FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Théres W. Stiefer, director of the Center for Management and Executive Education in the Sam M. Walton College at the University of Arkansas, has been selected as an honorary life member of the Southwestern Association of Colleges and Employers.

“This is a very special distinction and worthy of Théres’ many contributions to the field of career planning and development,” said Don Bland, Walton College senior managing director of outreach. “She brings a unique combination of education, experience and leadership skills to her job as head of our executive education program.”

Stiefer joined the Walton College in 2002 as director of its Career Development Center and associate director of the UA Career Development Center. She was appointed director of the Center for Management and Executive Education in June 2006. She recently completed her requirement for a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Arkansas. She has served the Southwestern Association of Colleges and Employers for more than 12 years.

In August 2006, Stiefer was awarded the John M. Brooks Award by the Southwestern Association of College and Employers. This honor is one of the most prestigious awards that the association bestows on its members.

The John M. Brooks Awards was designed to recognize professionals who exemplify the leadership abilities that Brooks had. He served as leader of the Southwest Placement Association and mentored many future leaders of the Southwest Association of College and Employers, which has now been renamed the Southern Association of College and Employers.

Stiefer is a much sought after as a speaker in the area of career development. In 2006, she was asked to design a program for the National Association of College and Employers Management Leadership Institute, based on her workshop titled “Creating and Cultivating the Spirit of Celebration at Work (or Life, depending on the audience).” The program encourages people to get in touch with what they enjoy in life and celebrate that every day. In January 2007, Stiefer traveled to New York City to present this workshop in a one-day seminar to the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association. She has also been asked to deliver this program to other organizations and colleges.

Stiefer said, “It is a pretty intense workshop that is focused on each individual participant. It all begins with a person’s ability to find the laughter, discover their passion, hear with their heart, and celebrate each day. They soon discover their gifts, their talents, their joy, their happiness. Seems simple, but it is very important.”

Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, Stiefer was director, founder and developer of the Career Development Center at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in behavioral science from Cameron University.

The Center for Management and Executive Education was founded at the University of Arkansas in 1984. The center’s mission is to deliver executive education nationally and internationally by converting faculty intellectual contributions into education programs. These innovative executive programs are developed for today’s professionals to enhance their abilities to face a demanding, ever-changing workplace.