Turner Business

Cougar Clips recently announced that two Turner College faculty have moved on to other endeavors. These are Deborah Kidder , professor of management and former Dean of the Turner College, and Tom Tebeau , instructor of business law. Most readers of Turner Business are familiar with Kidder's move to Kutztown University, where she will take the reins as the new business school dean. Tebeau's future plans are unknown. The 2025-2026 employee parking permit expires July 31, 2026. As a reminder, parking permits are required, and parking citations will begin at the start of the semester. If parking fees are paid through payroll deduction – you do not have to renew annually. Your permit will automatically renew. Renewals are only required for new employees, part-time employees and anyone who does not pay via payroll deduction (you must renew online each year beginning August 1).

Christi Pennington Rubio ’99 did not initially envision her journey to becoming Colony Bank’s chief brand and business development officer when she began her studies at Columbus State University in 1994.  For the Columbus native and Glenwood School graduate, Columbus State was her first choice. She recounted changing majors three times, eventually landing on a business administration degree with a focus on marketing. She realized “this is just me” and credits Robin Snipes and Sandi Hortman for providing her with the academic marketing foundation she relies on professionally.  “Looking back, it was my first real exercise in professional experimentation,” she said of changing her major. “Your career will seldom follow a straight line. True success lies not in anchoring yourself to a rigid plan, but in the agility with which you embrace changing landscapes.”  Since graduating with her Turner College of Business & Technology degree, Rubio has built a marketing career b...

According to today's report for the Ledger-Enquirer by Jordyn Paul-Slater, Startup Columbus is turning its annual pitch competition into an economic development tool. Starting this year, the LaunchCon pitch competition will offer a relocation incentive for entrepreneurs outside the Columbus area, pairing cash with mentorship, investor connections and local business resources in hopes of convincing founders to build their companies and create jobs in Columbus. Applications for the competition opened this month and will close August 7. As in prior years, finalists will compete in a “Shark Tank”-style competition on November 13 at the Cunningham Center for a share of $40,000 in prize money. This year, however, if an entrepreneur from outside the Columbus region reaches the finals, Startup Columbus will offer a relocation package that includes $5,000 to relocate, introductions to investors, guaranteed one-on-one mentoring sessions, access to local service providers, and support durin...

Turner College economist Frank Mixon has been invited to guest edit a special issue of Economies titled "Labor Market Institutions." Labor market institutions are the formal and informal rules, organizations and policies that regulate employment, wage-setting and working conditions. Prominent examples in this topic include labor unions, minimum wage legislation, unemployment insurance and employment protection laws that dictate hiring and firing processes.  Economies is an international, peer-reviewed, journal that publishes mainly in the fields of development economics and macroeconomics. It also supports research in health economics, labor economics and regional economics. Stay connected to Turner Business for future posts on this assignment.

The Turner College is n ow hiring Peer Academic Leaders. Students seeking a  rewarding graduate assistantship may apply to join the Turner College in this capacity and help students succeed while earning a $6,000 stipend per semester, tuition assistance (fees not included), and a flexible schedule. Interested students may a pply today through the CSU Employment Portal.

CSU has partnered with Follett Higher Education to launch Cougar Outfitters, the university’s newly transformed on-campus retail and course materials destination. Operated by Follett, North America’s largest campus retailer, Cougar Outfitters represents a significant upgrade to both the in-person and online campus bookstore experience.  Most notably, the name “Cougar Outfitters”—chosen with input from student leaders—signals a shift from the traditional bookstore concept to a one-stop shop for every Cougar. Although its Main Campus location in the Davidson Student Center remains the same, the reimagined bookstore will elevate student success by offering affordable course materials and updated technology services, while also promoting campus spirit through a broader range of products and events.  “We are excited to launch this new chapter at Columbus State University,” said Kim Scranage, the university’s chief student officer. "Cougar Outfitters, through our partnership with Fo...