Submitted by Dalton State College

Dalton State College introduced two new endowed chairs to its faculty roster this fall, for a total of three on campus.

John Trussel is the DSC Foundation Chair and Professor of Accounting and Dr. Lourdes Diaz Soto is the new Goizueta Endowed Chair of Education. They join Marilyn Helms, who was named Sesquicentennial Endowed Chair and Professor of Management in 2000.

In college and university settings, an endowed chair position is primarily funded apart from the traditional operating budget through an ongoing endowment. Scholars or experts in a particular academic discipline are sought out to fill those positions, and their responsibilities typically include teaching, conducting research and providing service to the community.

“We are very pleased to have these two new positions filled by such capable scholars, and we look forward to their contributions to Dalton State and to the region at large over the coming years,” said John Hutcheson, vice president for academic affairs.

Trussel has spent much of his professional life teaching at Maryland’s Hood College and at Penn State University. He created a software product, “Financial Analysis of Charities,” for use in researching the financials of nonprofit agencies.

“Business schools usually don’t cover nonprofit agencies, such as charities, in depth; those types of organizations are more likely to be studied in public administration programs,” notes Trussel, who earned both his master’s degree and his Ph.D. from George Washington University. “So if you’re an academic researcher, doing research on the financials of nonprofits can be really interesting because not as much has been done on it. Your research can end up having a greater impact.”

Soto, who was born in New York but spent much of her childhood in Puerto Rico, earned a bachelor’s from the State University of New York at New Paltz, a master’s from Hunter College and a doctoral degree from Penn State University, all in education.

During her 38-year career, she has served as a teacher, principal, school board member and college professor. She has authored books and parts of books, has written scholarly journal articles, and has made nearly 100 presentations to international, national and regional organizations. An acclaimed researcher, she has prepared reports for federal agencies and foundations on bilingual education, early childhood and Latino education.

Most recently, Soto worked for the University of Texas in Austin in the department of Curriculum and Instruction, where she conducted research with graduate students relating to children’s perceptions of immigration.

“They wanted someone who was bilingual and who understood Latino needs in education,” Soto says. “I felt like what they were looking for was what I could bring to the table.”

Soto teaches a course in socio-cultural studies to junior-level students on campus, and she works within the community and the schools to find out what the needs are among the Latino students.

“I’m not in a role of telling people what to do,” says Soto. “My role is more like that of a consultant — finding out what is needed, and ultimately, how Dalton State can help.

“My approach is a very hopeful approach to education. We have to have big dreams. If we don’t dream about making a difference in the lives of our children, we will never reach that goal.”