The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise at 泫圖弝けapp has publicly introduced its 2020-21 group of faculty affiliates. This is the inaugural year of the program.
Faculty affiliates will receive financial and logistical support from the center, which supports projects that advance economic development and promote understanding of free enterprise; hosts an annual speaker series; and sponsors open-to-the-public forums on community issues. Additional support for faculty affiliates may be provided for project materials and presentations, including conference travel and student-hiring as research assistants.
The 11 members of the initial cohort represent WCU departments of psychology, mechanical engineering, emergency medical care, social work, accounting and economics, along with a former WCU faculty member with close ties to the university.
The faculty affiliate program is a platform that showcases the important work being done on campus and serves as a conduit to connect the university to the needs of the regions communities, said Edward Lopez, who holds the BB&T Distinguished Professorship in Capitalism and is the centers executive director. In a very real and contemporary sense, that includes work and research that specifically addresses economic and community recovery from COVID-19.
The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise also will provide faculty affiliates with promotional support and marketing tools to share the results of programs and research on a local, regional, state and national basis.
The announced members of the first cohort and summary of projects:
The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise has a complete faculty affiliates listing and description of projects at . For more information email csfe@wcu.edu.