WHITEWATER The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater¹s College of Business and
Economics is a perennial top-ranked program because of its faculty members
who make significant contributions to their profession, as well as assisting
in the professional development of their students. For the second
consecutive year, the Russell J. Hosler Award in Business Education will be
given to one of the university¹s business faculty members, Professor Marcia
James.
The Russell J. Hosler Award stimulates, encourages and rewards faculty
members who contribute to the development and advancement of business
education. The award was made possible by Hosler¹s wife‹Professor Emeritus
Mary Margaret Hosler–who received both her undergraduate and graduate
degrees at UW-Whitewater. For more than 20 years, James has been an avid
proponent of improving business education, all while remaining true to
instructing business education students in the classroom. ³ I was very
pleased that so many of my students were there at the luncheon when I
received the award,² she said.
Since joining the business education faculty in 1986 to teach office
management courses, James played a key role in transforming the program to
the computer end user technologies major. She employed her expertise in
international studies to better serve her students in the classroom with
respect to diversity. Since visiting businesses and universities in China,
the United Arab Emirates, and India, for example, she taught her students
first-hand experiences of common business practices in theses countries. ³ I
think it is important for students to have some diverse experiences in the
classroom,² James said.
James continues to publish academic articles in her profession. She has
co-authored with seven graduate students, five colleagues in her college,
and with Anne Hamilton, lecturer in political science. She is currently
conducting a gender communication research project with the Pi Omega Pi
Chapter, an honorary business education organization at UW-Whitewater. James
hopes to present the results of their research at conference in Ireland this
summer.
Last year Lila Waldman, associate professor of information
technology/business education was the recipient of the Hosler award. Like
Waldman, James received a plaque and a gift of $500 for winning, and she was
formally recognized at the Wisconsin Business Education Convention,
Sept.27-29 in Eau Claire.
