Special Points of Interest:

39TH Annual J. Walter Porter Forum Barry Smiley Endowed Professorship College of Business Student Organizations Faculty Spotlight and 2004 Summer/Fall Graduates

College of Business

Greetings From the Dean:

Greetings,

It is a privilege to serve as Dean of the College of Business as we continue to provide academic excellence in our business programs that embrace analytical thinking, technology, and quantitative tools to enable graduates to compete in a global economy.

With an outstanding faculty, academic excellence is evident through the reaffirmation of accreditation by the highest accrediting agency in the world for business programs, AACSB, International. Having achieved this high standard we are in an elite group of colleges and universities throughout the world. We are making great strides.

Congratulations are again in order for the Computer Information Systems faculty and students for winning second-place in the Spring 2006 AITP Collegiate Conference National Competition in Systems Analysis after five consecutive years as AITP national champions in systems analysis and design. In addition, our local chapter was named Outstanding Student Chapter for the forth consecutive year. Computer Information Systems students have earned nine first-place finishes in AITP Collegiate competition during the past six years. Because of the outstanding performance of our current students and our Business alumni in the workforce, national and international firms are seeking our graduates for employment. I am proud of the College of Business, our students and our alumni.

This year we will begin a campaign challenging all College of Business alumni to join us to create additional endowed professorships and scholarships. With the advent of the two hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, and the budget cuts that followed, the professorships have provided the cushion that has eased the blow and carried us through the hard times. In addition, endowed scholarships have helped deserving students pay for their college expenses. We are making great strides.

We are especially thankful for the recent donations by Karl and Linda Moore establishing the Karl and Linda Moore Professorship and endowed scholarship, Roy Martin and family for the Roy Martin Professorship and the family and friends of the late Barry Smiley for the Barry Smiley Professorship. I extend my sincere gratitude for these extraordinary efforts that help the College of Business reach new heights.

If you would like to establish a professorship or scholarship as a memorial or in honor of your former NSU professor, a loved one, or friend, please contact me at (318) 357-5161 or Dr. Chris Maggio at (318) 357-4414.

Thank you for your loyalty and support.

Best wishes,

Stephen Elliott, Ph.D.
Acting Dean

BACK TO TOP

COBAA NEWS

39^th Annual J. Walter Porter Forum

For the 39^th Annual J. Walter Porter Forum, we are focusing on “Technology.”  We plan to invite three to five speakers to come and enlighten our business students on the exciting and ever-changing world of Technology. The forum will be held on Friday, October 14, 2005 from 9 am – 12 noon, followed by a luncheon for the speakers, senior business students, COB Advisory Board, and guests.

BACK TO TOP

Barry Smiley Endowed Professorship

BARRY SMILEY ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP

The PT Cruiser can be yours for a donation of $10.  The drawing will be held May 9th and you do not need to be present in order to win.

The College of Business is holding a raffle to complete the establishment of the Barry Smiley Endowed Professorship.

Dr. Barry Smiley was a past Dean of the College of Business who helped the college come to its current national status. Dr. Smiley passed away April 15, 2001. Many people, former students, family members, and friends, have already contributed $30,000 toward the professorship, but an additional $30,000 is needed to complete its establishment. 

The money generated from professorships is used to enhance the quality of the faculty, thus providing students with a higher quality education. Once the Barry Smiley Endowed professorship is established, any additional money would be given to College of Business students in the form of scholarships.

Please consider giving back to the College of Business and Dr. Barry Smiley. We still need a few more dollars to complete the professorship.

If you would like to purchase a PT Cruiser raffle ticket, please contact the College of Business at (318) 357-5161 or 

e-mail Dr. Margaret Kilcoyne.

BACK TO TOP

College of Business Student Organizations

The three College of Business Student Organizations, Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), Business Professional of America (BPA), and Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), continue to bring recognition to Northwestern and the College by competing in state, regional and national conference and events. In April all three organizations will be competing at national conferences.

Association of Information Technology Professionals competed in Atlanta, Georgia. Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) competed in Dallas, Texas.  Business Professionals of America (BPA) will compete in Anaheim, California.

  AITP             

ASSOCIATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS

This spring, members attended the AITP National Collegiate Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Approximately 793 total people were in attendance, with 95 colleges and universities being represented.  The results of this competition were great! 

2005 Faculty Extra Mile Award:
Dr. Jack Russell

 Systems Analysis & Design:
1st: Tracy Leeper & LaCarlos Williams
  2nd: Chris Gregory & Erin Ponville
  3rd: Adam Williams & Callista Salazar-Cobb

  Database:
4th: Janice Austin & Beth Anderson
5th: Brandy Bourgoyne & Tracy Leeper

  COBOL:
1st: Jeremy Wilmot & Chad Vicknair

  Creativity Banner:
2nd: James Marsh

  ACP Certification:
Callista Salazar-Cobb
Chad Vicknair

     BPA

BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA

Eleven Northwestern students attended the BPA National Leadership Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio held April 28-May 2 2004.  All 11 students participated in contests at the conference.  Approximately 3,200 high school and 800 college students from throughout the United States participated in Business Professionals of America's 38th National Leadership Conference.  Activities included general sessions with keynote speakers, business meetings, leadership workshops, contests, software certification testing, election of national officers, and tours of Cincinnati area sights!

BPA advisors, Dr. Walter Creighton and Dr. Julie McDonald accompanied the students to the conference.  

Advanced Interview Skills:
3rd: Eric Dexter

Database Concepts:
6th: Brandy Bourgoyne
7th: Tracy Leeper

Desktop Publishing:
9th: Tracy Leeper

Human Resource Management:
6th: Matt Ranson
10th: Kourtny Phillips

Word Processing Concepts:
9th: Tracy Leeper

BACK TO TOP

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Margaret S. Kilcoyne

Dr. Margaret S. Kilcoyne was the recipient of the 2005 Delta Pi Epsilon Doctoral Research Award at the 2005 National Business Education Conference in Anaheim California. Dr. Kilcoyne’s dissertation, Identifying Skills Needed by Office Information Systems Graduates in the Changing Work Environment:  Perceptions of Administrative Support Occupations Workers was completed at Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge under the direction of Dr. Donna H. Redmann, Associate Professor. She presented her doctoral research at the conference and her work will be published in the Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, a national refereed journal.

     Delta Pi Epsilon is a national graduate honorary society for professionals who support and promote scholarship, leadership, and cooperation toward the advancement of education for and about business. Delta Pi Epsilon was established in 1936 at New York University and presently is made up of members affiliated with over 60 university and state-based chapters.

     Also, she has received two outstanding teaching awards from statewide organization. She was honored with the 2005 Outstanding Post-Secondary Business Educator from the Louisiana Association of Business Education and the 2005 Outstanding Career and Technical Educator of the Year Award from the Louisiana Association of Career and Technical Education.

     Dr. Kilcoyne is currently the director of business programs and she teaches business communication courses for the college. She began her career at NSU as director of cooperative education. She may be contacted at the College of Business, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA 71497, USA and by email at kilcoyne@nsula.edu.

2004 Summer/Fall Graduation

Northwestern State University’s College of Business graduated 25 summer students and 66 fall students at the Fall Commencement exercises. The graduation ceremonies took place at Prather Coliseum, Friday, December 17, 2005 at 3 pm.

BACK TO TOP