Johnson Chair in Entrepreneurship and <ns0:placename>Leadership</ns0:placename>
<ns0:placename>Williams</ns0:placename> <ns0:placename>School</ns0:placename> of Commerce, Economics, and Politics
<ns0:state>Washington</ns0:state> and <ns0:place><ns0:placename>Lee</ns0:placename> <ns0:placename>University</ns0:placename></ns0:place>
<ns0:state>Washington</ns0:state> and <ns0:placename>Lee</ns0:placename> <ns0:placename>University</ns0:placename>, a private university located in the mountains of <ns0:place>Southwest Virginia</ns0:place>, is the only university among highly selective national liberal arts institutions to have an AACSB-accredited business program. In 2007, <ns0:state>Washington</ns0:state> and <ns0:place><ns0:placename>Lee</ns0:placename> <ns0:placename>University</ns0:placename></ns0:place> announced the gift of $100 million to create and support the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity. The program includes several initiatives: 44 students in each undergraduate class will receive full tuition, room and board; 30 students will receive support for summer internships or projects; a lectures and symposia series focusing on leadership will be held annually; and two new endowed professorships. One of the professorships will be the Johnson Chair in Entrepreneurship and Leadership in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics.
The study of entrepreneurial activity, with its focus on creativity, innovation, and leadership, complements the vision of W&L's role as a leader in liberal education in the 21st century. The creation of the Johnson Chair represents an opportunity to leverage existing resources of the University to craft a unique educational experience for undergraduate students to become principled and successful entrepreneurial and community leaders. Accordingly, applications and nominations are invited for the Johnson Chair in Entrepreneurship and Leadership. We seek an experienced teacher and scholar to join the University in 2009.
The Johnson Chair should be a person with teaching and scholarly interests grounded in the business world, a passion for the critical role that entrepreneurs play in the <ns0:country-region><ns0:place>US</ns0:place></ns0:country-region> and the world economic markets, and the ability to work closely with faculty in other areas of the University (e.g., leadership development, law, history, politics). The Chair will be a member of the Business Administration Department, with teaching responsibilities encompassing undergraduate courses for business majors as well as non-majors. Successful candidates will have a doctorate as well as teaching and business experience, and should possess a research record commensurate with the position of an endowed chair.
In addition to these responsibilities, the individual holding the Johnson Chair will assist in planning the speaker series which will bring to campus prominent scholars and recognized national and international leaders to interact with students and faculty around a chosen theme each year. The Chair will also advise students who participate in the summer internship program in which rising seniors develop their own entrepreneurial and leadership potential.
The Johnson Chair is but one dimension of the <ns0:state><ns0:place>Washington</ns0:place></ns0:state> and Lee's increased emphasis on entrepreneurship and leadership education. In addition to the Johnson Chair, the Business Administration Department intends to fill a tenure track position with primary teaching responsibilities in Entrepreneurship. The University has also approved funding for the creation of a Center for Entrepreneurship, to be housed within the <ns0:place><ns0:placename>Williams</ns0:placename> <ns0:placename>School</ns0:placename></ns0:place>.
We will be conducting initial interviews for the Johnson Chair at the 2008 <ns0:placetype>Academy</ns0:placetype> of <ns0:placename>Management</ns0:placename> meeting in <ns0:city><ns0:place>Anaheim</ns0:place></ns0:city>. In subsequent on-campus interviews, we will ask each final candidate to propose their vision for an entrepreneurship program for W&L. A Prospectus fully describing the Chair, the School, and the University is available from Prof. Dennis Garvis, Head, Business Administration Department (garvisd@wlu.edu). Inquiries, applications, and nominations for the Chair, which will be treated in confidence, should likewise be directed to Professor Garvis. Application materials (cover letter and cv) may be submitted to Professor Garvis through regular mail (213 Huntley Hall, Washington and <ns0:placename>Lee</ns0:placename> <ns0:placename>University</ns0:placename>, <ns0:place><ns0:city>Lexington</ns0:city>, <ns0:state>VA</ns0:state> <ns0:postalcode>24450</ns0:postalcode></ns0:place>) or e-mail (garvisd@wlu.edu).
Initial screening of materials will begin during the Summer of 2008 in order to conduct timely interviews at the <ns0:place><ns0:placetype>Academy</ns0:placetype> of <ns0:placename>Management</ns0:placename></ns0:place> meeting, and will continue until the position is filled. W&L is an equal opportunity employer. (Please excuse cross-listings).