Turner Business

The presence of the Turner College's Butler Center for Research and Economic Development has not only benefitted local businesses and governments, it has also provided a unique opportunity for some of the Turner College's most talented students. That applies to Nhi Do , a Turner College accounting and finance major who works as an Economic Research Assistant in the Butler Center. In this position Nhi c onducts research and organize datasets in order to support ongoing economic and community development projects. This process involves assisting  with drafting, editing, and finalizing research reports for publication, s upporting project coordination through data collection, communication, and administrative tasks, and e ngaging with community members and local organizations through outreach and interviews to gather qualitative insights. As Do explained to Turner Business , " I recently had the opportunity to contribute to a report [titled  2026 Columbus Economy ] that marke...

The Turner College's Butler Center for Research and Economic Development was recently contacted by Cameron Sanders of WRBL-News3 concerning the growing trend of choosing pet ownership over parenthood in the U.S. and the economic factors contributing to delayed parenthood among younger generations. Sanders noted that according to a Harris poll survey in 2014, 43% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer having pets over children. The Director of the Butler Center, and the Sarah T. Butler Professor of Economics, Fady Mansour , indicated that much of this trend is due to the cost of child rearing in the U.S. After reviewing data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on how much Americans spend on pets, Mansour state, “We spend a lot, like $180 billion a year on pets, but still it’s cheaper than education and kids and all that.” Sanders adds that while some would say raising a child is a priceless experience, some Millennials are putting a halt to the process. “Honestly, for people who know ...

Each year, United Educators shares its report on the most pressing risks facing colleges and universities. The report reflects responses from 267 colleges and universities to a survey conducted between May and October. The organization has now released its 2026 Top Risks Report: Insights for Higher Education , which is based on results from surveys conducted between May and October of 2025. This is the second part of a series by Turner Business on the findings of this year's report. As indicated in the image at left, 52% of colleges and universities view Data Security/Cybersecurity as a major risk facing higher education, enough to rank it second among the top 10 risks. One of the mitigating efforts institutions can take is to increase compensation to hire and retain cybersecurity staff . While data security is important, and this mitigation effort should be considered, institutions must do so without causing themselves to be too "top heavy" and slipping into a "ta...

As reported by the Ledger-Enquirer 's  Jordyn Paul-Slater, the recent  Georgia Economic Outlook event hosted by CSU's Turner College was a huge success. According to Paul-Slater, the e conomic development academics and leaders shared their forecasts for Columbus and the state. Included in this group were Santanu Chatterjee, Interim Dean of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, who provided a statewide forecast, Michael Rothlisberger, Chief Academic Strategy Officer at CSU, Tesa Leonce-Regalado , Acting Dean of the Turner College, and Missy Kendrick, President and CEO of Choose Columbus, who provided the Columbus area forecast. Paul-Slater explained that t he economic forecast for Georgia this year is below trend but still shows signs of positive economic growth, matching the national trend. “Growth will be slow because of policies, a slowdown in population growth, a decline in the size of the labor force and slower growth of the U.S. economy,” Chatterjee said....

Turner College management major Chase Baker was recently accepted into CSU's Honors College.  In order to qualify for admissions, current CSU students like Chase must have c ompleted a minimum of 15 semester hours earned that are applicable to a degree program, earned a n overall cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or higher in academic courses that are applicable to a degree program, and submitted a r ecommendation form completed by a university faculty member.  "This opportunity means a lot to me, and I’m excited to challenge myself academically and continue growing during my time at CSU. Thankful for everyone who’s supported me along the way," Chase stated. Chase hopes to enter the sports administration field after graduation. He is  training to build a strong foundation in business management and developing skills in event operations, customer experience, and collaborative team leadership to help sports organizations grow and thrive.  Chase is currently a stud...

The CSU Graduate School is co-hosting a Graduate School Lunch & Learn event with StartUP Columbus aimed at discovering how education, mentorship, and access to regional resources can help turn ideas into viable businesses. Students and others interested in levelling up their entrepreneurial skills should meet in Room 132 in the Schwob Library on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 12:00 noon until 1:00 pm. Lunch will be provided to attendees, and there is an online option for those who cannot attend in person.  StartUP Columbus is a Columbus based organization that supports local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups through workshops, events, and partnerships.