September 24, 2026

For more information, contact:
Laura Brelsford | hcnews@hawks.huntingdon.edu | (334) 833-4563

Huntingdon Professor Blends Professional Experience into the Classroom to Enhance Pre-Professional Learning

Montgomery, AL – Dr. Jane Goodson is the Chair of the Department of Business, Accounting, and Mathematics and Visiting Associate Professor of Business for Huntingdon College. Dr. Goodson advances her courses and her students by blending her professional experience, current connections, and professional consulting with her classroom instruction to give Hawks a pre-professional education that prepares them to step into internships, graduate schools, and careers.

Throughout her career, she has conducted training programs and consulted for companies and agencies and has continued this work since joining the Huntingdon faculty in 2020. She commented, “This has helped me stay current with the situations and challenges facing managers and companies and has allowed me to prepare my students for the workplace. For example, in preparation for the creation of a training program, we discuss current issues and challenges with senior management and different levels of managers across the organization. Staying close to current business needs helps me create scenarios and cases for my students to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills that are needed by businesses. Also, the development of training programs contributes to my understanding of the skills and knowledge businesses are seeking today, allowing me to help students develop these skills and knowledge in the classroom. For example, some of the topics include dealing with difficult/volatile employees, developing skills in emotional intelligence, managing generational differences, developing supervisory skills, situational leadership, creating a culture for change and flexibility, and other topics. I have also developed and delivered Leadership Academies for companies and multiple state agencies for current and future leaders, and my involvement facilitated our development of the Leadership minor and Leadership for a Changing World course at Huntingdon College. My goal is to help students add value to their skillset when they are seeking jobs and to be prepared when they have opportunities to move up in their careers.”

In June 2026, Dr. Goodson started consulting as special assistant to the State of Alabama Personnel Director. She knows that this will open even more pathways for bringing current information into her classrooms as she makes recommendations to the State Personnel as they conduct a state-wide strategic plan to review and revise the performance appraisal system, employee development program, leadership and employee training, employee engagement programs, and other initiatives.

###