Center for Economics and Entrepreneurship Education at Misericordia U Names Director

Robert L. Williams has been named the new Director of a program that oversees graduate-credit courses, workshops, experiential learning and more.

A historic archway greets students, faculty and visitors at the main gate of Misericordia University in Dallas, PA.

The Center for Economics and Entrepreneurship Education (CEEE) at Misericordia University has named Robert L. Williams, M.S., as director of the program that oversees graduate-credit courses, workshops, experiential learning and other related programs. CEEE also provides service to K-12 teachers and students in developing curriculum and providing in-service training to assist teachers in integrating economics and entrepreneurship instruction and programs into K-12 curriculum.

Robert L. Williams

Williams has been the assistant director of the center since 2009. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Williams College and a master’s in nonprofit administration from Audrey Cohen College. He received his accounting certificate from New York University. Williams has more than 15 years of nonprofit organizational management experience and was a successful small businessman, operating two high-end bath and body retail stores.

Misericordia established the Center for Economics and Entrepreneurship Education in 2006 to implement and direct programs created through the assistance of Wall Street West and the Kaufman Entrepreneurship Foundation. The center initially offered in-service training to regional high school teachers through a series of one-credit graduate courses to help them teach their students about economic principles, entrepreneurship and business plans.

Since then, the center has established the Misericordia University Executives-In-Residence Program, which taps into the expertise and experience of regional business leaders as guest lecturers in the business department. The center also has created regional partnerships with businesses so Misericordia University can offer expanded experiential learning opportunities to students majoring in business. In turn, Misericordia students earn valuable real-world experience and, in some cases, also earn a stipend through the company- and university-sponsored paid internship program. In the summer, the CEEE offers the Future Business Executives Career Exploration Camp to introduce high school students to entrepreneurship and careers in business. It also coordinates several outreach workshops during the academic year for high school and collegiate students.

The CEEE also established the Students in Free Enterprise Chapter (SIFE) and Business Professional Association (BPA) student organizations. Students active in Misericordia’s SIFE Chapter partner with regional businesses and civic organizations to share their talent and vision for a better and more prosperous world for everyone. SIFE students apply business concepts to develop community outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. The projects address a variety of topics, such as market economics, financial literacy, personal success skills and business ethics.

The BPA was formed to help students be better prepared for a career as a business professional. It provides experiences, information and programs to promote business as a profession and serves as a bridge from the student’s university experience to the business world.

The CEEE is also affiliated with the international Council on Economic Education and its affiliated state organization, EconomicsPennsylvania. MU’s center is one of 200 in the Council on Economic Education Network. The comprehensive program impacts and improves the quality of economic education in schools through the council’s nationwide network and Internet campus. Its standards-setting materials and resources are used by thousands of teachers to teach millions of students how the real world works before they go work in it.