Marcia James receives Russell J. Hosler Award in Business Education

October 25, 2007

Marcia James with Mary Margaret Hosler

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's 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 university's 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 Hosler's 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. "I was very pleased that so many of my students were there at the luncheon when I received the award," 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. "I think it is important for students to have some diverse experiences in the classroom," 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.