Columbia Sportswear's Brent Beeson is Inaugural Presenter for 'Professor for a Day'

The College of Business at Pacific University has created a new guest lecture series, Professor for a Day. The inaugural event took place on April 17, 2018.

The inaugural presenter was Brent Beeson of Columbia Sportswear Company. Brent is the Vice President of Global Apparel Manufacturing. Beeson has spent the past 20 years of his career in the apparel industry with Nike and Columbia and offered students advice on launching their career, how to use intellectual curiosity to progress, and other key factors to professional success.

Beeson spent the first part of the day presenting to all Pacific University students on the history of Columbia and his advice on keys to success. Beeson then engaged students with a “classroom takeover” where he used real-world examples for a guest lecture in a marketing class. The day ended with a dessert reception for Beeson with College of Business students. These students engaged with Beeson to ask any questions they had. In the end, most students in attendance received Beeson’s business card to use as a connection for any potential Columbia Sportswear Company position openings.

After the success of the inaugural Professor for a Day, the College of Business looks forward to continuing the series. The series is another opportunity to bring executives to campus to network and engage with students. The next Professor for a Day is tentatively scheduled for September 2018.