Rocky Mount, N.C.—Dr. Patricia Matisz Smith, Associate Professor of Business Administration at North Carolina Wesleyan College, recently received the college’s Frank Smith Wilkinson Lectureship Award. The honor enables her to participate in a two-week visit to China as part of a faculty development program in international business titled “China: An Emerged Economic Powerhouse in the Global Economy.” The program is sponsored by The Center for International Business Education and Research, a part of the Institute for International Business at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Dr. Smith’s involvement in the program will run from January 4 – 16, 2009.During that time she will learn firsthand about the rapid growth of two leading economic regions of China. After her trip, Dr. Smith will share with Wesleyan’s students, faculty, and others her experiences and knowledge of international businesses and the cultures in which they operate. Also she has a blog on the Internet at http://drpatriciamatiszsmithchinatrip2009.blogspot.com.

The Frank Smith Wilkinson Lectureship Award is funded by a grant from the Wilkinson family to support study and travel that enhance understanding of the global economy by broadening our perspective of other cultures and deepening our knowledge of how to deal more effectively across national and cultural boundaries.

Dr. Smith is in her 20th year of teaching at Wesleyan and has been named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers & Educators. She teaches courses in international business, globalization, and organizational behavior. She has served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia and is secretary of the North Carolina Peace Corps Association.