WKU News

The Gordon Ford College of Business Center for Professional Selling has been recognized by the Sales Education Foundation (SEF) as a Top University for Professional Sales Education in its Annual Report, published annually.

The SEF recognized the Center for successfully preparing students for careers in professional selling and helping to elevate the sales profession.

As many as 60 percent of all business majors and 88 percent of all marketing majors start their careers in a sales-related role, according to the Sales Institute at Florida State University. Further, studies show that students with a sales education have an average of 2.8 job offers before graduating, enjoy starting salaries averaging more than $60,000, and report a 77 percent career satisfaction rating.

Since 2007, the Center for Professional Selling has offered sales students the unique opportunity to enhance their sales skills and networking opportunities through corporate partnerships and an academic program certified by the University Sales Center Alliance.

“Our program is the only one of its type in Kentucky, and one of the few in this area of the United States. We have more than 250 students majoring or minoring in sales. Nearly 500 students a year take some type of sales course,” said Dr. Lukas Forbes, Director of the Center for Professional Selling. “A key element of our program is corporate involvement, with more than two dozen guests participating in our classes.”

“We are proud of the external validation that recognizes this important component of the Gordon Ford College of Business curriculum,” said Dr. Jeff Katz, Dean of the GFCB. “As an applied College of business accredited in business and accounting by AACSB International, our faculty are among the very best in the world. We take pride in providing unique programs that prepare our students for success in the business world.”

For more information on establishing a corporate partnership with the Gordon Ford College of Business’ Center for Professional Selling, contact Dr. Lukas Forbes at lukas.forbes@wku.edu.