DOTHAN—The Troy University Board of Trustees today officially approved the creation of a new center that will focus on international economic development initiatives to grow Alabama’s economy.

The trustees, meeting in Sony Hall on the Dothan Campus, unanimously approved the resolution establishing the Center for International Business and Economic Development as part of the Sorrell College of Business.

The center is designed to “cultivate economic development opportunities with an international flavor” for the State of Alabama, Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, said.

“TROY will also continue to work closely with the Alabama Development Office to develop international offices,” Dr. Hawkins said. “Troy University will play a major role in international economic development in Alabama.”

Dr. Judson Edwards, a TROY graduate who is the first director of the center, told trustees the “cornerstone” of the center will be an academic program that will allow students to earn a master of business administration degree with an international economic development concentration.

“We will have an applied ‘real-world’ focus as a major part of this program,” Dr. Edwards said. “Students will learn by working with local economic developers across Alabama.”

The center received the endorsement of Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office, who served as keynote speaker at a luncheon for trustees, senior leadership of Troy University and the members of the Troy University Foundation Board of Directors.

“This program will provide the training for the next generation of economic developers in Alabama,” Wade said.

In other business, trustees:

• Authorized the University to spend up to $13 million for the new building for the College of Education on the Troy Campus. This resolution amended previous board action that limited the cost of this project to $10 million.

• Approved a resolution creating a Heritage Scholarship for dependents of TROY alumni. This will be a $500 one-time scholarship for first-year students.

• Approved a resolution naming the new baseball building planned at Riddle-Pace Field the “Jerry and Betty Lott Family Baseball Building” in memory of Jerry Lott and in honor of Betty Lott.

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Dr. Judson Edwards, director of TROY's Center for International Business and Economic Development, briefed the University's Board of Trustees on the center's new MBA degree program offered through the Sorrell College of Business.

(from left to right) Dr. Judson Edwards, Troy University's director of the Center for International Business and Economic Development, Dr. Don Hines, interim dean of the Sorrell College of Business at TROY, Neal Wade, Alabama Development Office Director, and Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., TROY Chancellor, visit during a luncheon at TROY's Dothan Campus during a joint retreat of the University's Board of Trustees and the Troy University Foundation Board of Directors. Wade presented the luncheon's keynote address.