SUMMARY OF LECTURE

Dr Larson’s talk describes how the knowledge and experience he gained as a humanities student and teacher provided skills that provided a foundation for a successful business career. The role of humanities and liberal arts in courses of study focused on professional and technical skills is a key issue in higher-level education today. For example, a recent issue of “The Chronicle of Higher Education” claims, “The academic study of literature is no longer on the verge of field collapse. It’s in the midst of it.” For over 30 years, Dr Larson held a key Business Development position in a major aerospace and defense company, supporting the acquisition of billions of dollars of government contracts for satellite and missile systems. His qualifications for this role? A doctorate in English focused on 19^th Century British Literature and 15 years teaching writing and literature courses. Come listen to his reflections on this career path and on some essential elements of business success.