Athens State Business Professor Honored at U of A’s Honors Day Convocation

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

April 6, 2015

www.athens.edu

Athens State Business Professor Honored at U of A’s Honors Day Convocation

ATHENS, Ala. - Kim Roberts, Assistant Professor of Operations Management in Athens State’s College of Business was selected as the 2015 Outstanding Research Student in Instructional Technology at The University of Alabama.  The award was presented at the institution’s College of Education’s annual Honors Day Convocation on April 3rd.

Roberts states, “I would like to use my studies to help achieve my teaching vision mission statement of preparing students to be successful, problem-solving business professionals who value lifelong learning.” 

Roberts is a PhD candidate at the University of Alabama in Instructional Leadership with concentration in Instructional Technology program.  She completed 63 hours of doctoral coursework with a 4.0 GPA and is currently working on her dissertation on the efficacy of electronic textbooks.  

“Dr. Roberts is an exemplary faculty member and mirrors the ethos of the academic community at Athens State,” remarks Athens State President Bob Glenn.  “Her success at the University of Alabama is certainly evident in the popularity of her classes with our student body.”

Roberts was also selected as a recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, presented by the Office of Research on Teaching in the Disciplines in the College of Education at The University of Alabama.  The goal of this award was to recognize exemplary teachers for their outstanding efforts in making learning engaging, interactive, and memorable for students.  Its intent is also to acknowledge the impacts teachers have on students’ lives, their discipline, and the teaching profession.  

For this award, Roberts submitted a lesson plan involving application of operations management topics in a local business setting, where students collaborated with their classmates and the business owner to develop improvement opportunities in areas such as strategy, capacity management, and process analysis.  

“This is a practice many faculty members in Athens State’s College of Business use to engage students,” says Roberts.  “I’m very fortunate to be able to work with and learn from the top-notch faculty we have here at Athens State.”

-30-

Athens State Business Professor Receives Honor from National Organization

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release
May 5, 2014
www.athens.edu

Athens State Business Professor Receives Honor from National Organization

ATHENS, Ala. - Athens State University Associate Professor of Business Administration LaDoris Baugh was recently awarded the 2014 Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Courses for the development of her Financial Management class. Baugh joins a select group of educators and course designers from around the world whose courses have earned the Exemplary Course designation.

“I congratulate Dr. Baugh as this is good news indeed,” states Athens State President Bob Glenn. “It clearly shows the excellence of her work and effort. I am proud of what she has accomplished.”
The Blackboard Catalyst Awards program annually recognizes and honors innovation and excellence in the Blackboard global community of practice, where teachers and learners work every day to redefine what is possible when leveraging technology.

“This award recognizes quality in the coursework initiated from our College of Business,” states Athens State Provost Dr. Ronald R. Cromwell. “It speaks positively of Dr. Baugh’s commitment to students and this distinction will serve the institution well.”

Baugh will be recognized for her achievement at Blackboard’s annual conference that will take place in Las Vegas in July.

Blackboard is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard’s solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online.

-30-

Athens State Business Student Receives Scholarship from International Organization

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

February 10, 2014

www.athens.edu

Athens State Business Student Receives Scholarship from International Organization

               

                ATHENS, Ala. - Athens State University College of Business student Julie Dobbins is the recipient of the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA) Scholarship for the current academic year.   She was recognized at the NAITA Annual Meeting on February 7 at a luncheon held at the Westin Hotel in Huntsville.  

                Dobbins is seeking her Business Management major and International Business minor.  Julie hails from Gadsden Alabama and was awarded this honor based upon her exceptional academic record while at Athens State University.   She was notified of the award by the NAITA Executive Director Anne Burkett in January. 

                “It is always a good thing when our students are recognized for the exemplary work they are doing,” states Dr. Tom Pieplow, Athens State’s Department Chair of Management, Logistics & Supply Chain Management and a member of the NAITA Senior Advisory Board.  “Julie works very hard at her studies and will undoubtedly be successful in any area of International Business. She is a budding superstar and I look forward to her moving into a professional career and demonstrating her abilities.”

                The NAITA Scholarship is administered through the Athens State University Foundation and has strict guidelines that must be met for its award.   It pays out $1,000 per year (two semesters) for those who receive it and is payable towards tuition and books.

-30-

Attached picture:  Left Tom Pieplow, Right Julie Dobbins.

Athens State Business Students Visit Steelcase Athens

For Further Information

Guy McClure

256-233-8296

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

October 24, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State Business Students Visit Steelcase Athens

           

            ATHENS, Ala. - On October 8^th 2013, Steelcase Athens hosted a site visit for 50 faculty and students from Athens State University, College of Business.  The students were from classes that focus on Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Accounting, MIS, and Operations Management.  They toured the plant to see first-hand how lean principles and processes are practiced throughout the facility. 

                “It’s part of our daily work culture,” said Don Byford, the Lean Team Supervisor.  The plant tour focused on how materials are received, processed in manufacturing, and then moved through the Facility Distribution Center en route to the customer. 

                As a highlight to the evening, the students gained access to what the plant calls the “Nerve Center” – otherwise known as Communication Central.  Doug Batdorff, the Steelcase plant manager, explained that the “Nerve Center” serves as a hub for communication, accountability, metrics, and lean projects.  Each of the value streams, or production areas, provide real-time data feeds to the hub.  Four Lean Management System, LMS, meetings are held daily in the hub to discuss potential disruptions to customer orders, thus impacting productivity and profitability.  Mr. Batdorff told the students that Steelcase looks for management candidates with strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. The ability to recognize a problem, determine the root cause, and then present a solution with the least disruption to productivity is a skill that is required in a competitive, global manufacturing environment.  The tour ended with an insightful, impromptu Q&A with both groups huddled in his office.  Students listened intently as Mr. Batdorff explained his daily standard work and how he runs such a large operation. 

                 “Athens State University and Steelcase have had a wonderful working relationship for years,” said Ronnie Knox.  “Their commitment to serving the community in which they do business, and championing the educational development of local students, is a great asset to our area.”  

                The event was organized by Susan Calhoun, Steelcase Materials Planning and adjunct faculty member at Athens State University, along with Michelle McCoy, a recent graduate of Athens State University and Steelcase Material Planner.  Steelcase tour guides included Don Byford, the Lean Team Supervisor, Chuck Blystone, Supervisor Material Handling and Distribution, Doug Danley, Materials Transformation Team, Wes Allen, the Factory Distribution Center Lead, and Pearl Bridgeforth.   Representatives from Athens State University were Guy McClure, the Athens State Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Publications, Stacie Hughes, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Linda Hemingway, Associate Professor of Accounting, Sam Khoury, Assistant Professor of Logistics and MIS, Kim Roberts, Assistant Professor, Operations Management, and Steve Cox, Assistant Professor of Management. 

-30-