Basic HTML Version
Campus Review
January 10, 2012
Page 8
Clayton State's ties with Hungary are
mature and span seven years, starting
when former Clayton State President Dr.
Thomas Harden and Clayton County busi-
ness representatives visited Hungary on a
business/trade mission in 2004. The
Government of Hungary appointed
Parkerson as its diplomatic representative
for the southeast U.S. in 2007, and
Parkerson subsequently (in 2008) began a
dialogue with the University of Pannonia
in Veszprem, Hungary, that has thus far
produced student and faculty exchanges.
In 2009, the Clayton State University
Foundation participated in a tour of
Hungary and the Czech Republic. In
2010, Clayton State hosted Hungary's first
exchange student, Sofia Terek, for a
semester; and in 2011, Clayton State's
Ashley Gombar studied tourism market-
ing at the University of Pannonia.
Moreover, Pannonia's Faculty of
Economics and Clayton State's College of
Business have exchanged several faculty
members on short-term exchanges.
Finally, this year Pannonia's Faculty of
Economics appointed Parkerson to serve
on its International Advisory Committee.
In March 2012, during spring break,
Parkerson will lead Clayton State MBA
and undergraduate business students with
Kennesaw State University's Coles
College of Business on a new study
abroad to Hungary and Austria. While in
Hungary, the students will meet execu-
tives and managers from numerous
Georgia-based multinationals (e.g., NCR,
Raleigh Films, Columbian Chemicals,
Coca-Cola), as well as Hungarian multi-
nationals (e.g., MOL energy), and various
government agencies, including Foreign
Ministry and Investment and Trade &
Development, as well as educational insti-
tutions, notably Pannonia. They will learn
about the promises, potential and chal-
lenges of conducting international busi-
ness in the new Central and Eastern
European markets. Of particular note, the
Embassy of Hungary recently included
the University of Pannonia, which also
will serve as an academic host during the
study abroad, among the top 11 universi-
ties in Hungary.
Faculty, Staff and Students
Play Santa for Salvation Army Angel Tree
Just over a week before Christmas;
faculty, staff and students from
Clayton State University’s College of
Information
Technology
and
Mathematical Sciences (CIMS) and
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
raised funds to sponsor 15 children
and provide gifts for 50+ more chil-
dren who were going to go unspon-
sored in this year’s Salvation Army
Angel Tree program.
“Everyone dug deep in their pockets
to buy additional toys and clothing so
that these children would receive
something for Christmas,” says Mary
Hudachek-Buswell, lecturer of
Computer Science and Mathematics
in CIMS. “After 12 years of partici-
pating with the Angel Tree program, I
am amazed at the generosity of my
colleagues and students. The Angel
Packing Party had more than 20 stu-
dents come in during their semester
break to sort through boxes and boxes
of toys, shoes, and clothing.”
Students from AmeriCorps, the
Science Club and Wi2STEM spent
two hours packing gifts. More than two
dozen Clayton State Santas laden with
toys formed an impressive line as they
made their way to the loading dock to
pack the cars. Hudachek-Buswell also
notes that, without the support of two
Clayton State colleges’ administrative
staff; namely Nancy Franco, Sandra
Ezeike, Jill Sears, Jennifer Eason and Joy
Bryant, the Angel challenge couldn't take
place.
“So, even during this recession, Clayton
State gave to those in more need than we
are,” adds Hudachek-Buswell. “The
Salvation Army officers in Jonesboro
gave shouts of joy, cheering that
Clayton State arrived to save the
Angels. They stopped to give a
standing ovation as the Clayton State
donation was being unloaded.”
Next year, Hudachek-Buswell plans
to have the Salvation Army truck
come to the Clayton State campus to
pick up the gifts, and to bring their
Santa and band as well.
Parkerson, cont’d. from p. 4