to the program鈥檚 benefits, like the opportunity to build a global network, the chance to study under a renowned professor in a field that directly complements my majors, and the fact that the program included funded cultural travel,” she said. “I got a scholarship from Hanyang University to cover part of the tuition expenses, and the remaining balance was covered through the Student Enrichment Fund here at 糖心vlog官网.”

Her days in Seoul followed a structured yet immersive rhythm, blending academic rigor with cultural exploration.

“Classes would start at 9 a.m. and last until 3 p.m., and then right after class a group of friends and I would explore Seoul,” Samaniego said. “For example, we would go to the most iconic places like the Historical Palace dressed in traditional clothes or visit the Seoul Communications Tower, most known as Seoul N Tower from which you could see the whole city. After that, we would go to the busiest district in the city to grab a local dinner and then enjoy the city at night.”

Beyond the classroom and sightseeing, Samaniego said the experience had a profound impact on her worldview.

“I got to know a lot about Asia and Europe through my classmates, their experiences and insights, our cultural differences and how we can learn every day from them,” she said. “I also got to learn from my professor because the course I took is not usually offered here at Ozarks. However, I found myself applying things I learned here. The best thing that I gained from it was the whole experience of comparing countries and applying concepts through panels and hands-on projects. Surprisingly, I got to know that even if our cultures might differ, we share economic and financial aspects that help the relations between countries. I believe it made my view of the future broader. And of course, I got to learn incredible things about Korea and its people while traveling to many provinces within the country.”

Several moments from the trip stood out as especially meaningful.

“The moment that impacted me the most was when I visited the province of Pyeongchang and the province of Gangwon,” she said. “The first is where the 2018 Winter Olympics happened. We got to see the old Olympic villa and a museum, and days later I got to see a team of kids training for winter sports at another site. That was shocking because winter sports seems so foreign to me and something I would only see through a screen. Another really special moment was to wear the traditional clothing called Hanbok while walking through the Historical Bukchon Hanok Village, which is a preserved site with traditional houses and buildings from the 19th century. After that, we walked from the village right to the skyscrapers of Seoul and saw the Historical Gyeongbokgung Palace. With friends from the winter session, we got to meet an international photographer that featured a story of us in his page and guided us through the Historical Village.”

As she prepares to graduate and return home, Samaniego said the experience reinforced her desire to contribute meaningfully to Panama鈥檚 financial sector.

“I believe Panama is a great country for exchange and financial trading, and its growth depends on people who understand that the world is more connected than we think,” she said. “That is why having a broader, real, and educated perspective of the world can help Panama with bigger goals. By returning home with a specialized understanding of behavioral finance and Asian market dynamics, I hope to join and be of help in Panamanian firms to better work international projects. My main goal is to use this perspective to work on local financial planning and global economic trends, because it would be great for our markets to remain competitive and attractive to international investors.”

The post A Global Lesson in Finance appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

糖心vlog官网 junior Mar铆a Fernanda Cabrera Gonz谩lez is turning her passion for marketing and fashion into global experience鈥攚hile keeping her professional ambitions focused on her home country of Mexico. The marketing and finance major from Tabasco, Mexico, recently completed a prestigious 24-week certification in Fashion and Luxury Marketing and Communication through ELLE Education in collaboration with Camilo Jos茅 Cela University (UCJC) in Spain.

The certificate program was delivered fully online, allowing Cabrera to enhance her knowledge in the fashion and luxury industries while also continuing her studies on campus. The program also included an optional one-week in-person Executive Week in Madrid. During her week in Madrid last July, Cabrera was able to connect with leading professionals and executives from global brands such as Loewe, Pandora, and Mango.

鈥淭hese encounters provided me with valuable insights into how top brands manage their image, communication, and marketing strategies in the competitive luxury sector,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he program鈥檚 practical projects and evaluations also helped me develop essential skills in campaign creation, brand storytelling, and market analysis.鈥�

During the Executive Week, Cabrera attended sessions on runway production, digital marketing, neuromarketing, influencer marketing, and sustainable fashion, while also participating in workshops and networking events with prominent industry leaders.

鈥淭his unique opportunity allowed me to meet students from all over the world, exchange perspectives, and gain first-hand experience in the European fashion market,鈥� she said.

Her journey was made possible through a Santander Scholarship, funded by Banco Santander, which supports students pursuing international academic opportunities. Through the Santander Open Academy Mexico platform鈥攁 scholarship call that was open exclusively to Mexican citizens鈥擟abrera received more than $3,000 to help cover the Executive Week in Madrid and part of her program tuition.

Looking ahead, Cabrera plans to apply her experience in the Mexican luxury market. Major international brands such as Pandora, Mango, and L鈥橭r茅al have significant operations and corporate offices in Mexico City, where she hopes to begin her career after returning home following graduation.

“My goal is to enter the luxury or beauty industry in Mexico City and use the connections I made through this experience to engage with brand teams and industry leaders in Mexico,” she said. “This program helped me strengthen my marketing and communication skills while teaching me how to create strong brand identities and manage large-scale campaigns鈥攕kills that are essential for success in the luxury and fashion industries. I truly encourage other students to take advantage of programs like this. They not only boost your CV but also open doors to meaningful connections and global perspectives.鈥�

The post Cabrera Eyes Fashion Marketing Career in Mexico appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

A summer academic course on entrepreneurial development at one of Mexico鈥檚 most prestigious universities, Universidad Iberoamericana, has 糖心vlog官网 students Eduardo Murillo and Nataly Vindas fired up for the upcoming academic year.

Murillo and Vindas, both Walton International Scholars from Costa Rica, complete the six-week course in Mexico City in late June. The course focused on increasing networking opportunities and enhancing entrepreneurial skills.

The two students are both executive members of the University鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Club and are excited to share what they learned with their classmates and fellow club members.

鈥淭he comprehensive knowledge and insights I acquired are invaluable resources that I intend to apply to both my personal and professional career,鈥� said Murillo, a senior management and psychology major. 鈥淭his experience has equipped me with innovative strategies and perspectives that I plan to implement in my role as an executive member of the Entrepreneurship Club. The skills and understanding gained from this course will definitely contribute to my growth and the continued success of our organization.鈥�

Vindas, a junior finance and marketing major, said the experience not only enhanced her academically and professionally, but also personally and culturally.

鈥淚n the classroom, I gained practical insights and advice on starting a sustainable business, which really brought to life the theoretical knowledge I learned at Ozarks,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he importance of teamwork, especially in a business setting, was greatly emphasized, and I got to experience the ups and downs of working in a multicultural team. I also worked on my public speaking skills, although I did manage to embarrass myself a couple of times along the way.鈥�

鈥淣avigating such a big city as Mexico City was also a significant challenge that tested my independence and emotional resilience, and such a challenge helped me grow significantly and learn a lot about myself. Culturally, the experience was equally enriching. I enjoyed trying delicious local meals, visiting cultural places, and meeting incredible and kind people who made me feel at home even though I was far from Costa Rica.鈥�

Murillo said one idea he would like to implement immediately with the Entrepreneurship Club is a 鈥渟tartup challenge.鈥�

鈥淭his will allow students to pitch a business plan to a panel of judges,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is precisely what we had to do for our final project in our summer course, so we are excited about leading this initiative at Ozarks along with our executive teammates.鈥�

Both students received funding from the University鈥檚 Student Enrichment Fund to take part in the summer class.

鈥淚’m deeply grateful to the Student Enrichment Funds committee for making this experience possible,鈥� Vindas said.

The post Summer Class Inspires Entrepreneurship Club Members Murillo, Vindas appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

When the total solar eclipse passes through Arkansas on Monday, April 8, tens of thousands of Arkansans will be viewing the rare phenomenon with eclipse glasses designed by 糖心vlog官网 alumna Odalis Garcia.

Garcia, a 2023 business administration major from Clarksville, was one of two winners of a state-wide contest last summer that was sponsored by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) to design the viewing glasses. Garcia鈥檚 design is on 250,000 viewing glasses that the consortium distributed to schools and universities throughout the state.

Garcia, who currently serves as director of marketing and communications for the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce, said she heard about the ASGC graphic design competition from a friend during her junior year. The competition was open to all college students in the state.

鈥淢y friend knew I was working as a part-time graphic designer at the time and encouraged me to enter,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淚 remember getting excited about the idea of possibly winning the contest, but because I only had a year of experience in graphic design, I continued to doubt myself. I would create a design then delete it thinking it was not good enough to submit. I knew I was going up against plenty of college students in Arkansas, and the thought of that was a little overwhelming. Then one day I told my sister, Daicza Garcia (2020 Ozarks alumna), about the competition and she told me, 鈥榊ou should just submit one. You will never know unless you try. What if you do win?鈥� She motivated me, and I really began to put thought into it. I honestly do not think I would have even entered if it wasn’t for her.鈥�

Garcia said her plan was to not get too complicated with her design.

鈥淚 wanted to create something original but simple,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started off by using the logo colors of ASGC and went on to create a minimal graphic design using a small color palette. I am also a photographer, so my initial thought was 鈥榩eople are going to take tons of pictures looking up at the eclipse.鈥� That is when I added in the astronaut and the text on the sides of the glasses, but I always kept in mind that less is more 鈥� keeping it simple.鈥�

Laura Holland, assistant director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, which is funded by NASA, said the design contest received 16 entrants, with Garcia and Faith Wray of Henderson State University chosen as co-winners by the selection committee. Garcia鈥檚 and Wray鈥檚 designs were each used on a half of the 500,000 glasses that were distributed by the consortium and the Arkansas STEM Coalition.

鈥淭he committee really liked the great color combinations of Odalis鈥� design and they thought the astronaut on the side of the glasses would appeal to younger kids,鈥� Holland said.

Garcia learned that her design was one of the two winning entrants in June while she was in Barcelona, Spain, on a study-abroad trip.

鈥淚 saw the email from Laura Holland and I remember sitting in the apartment living room not knowing what to do because everyone I knew back home was asleep because of the time change,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I still sent a text to my family and celebrated with my roommates.鈥�

Garcia said winning the contest made her realize the importance of supportive friends and family.

鈥淭his contest was not only rewarding, but it definitely made me realize that being surrounded by people who support you and believe in you is just as important as believing in yourself,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 could have never done this without my supportive friends from Ozarks and my family.鈥�

Garcia secured her position with the Russellville Chamber a week before graduating from Ozarks. In her job, she manages the Chamber鈥檚 website and social media platforms, creates and distributes the Chamber鈥檚 weekly email, and creates visual content and marketing campaigns that engage local members. She also serves as the liaison to the Downtown Russellville Streetscape Project Committee and is participating in the Russellville Regional Leadership Class 38.

When the eclipse occurs on April 8, Garcia said she will take a bit of pride in seeing her design take center stage.

鈥淚t feels very rewarding,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s a self-taught graphic designer, this has been one of my biggest accomplishments yet.鈥�

The post Alumna Garcia’s Design Adorns State’s Eclipse Glasses appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

One of the newest student organizations at 糖心vlog官网 should have no problems getting the word out about its mission.

The Marketing Club is in its first semester of existence with a goal of helping both the campus and Clarksville communities thrive and grow.

The 30-member organization is led by founder and club president Shanique Sinclair, a junior marketing and communication studies major from Manchester, Jamaica. Other officers include, Ludjee Jean as vice president; Hans Fils-Aim茅 as treasurer; Rudolph Adler as secretary; and Hans Jabouin as public relations director. NaLisa Brown, assistant professor of marketing, serves as the club鈥檚 advisor.

Sinclair said the members of the Marketing Club want to use their skills and knowledge to assist other campus clubs and organizations as well as collaborate with the Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce to help local small businesses.      

鈥淭he mission of the club is to help the members and the community of Clarksville grow,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or the members, that means growing in their areas of interest, whether it is social media, branding, graphic design, ad development or digital marketing, and increasing their overall creativity. In regard to the Clarksville community, our mission is to help as many local businesses as possible to improve their social media presence, with the goal of increasing their sales and overall media presence. That鈥檚 why our collaboration with the chamber is so important.鈥�

Sinclair said the club also wants to help Ozarks recruit prospective students.

鈥淎s a club, we want to not only help the Clarksville and Ozarks communities, but also help increase the University鈥檚 exposure,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e believe we can help increase the number of students applying to Ozarks by helping clubs and organizations on campus present themselves in a way that will influence high school seniors to apply here. That鈥檚 why we, as a group, will be helping campus organizations and clubs with their marketing for events and showcasing their missions and objectives.鈥�

Sinclair said she had the inspiration to start the club last spring.

鈥淒uring my second semester as a sophomore and taking marketing classes, I realized that students are given a lot of knowledge about marketing and the different areas during lectures, but most students don鈥檛 get the opportunity to have real-life opportunities to put the knowledge to use,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淚 wanted to give students the opportunity to put their knowledge and skills to use in a way that will benefit them in the future and give them a space where they can grow their creativity in a stress-free environment. It鈥檚 a place where other individuals can give them feedback on their work and where they can develop their skills without the anxiety of grades and failing a class.鈥�

The Marketing Club hopes to bring in regular guest speakers to share information to help keep members abreast of new skills, technology and best practices.

鈥淭he marketing industry is always changing, so one of the goals of the Marketing Club is to help us keep updated with marketing trends and strategies that will be beneficial to our professional careers,鈥� Sinclair said.

Sinclair said she hopes to pursue a career in the creative aspects of marketing, with the ultimate goal of being a marketing manager for a company and eventually owning her own marketing firm in Jamaica.

鈥淢y professors here at Ozarks have inspired my way of thinking and the way I take action in a positive way and for that I am grateful,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淢y communication and marketing professors are always encouraging us to take action and to leave an impact in whatever we do. If you attend a lecture or pay attention to the advice that they give, you will realize that there are so many opportunities available here for students. But it is up to us to take that next step and take action. That鈥檚 what I did with the Marketing Club. I took recommendations and feedback and applied them to a club that would help other students as much as it has helped me. I鈥檓 hoping for the club to leave a positive impact on the students who are a part of the club.鈥�

The post Marketing Club Set to Make Impact on and off Campus appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

It wasn鈥檛 until Ciara Boswell began going through the 糖心vlog官网鈥� LENS curriculum that she began to see her professional future clearer.

The junior from Paris, Ark., said the LENS (Learning Environment for New Synthesis) program at Ozarks helped her decide to earn majors in psychology and philosophy with a minor in marketing.

The University鈥檚 LENS program requires students to earn a major or minor in each of three academic areas or 鈥渓enses鈥� 鈥� the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and mathematics. The LENS program encourages students to explore, discover, and develop many areas of interest, while expanding their academic opportunities.

鈥淭he LENS program broadened my horizons and pushed me into areas that I never had thought about before arriving at Ozarks,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淟ENS has given me the opportunity to be a well-rounded candidate for any job I pursue in my future. It has allowed me to acquire knowledge in numerous areas and pushed me out of my comfort zone. It allowed me to find majors and minors that I love which has made my time here at Ozarks that much more special.鈥�

While she entered college knowing that she wanted to study psychology, she quickly found other areas of interest that complemented the discipline.

鈥淚 always knew that I wanted to major in psychology since I graduated from Paris, but I was struck with my found love in philosophy during my freshman year,鈥� she said, 鈥淚 knew that I wanted to pick a curriculum that I could utilize to make a difference and do something that I love and am passionate about. I stumbled into marketing as a sophomore here at Ozarks and immediately fell in love with all things social media. I love that you can use marketing as a way to make a difference in individuals lives and all three of these programs can be used to help others and give back to the communities that gave so much to me. I plan to utilize my education to eventually be in the field of marketing psychology.鈥�

Growing up less than 45 minutes from campus, Boswell said she knew Ozarks was the right fit the first time she stepped foot on campus.

鈥淐oming from a small high school, a close-knit family environment is something that I cherished there so I wanted to make sure I would get that in college as well,鈥� she said. 鈥淥zarks provided this sense of community and family that I so beloved. I knew this would be my new home as soon as I stepped on campus and saw the relationships that others before me had formed here.鈥�

One of her first classes at Ozarks, a freshman seminar class taught by University Chaplain Rev. Jeremy Wilhelmi, remains one of her favorites.

鈥淭his class allowed me to make connections that I will cherish for the rest of my life,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淭his class helped me make some of my first friends on campus and put the right people in my path. Ever since I was a freshman and met Jeremy, he has been a great mentor and inspiring person to me.鈥�

As a student ambassador, she enjoys conveying that same family environment when she gives campus tours to prospective students and their families.

鈥淭o be a student ambassador is a great honor,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淵ou are essentially the first friend on campus for prospective students. I get to share my experience at Ozarks with other individuals. I get to tell them about all of the amazing things that Ozarks has to offer and how this special place has changed my life while educating them about the history here.鈥�

In addition to being a student ambassador, Boswell leads the group鈥檚 social media efforts in recruiting students.

鈥淚 love this position because it has allowed me to work with some of the most inspiring people in the marketing department,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love the atmosphere and the relationships I鈥檝e built through this department as well as creating social media content for the University.鈥�

Boswell has also found her niche in a number of student organizations and extra-curricular activities. She is president of the Ozarks Philosophical Symposium, vice president of the Psychology Club, president of a volleyball program on campus and also works part-time for the University鈥檚 bookstore. As if that wasn鈥檛 enough, she also works part-time as a coach for a girls鈥� youth travel volleyball team.

鈥淚 get to educate young women about the sport and share all of the skills I have acquired over my years in this great sport,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough my years of coaching club volleyball, it has allowed me to pour into young girls in various communities and schools.鈥�

Thanks to earning several University scholarships, Boswell is on course to become the first in her immediate family to graduate from a four-year college.

鈥淭his makes me feel as though I have made my family and community around me proud, knowing that I have faced a great amount of adversity and pushed through to reach my goals,鈥� she said. 鈥淩eceiving these scholarships have allowed me to pursue my undergraduate degree without worry of finances and that has given me the chance to live up to my fullest potential. It has put me on the path to pursue my long term goals and I am so incredibly grateful.鈥�

With just over a year left in her educational journey, Boswell said she is happy she chose Ozarks.

鈥淚 have gained many perspectives on so many things that I am passionate about at this University,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淥zarks has made me have an overwhelming sense that the sky’s the limit and I can do whatever I put my mind to. Ozarks has given me confidence for my next steps in life because of the engaging curriculum. I absolutely love that I have gotten a quality education and I completely believe this is because of how much the professors here care about the students’ success. They pour into students and give them the best resources for future achievements.鈥�

The post Boswell Sees Future Clearer Through LENS appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

Garcia is a business administration major who will graduate in May with high honors. She had initially planned on getting just a minor in business, but after a few classes she realized that business, and more specifically marketing, was her true calling.

鈥淲hen I began taking these business and marketing courses, I found myself spending more time learning about the material and doing research on these topics outside of class, much more than I did with my major,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淚 then realized that business was what I was most passionate about and took that route.鈥�

Garcia said she loves marketing 鈥渂ecause it is an open arena of creativity and innovation.鈥�

鈥淭he constant shift in trends and consumption habits of a target audience requires you to constantly be on your toes, and that is what excites me the most — to be part of the change,鈥� she said.

Garcia, who also has minors in Spanish, communication and health science, has made the most of her time at Ozarks, thriving to gain as much experience in the marketing field as she can. She served as a photographer and social media intern in the University鈥檚 Marketing Department during the Fall 2022 semester, which led to a position this semester working on the University bookstore鈥檚 new website.

鈥淢y experience interning with the Marketing Department has broadened my understanding of what truly happens behind every post; from analyzing prospects and communicating a marketing plan as a team to finalizing a project and monitoring results,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淭his internship has not only helped me explore this career path, but it has allowed me to network with professionals, gain confidence and put my knowledge and skills into practice. My experience working with the Marketing Department opened new doors for me this semester that I believe will ultimately enhance my skills in photography and website design.鈥�

Garcia has also been working for a local marketing firm, Scarlett Marketing and Design, as a graphic designer and website editor, where her responsibilities include everything from creating social media posts to working on websites and graphic designs for clients.

鈥淲orking for Scarlett Marketing and Design has allowed me to focus on my personal and professional growth every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his experience has given the opportunity to strengthen my professional communication skills, boost my efficiency, and improve my work-life balance. I have learned that a positive work environment is essential for the success of an individual as well as a business. As a full-time college student with a small photography business and in midst of starting up another business, I am more than blessed to have the opportunity to work with a team who is flexible with my schedule, gives me room to grow in a field I am passionate about, and constantly gives me professional advice.鈥�

Garcia said one of the most impactful experiences she has had at Ozarks was an opportunity to travel abroad. She spent a month in Spain during the summer of 2022 taking a course called, 鈥淔ood Culture and Spanish Society.鈥�

鈥淭hat experience studying abroad was unforgettable,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had the chance to embrace Spain’s culture and learn about its history, architecture, and religion. The class was incredible; we cooked traditional Spanish dishes, went out to eat at the most authentic Catalan restaurants, went to tourist sites, visited the local markets, and took day trips outside of the city. Even though there were only five of us in the class, we had the opportunity to meet so many people from Barcelona and from all over the world. We even had the opportunity to explore outside of the country on weekends.鈥�

It was the first time traveling abroad for Garcia.

鈥淚t broadened my horizons and helped me better understand another country’s culture and cuisine,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was very eye-opening for me to experience a different lifestyle. At first, I was definitely nervous to be traveling abroad, let alone by myself, but I would do it all over again if I could. It really changed me as a person. I learned to love the little things in life and really appreciate the world and the people around me. As a student, I realize that all of the people I meet at Ozarks all have a different career paths and many will be leaving the state or country after they graduate. I want to cherish these last months before I graduate and enjoy every moment I have with my friends at Ozarks.鈥�

Garcia, whose older sister, Daicza, graduated from Ozarks in 2020, said she was grateful for the scholarship support she received to be able to attend her hometown University. She is the recipient of the University鈥檚 Frontier Scholarship.

鈥淭he Frontier Scholarship has given me the opportunity to live the full college experience and meet new people while staying close to my family,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淲ith this scholarship, I am able to pay my own tuition and take off that heavy financial load off of my parents’ shoulders. As a first-generation student, this has had an inexplicable positive impact on me and my parents’ lives. My parents came to the U.S. at a fairly young age and have had to work hard each and every day to bring us these opportunities. Getting a college education is just one way of giving back to my parents and thanking them for everything that they have given me. I could not have done this without the Frontier Scholarship.鈥�

Garcia, who plans to pursue a career in marketing as well as a graduate degree after leaving Ozarks, described her time at the University as 鈥渕emorable.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檝e met so many wonderful Ozarks students from all over the world, studied abroad and had the chance to experience life on the other side of the world, made connections and had the chance to work with the amazing marketing team at Ozarks,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淥n top of that, I鈥檝e received an excellent education in three academic areas with the LENS program.鈥�

The post Garcia Follows Marketing’s Calling appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

The recent addition of several new business-related academic programs at 糖心vlog官网 is providing students with more options of study and better preparation for the business world.

The University added majors in finance, management and marketing as well as a minor in entrepreneurship during the fall semester. The new programs were approved by the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees last spring following a recommendation from the faculty.

Dr. Steve Oatis, associate vice president for academic affairs, said the new majors and minor within the business program were developed in part from the business faculty鈥檚 assessment of student performance in the business administration major.

鈥淪ince its implementation in 2016, the business administration major had given students a generalized curriculum in business,鈥� Oatis said. 鈥淲hile this curriculum exposed students to a range of different content areas, including marketing, management, finance, accounting and economics, results on comprehensive examinations in the major鈥檚 capstone course suggested that students would benefit from the opportunity to delve deeper into a business content area that aligned with their particular professional interest.聽 Additionally, the recognition that most prospective employers in the business world tend to ask for degrees in specific business areas contributed to the faculty鈥檚 decision to design and approve the new majors and minor.鈥�

Oatis said the finance major will includes new courses in risk management, portfolio management and other finance topics.

鈥淭his will prepare students for a field with an above-average projected job growth over the next decade,鈥� he said.

Oatis said the management major captures much of the former business administration major under a more semantically appropriate name.

鈥淢anagement is a more widely recognized term as a professional specialization than 鈥榓dministration,鈥� especially in the home countries of many of Ozarks鈥� business students,鈥� Oatis said. 鈥淭he curriculum of this new major also includes more focused attention to topics of employee supervision, organizational behavior, and other important areas of human resources management.鈥�

NaLisa Brown, assistant professor of marketing, said the new marketing major will provide students a better understanding of how companies market products and services.

鈥淭he beauty of a marketing degree is it provides a wide variety of opportunities in the marketplace,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淪tudents can focus on social media, sales, advertising, public relations, product design or market research. On a personal level, learning consumer behavior and persuasive communication helps students effectively communicate with others. 鈥�

Brown said that market forces show that business professionals specialize in distinct areas, such as marketing, management, accounting and finance.

鈥淔or our students to be competitive in the job market, they need degrees that fit their future employment needs,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ccording to multiple sources, marketing majors are in the top five in-demand degrees. A report by the University of Potomac lists E-commerce and marketing at 3 and 4, respectively, while the National Association of Colleges and Employers lists marketing as number 5. Finally, marketing is listed as the highest-paying business major by Indeed.com.鈥�

Dr. Christine Scott, associate professor of business, said the new entrepreneurship minor will give students the opportunity to explore the foundations of a sustainable small business. 

鈥淔or example, a psychologist may want to open their own practice, or an artist may want to open an art gallery鈥攜et do they have the foundations needed to be successful?,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淥btaining this minor broadens the opportunities for students who do not necessarily want to major in business but are interested in learning about becoming an entrepreneur. 鈥�

Scott called small businesses 鈥渢he heart of the economic system.鈥�

鈥淢any fail in the first year because of lack of knowledge of the 鈥榠ns and outs鈥� of running a sustainable business,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淭his minor fills a gap in not only in our global economic system, but in our local economies as well.聽 And provides students with the fundamentals that can lead them to potentially owning a sustainable business.鈥�

The post Ozarks Adds New Business-Related Majors, Minor appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

Long-time 糖心vlog官网 professors (pictured, from left) Pam Smith, NaLisa Brown and Susan Edens have all been promoted and placed on the tenure-earning track, effective Jan. 1, 2023, University officials announced this week.

Edens was promoted from associate professor of practice of communication to associate professor of communication, Smith will advance from associate professor of practice of education to associate professor of education, and Brown moves from instructor of business to assistant professor of marketing. All three will be placed on tenure-track and will eligible for tenure once they meet University requirements.

The promotions were recommended by Dr. Jeff Elwell, vice president for academic affairs, and approved by Richard Dunsworth, University president.

鈥淚t was a no-brainer for all three of these professors in receive promotion and be placed tenure-track,鈥� Elwell said. 鈥淭hey are dedicated and talented faculty members who have made a significant impact on Ozarks students for many years. We鈥檙e happy to be able to provide these well-earned promotions and to give them an opportunity to get tenure.鈥�

Edens, a 1992 communications graduate from Ozarks, has worked at her alma mater since 1997, beginning as an admission counselor and moving to the classroom in 2002.  She will eligible for tenure in the 2024-25 academic year and for promotion to full professor in 2026-27.

鈥淚 so appreciate this recognition by the University,鈥� Edens said. 鈥淚 look forward to the exciting and dynamic future of preparing students for the ever-growing multimedia industry.鈥�

Edens was the recipient of the University鈥檚 2018 Richard and Katherene Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Award.

Smith, who is also the director of the University鈥檚 Pat Walker Teacher Education Program, is a 1990 Ozarks graduate who has taught at the University since 2015. She will be eligible for tenure in 2025-26 and will be eligible for promotion to full professor in 2027-28.

鈥淚 am humbled by this honor and I look forward to continue working with my colleagues to fulfill our mission to prepare future professional teachers who are committed to instructing a broad range of students from diverse backgrounds and diverse needs,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve in the education department that taught me to love learning and teaching.鈥�

Smith, who served 25 years as a classroom teacher and principal in public school systems before joining Ozarks, was the recipient of the 2019 Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Award.

Brown, who was the recipient of the 2020 Bagwell Outstanding Faculty Award, came to Ozarks in 2008 as an adjunct faculty member and was an instructor from 2010 to 2014. She rejoined the University as an instructor in 2017. She will be eligible for tenure and promotion to associate professor of business in 2027-28.

Brown will take the teaching lead in the University鈥檚 new marketing major, which was added for the Fall 2022 Semester.

鈥淲orking with Ozarks students in this new role is a great honor,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淎s assistant professor of marketing, I am able to concentrate on an area I have loved since college. I鈥檓 excited to grow the new marketing major and encourage our students to incorporate marketing concepts professionally and personally.鈥�

In related news, Joel Rossmaier will voluntarily move from associate professor of practice of business to instructor of business, effective Jan. 1, 2023.

The post Professors Smith, Brown, Edens Earn Promotions appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.

Dr. Golam M.M. Aurup has been hired at 糖心vlog官网 as an assistant professor of marketing. He will begin his new duties beginning the Fall 2021 Semester.

A native of Bangladesh, Aurup previously served an assistant professor in the School of Business & Economics at Trent University in Peterborough, Canada. He has also served as an assistant professor of marketing at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, and as a lecturer at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

鈥淚 am excited to join 糖心vlog官网,鈥� Aurup said. 鈥淚t’s a great opportunity to explore a new country and culture and be part of a diverse community.鈥�

Aurup earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and his MBA from University of Dhaka, both in Bangladesh. He also earned a master鈥檚 degree in industrial engineering from Concordia University before getting his Ph.D. in business administration (marketing) from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia.

His research interests include cross-cultural issues, advertising, digital and social media marketing, business analytics, branding and consumer research with neuroscience/sensory tools and techniques.

鈥淢y main research expertise is in cross-cultural consumer behavior,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 surveyed Canadian bilinguals living in the province of Quebec for my thesis and explained their responses to questionnaires and advertisements in English and French. The study also reported on the socio-cultural issues regarding language acculturation and bilingualism.鈥�

He and his wife, Shammee, are the parents of a daughter, Arushi. Outside of academia, Aurup is a singer-songwriter who plays the guitar and sings in Bengali, his native language. He is also an avid sports fan who follows cricket, soccer, tennis, and different events at the Olympics. He enjoys photography, spending time with family and visiting new places.

The post Aurup Hired as Assistant Professor of Marketing appeared first on 糖心vlog官网.