{"id":321,"date":"2018-07-30T16:14:30","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T16:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/csfe\/?page_id=321"},"modified":"2024-08-29T17:28:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T22:28:34","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/csfe\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Hero Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/csfe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/61\/2018\/05\/consultant-09.jpg” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0|0px|false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Our Mission” text_orientation=”center” background_overlay_color=”rgba(89,44,136,0.3)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”40px” title_line_height=”1.2em” subhead_font=”|300|||||||” subhead_font_size=”20″ background_image=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/csfe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/61\/2018\/08\/fullsizeoutput_676.jpeg” title_font_size_tablet=”” title_font_size_phone=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#c1a875 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0) 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#c1a875″ background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” custom_padding=”0|0px|54px|0px|false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Services” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” custom_padding=”0|0px|0px|0px|false|false” animation_style=”fade” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”50px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_text_color=”#262626″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#592c88″ header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#592c88″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

About CSFE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Founded in 2015 as a part of Western Carolina University, The Center for Study of Free Enterprise (CSFE) supports the University\u2019s economic development missions through scholarly inquiry and community engagement in the areas of economic development, applied research, and free enterprise. The Centers’ Advisory Board consists of WCU faculty and community members from the private and public sectors, and a Director within the School of Economics, Management, and Project Management and is housed within the College of Business with a direct report to the Dean.<\/p>\n

At the CSFE, our mission is to provide economics research and thought leadership on issues pertaining to economic development in North Carolina, the region, and beyond, by conducting scholarly inquiry, policy analysis, educational activities, and community outreach on the role of free enterprise in a flourishing society. We seek to involve students and faculty from every college and discipline on campus and support their work that improves understanding of economic development in the region, state, and beyond. The Center will be an interdisciplinary forum for WCU faculty, students, and community members to exchange ideas, engage in mutual outreach, and collaborate on applied research.<\/p>\n

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What We Do<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,1_5,1_5,1_5,1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Research Support” url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/csfe\/calls-for-proposals\/” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”i||divi||400″ icon_color=”#592c88″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/csfe\/calls-for-proposals\/” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

through student-faculty research projects that result in peer-reviewed publications and which engage national and global issues, while establishing relevance for the state and region.<\/p>\n

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fellowships, and research opportunities to students from any major\/department.<\/p>\n

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Publication and distribution of supported research and sponsorship of public forums on a variety of topics.<\/p>\n

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A no-cost forum for the campus and community to explore all points of view on important issues of the day.<\/p>\n

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Access to free online educational resources and classroom materials.<\/p>\n

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Documents<\/strong><\/h3>\n

2023-24 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2022-23 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2021-22 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2020-21 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2019-20 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2018-19 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2017-18 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

2016-17 Annual Report<\/a><\/p>\n

CSFE’s By Laws<\/a><\/p>\n

CSFE Charter<\/a><\/p>\n

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Follow our student and faculty stories on social media\u00a0<\/h2>\n

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About CSFE Founded in 2015 as a part of Western Carolina University, The Center for Study of Free Enterprise (CSFE) supports the University\u2019s economic development missions through scholarly inquiry and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":483,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Mission Statement: <\/span><\/p>

The Center for the Study of Free Enterprise (CSFE) seeks to provide economics research and thought leadership focused on issues in economic development in our region, North Carolina and beyond.<\/span><\/p>

We do this by conducting scholarly based inquiry, policy analysis, educational activities, and community outreach. As a cross-disciplinary unit, we involve students and faculty from every college and discipline on campus and support their work that improves understanding of economic development in our world.<\/span><\/p>

The Center also acts as an interdisciplinary forum that supports Western Carolina University faculty, students, and community members to exchange ideas, engage in mutual outreach, and collaborate on applied research.<\/span><\/p>

______<\/span><\/p>

Our Director<\/span><\/p>

The Director of the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise, is Edward J. Lopez. Dr. Lopez is the Professor of Economics and BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism. <\/span><\/p>

Dr. Lopez joined the WCU Faculty in 2012 and teaches classes in public finance, ethics of capitalism, applied business economics, and principles of macroeconomics.Edward's research focuses on the economics of ideas, entrepreneurship, and politics. On campus Edward served as the convener of the Council of Distinguished Professors (2013-2015), chair of the search committee for Gimelstob-Landry Distinguished Professor in Economic Development (2015, 2016), and member of: Dean's Advisory Council (2017-2019), Vice Chancellor of Development & Alumni Affairs search (2016), Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance search (2014), University Collegial Review (2014-2015), Economics Faculty search (2015-2016), School of Economics, Mangement Project Management Collegial Review (2015-16, 16-17), Chancellor's Honorary Doctorate selection (2013), and College of Business Curriculum (2012-2014). More information is available at <\/span>faculty.wcu.edu\/ejlopez\/<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

Photo Here: <\/span>https:\/\/www.wcu.edu\/WebGraphicsNew\/lopez.jpg<\/span><\/a><\/p>

____<\/span><\/p>

The Advisory Board<\/span><\/p>

During the spring 2017, the Center's Advisory Board was established. The Board Consists of six current WCU faculty members who were appointed by the Provost, as well as five distinguished members of the community from the private and public sectors, and the Director as a non-voting ex officio member. As designed the board's purpose include the following responsibilities:<\/span><\/p>