The Center for Business and Economics Endowments & Endowed Faculty Chairs

• The Coleman Foundation Distinguished Chair in Business (est. 1982)

The chair recognizes the foundation's interest in scholarly research as it relates to the preparation of future business leaders. This position is awarded to the faculty member who serves as Director of the Center for Business and Economics. The endowment funds the director's research interest.

• The Howard L. Willett Jr. Distinguished Chair for Research in Business and Economics (est. 1981)

This faculty chair was established by the Howard L. Willett Foundation as a memorial to both the father and son of the prosperous trucking firm. Faculty within the Center for Business and Economics are eligible to apply for the three-year appointment. Appointees are to do research in their discipline and report findings in a public forum.

• The David K. Hardin Memorial Endowment in Market Research (est. 1996)

The focus of this endowment is to provide lasting support for educational opportunities in the area of market research. The activities and programs supported by the endowment will bring a range of academic disciplines to bear on the problem of how human enterprises - both for-profit and not for profit - can be linked more closely to the needs and desires of the people they serve. The objective is to help students interested in the field of market research develop technical competence, breadth of perspective, high ethical standards, and a strong sense of social responsibility.

The endowment will enable Elmhurst College to create the David K. Hardin Institute for Market Research within the Center for Business and Economics to be a catalyst for developing courses and special program for a variety of audiences in the area of market research. The Institute will emphasize experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, and each year at least one Elmhurst student will be appointed "The David K. Hardin Fellow" and undertake an internship with Market Facts, Inc., the market research firm Mr. Hardin served as Chairman and CEO.