Value of ethics evident in one generous gift

Wilson Chair Activities

Business professionals often use the term "fast paced" when describing their careers. At this pace, consideration of the ethical dimensions in a business decision may be little more than an after thought.

"The Chair activities help people obtain a perspective on how ethics guide the decision-making process both in business and in everyday life," says Interim Provost James Lubker.

Activities sponsored by the David W. Wilson Chair in Business Ethics encourage UNI students and the community to consider the ethical dimensions of their decisions.

Wilson chair activities feature the chair's three primary functions: fostering discussion and debate about ethical practices in business, educating students and community members about the social and ethical issues facing global business, and developing state of the art research and theory in business ethics.

Learn more:
     David W. Wilson Bio
     David W. Wilson Chair in Business Ethics
     The Conversation after Enron


Wilson Chair Activities

Fostering Discussion

The Wilson Chair invites speakers who contribute to the conversation on ethics from first-hand experience or research. Recently, the CBA welcomed Patrick Kuhse to talk about the business and personal errors that caused him to become a fugitive and serve prison time. Kuhse and other speakers demonstrate the CBA's commitment to giving students a variety of ways to learn about their profession.

Educating Students and Community

Students can learn about ethics issues from Wilson Chair-sponsored events or in Dr. Wood's course, "Ethics in Business." Dr. Wood's course features cases and projects that force students to closely examine business ethics issues. UNI students learn how to recognize and analyze the ethical dimensions of the professional and personal decisions they must make.

But Professor Wood's teaching extends beyond the UNI campus. Her presentations reach audiences across Iowa and the nation. And from time to time, she travels abroad to share her scholarship with other academics and professionals.

Developing Research and Theory

Through gifts provided by generous donors such as David Wilson, the University is able to expand research efforts important to a civil society. Though Enron is a highly publicized example of ethical problems in business, the decisions of conscience that led to the discovery of criminal behavior are important for researchers to study. In fact, Wilson Chair activities are not limited to business, but also extend to the study of medical ethics and other important decisions we all make on a daily basis.