Appalachian State University Holland Fellows 2007
Walker College William R. Holland Fellows Fund
The William R. Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia and the agreement between Appalachian State University and Fudan University developed from a relationship initiated by former Walker College of Business dean, Kenneth E. Peacock, and college administrators who visited Fudan in the fall of 1995.
In 1999, the program was enhanced by the addition of a trip by Fudan students to the Appalachian campus each spring. The initial concept of teams of Chinese and American students working jointly on business topics and then presenting their results to Chinese and American business leaders is still the basis of the program. Visits to Chinese and American businesses enhance the concepts being studied. The topics researched have included human resources management, the furniture industry, supply chain management, the banking industry the automobile industry, and currently, the health care industry.
In Their Own Words
"If I had to describe the most enriching experience I’ve had while at Appalachian, the Holland Fellows Program would be it. The three weeks I spent in China provided me with the most exciting and enriching experience I have ever had."
- Preston Powell, 2000
"I learned an incredible amount about e-commerce, but that information cannot compare in volume or importance to what I learned about other people and myself."
- Nathanial Clawson, 2001
"The Holland Fellows Program was the best opportunity that I have had in my lifetime. It is a wonderful stepping stone for pursuing a career in international business."
- Sarah Surratt, 2002
"My Holland Fellows experience still ranks as a highlight of my academic career and has prepared me greatly for working with diverse populations at the university where I am now studying. The chance to work with the Fudan students was more useful than any group work experience I’ve had during my college career. Overall, I think the experience cannot be matched."
- Lisa Petty, 2004
