Toastmasters At The Fogelman College of Business & Economics

The Fogelman College has become the first postsecondary institution in the greater Memphis area to bring to its students and staff the powerful communications skills learning of Toastmasters International. Since last fall, an unprecedented five Toastmasters clubs have been formed within the College at both graduate and undergraduate levels by instructor Dr. Kimberlee Keef and CDMBA student Wade Stack, in concert with over one hundred business students. Further, some instructors at the FCBE have been integrating into their courses the timetested programs in oral communication and leadership developed by the worldrenowned Toastmasters International organization as a means for their students to become more polished public speakers and leaders.

“What’s significant about these efforts” says Toastmasters area governor and club co-sponsor Bradley Harris, “is that they’re directly linked with the Fogelman College of Business, and directly concerned with teaching communication skills to students eager to learn practical business skills to augment the theoretical and methodological training they gain at university. The effort is also innovative in that students run the show, and they learn while doing. No other postsecondary institution in the area offers a program like this.”

With the support of Fogelman College leaders, Dean Rajiv Grover and Department of Management Chair Bob Taylor, among others, the students and faculty were able to quickly and effectively launch the clubs. So successful has the program become that the University of Memphis has already become the site with the most Toastmaster International Clubs in North America.

“It’s hard work, but it’s tremendous fun,” says Angel Bryant, past president of one of the five clubs. “I’ve already learned a lot, and received the feedback that my speaking skills have improved in just a few meetings.” I would be very pleased to discuss Toastmasters with you further, or hear ideas as to how we may further develop the program.