TWO ARKANSANS ELECTED TO REGIONAL COLLEGE/EMPLOYER BOARD POSITIONS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Theres W. Stiefer, Director of the Walton College of Business Career Development Center, was recently elected regional director of NACE, the National Association of Colleges & Employers, representing the southwest region known as SWACE. The southwest region includes Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas.

NACE has nearly 4,000 member organizations, divided evenly between colleges and employers across the U.S. The resulting interface provides valuable services and opportunities to members through its publications, web resources, services, professional development workshops and annual national meeting. Stiefer has the unique distinction of being the first Arkansan to serve as NACE director for the southwest region and will serve a two-year term on the board.

According to Barbara Batson, Director of the University of Arkansas Career Development Center, "Theres’ involvement with SWACE and NACE will ensure that the University of Arkansas gains national recognition for our efforts in delivering career services to students," and by representing our region on the national board, "Theres will be on the cutting-edge of advances in technology, programs, and services for our profession."

Stiefer has had extensive involvement with these organizations as a NACE President's Roundtable member and Annual Conference Task Force Member, and as SWACE President Elect, President, Past President, Communications Chair, and SWACENews Editor. In 1999, she received the New Professional Award from SWACE.

Stiefer has been Director of the Walton College of Business Career Development Center since August, 2002, and prior to that was the Career Center Director for Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Another Arkansan was also recently elected as employer representative to the SWACE board, Eric V. Woodworth of Little Rock, Regional Recruiting Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Woodworth recruits on the University of Arkansas campus, attends U of A Career Fairs, and has been actively involved with student programs on our campus.

Woodworth commented, "Enterprise values the on-campus recruiting success that we have had at the U of A. Our ability to connect with the U of A students at least twice a year has been very beneficial to us and the university as a whole." He also stated, "the relationships that we develop with the career services office and with the individual students during on campus recruiting are priceless."

It is significant to have Arkansas play such a prominent role on these boards, according to Batson: "Two SWACE Board representatives from the state of Arkansas means that all colleges and universities in Arkansas will have representation and that's good for all students."