Park selected for endowed professorship

Kwangsoo Park, associate professor and the head of the NDSU apparel, merchandising, interior design and hospitality management department, recently was awarded the Anne Stegner Endowed Professorship.

“It is an honor to hold the Anne Stegner Fellowship," said Park. “I am so grateful for her gift. It will help move my research on disability inclusion, and all of us, forward to improve our society.”

An endowed professorship is made possible through substantial donations designated to supplement faculty salary or to support faculty research. Endowed professorships support the university by retaining highly-talented faculty and easing financial strains of departments. Endowed professorships are awarded to faculty members who have attained a balanced academic record demonstrating excellence in teaching, research and service.

“Dr. Park is an excellent teacher, researcher and colleague,” said Jill Nelson, interim dean of the College of Human Sciences and Education. “His research on inclusivity and accessibility for people with disabilities is very timely and important and the world is a better place because of it. We are lucky to have him in the ADHM department and on the college leadership team.”

Funding for the Anne Stegner Endowed Professorship  supports Park’s research on disability inclusion in tourism and hospitality. It will allow him to have a graduate assistant to further develop the work. A post-doctoral research fellow also will be hired to conduct various experimental approaches to enhance the quality of inclusive human interaction in tourism and hospitality. Funds will enhance electronic accessibility of the courses he teaches. An instructor was hired to improve several NDSU hospitality and tourism courses so they are more accessible for students.

Anne Stegner attended NDSU in the mid 1900s, majoring in textiles and clothing. After graduation, she held numerous high-ranking positions with well-known retailers across the country. Throughout her successful career, Anne never forgot her time at NDSU. She returned to campus regularly and served as the NDSU Foundation board’s first woman president in the late 1990s.

 The Anne Stegner Professorship was funded through a $500,000 endowment and was intended to advance the needs and aspirations of people in a changing world, building on NDSU’s land-grant mission.Selections are made by the NDSU Faculty Awards and Recognition Committee.

Dr. Jim Deal, Interim Dean

Email:  Jim.Deal@ndsu.edu

Dr. Jill Nelson, Interim Dean

Email:  Jill.R.Nelson@ndsu.edu

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