The first Chickasaw Nation endowed professorship in business administration at East Central University has been awarded to Dr. Karla Peterson, an associate professor in the School of Business.
Dr. Karla Peterson (center) is the first recipient of the Chickasaw Nation Endowed Professorship in business administration at East Central University. The professorship was established in 2008 with a gift from the Chickasaw Nation to the ECU Foundation Inc. Peterson is shown with Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation (left) and John Hargrave, president of ECU.
The endowment was established in 2008 with a gift from the Chickasaw Nation to the ECU Foundation Inc. Professorship endowments provide salary, travel, or research support for academic programs in addition to the university’s annual support.
Peterson is a former chair of the Business Administration Department.
She has taught at ECU since 2001. She previously taught at a variety of campuses in North Dakota and Wisconsin. Her professional experience includes employment as director of institutional research and development and 10 years as chief executive officer at a federal credit union in North Dakota.
She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Moorhead State University in Minnesota. She graduated summa cum laude three times, earning a master’s degree in business administration with a human resource management specialization from Central Michigan University, a doctorate in organization management with a specialization in leadership from Capella University, Minneapolis, and a recent master’s degree in accounting from ECU.
Peterson is a past recipient of the Boswell Professorship and is a strong supporter of ECU and the Ada community through her work with area businesses in the area of entrepreneurship, leadership consulting and curriculum development
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