10/17/11 jgm

HAYS, Kan. -- As a part of the Red Balloon Project speaker series, the Provost's Office and Graduate School at Fort Hays State University announced the visit of author and entrepreneur Rob Salkowitz on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities launched its Red Balloon Project to challenge American higher education to "re-imagine undergraduate education." Colleges and universities, first designed in the 11th century and operating on the agrarian calendar of the 19th century, have to prepare students for life and work in the 21st century.

Salkowitz specializes in the social implications of new technology and the next-generation workforce. He has worked with Microsoft and other leaders in global business to help formulate market strategy and articulate business goals.

As an entrepreneur, Salkowitz has helped start seven businesses and ia a principal in the Seattle-based communications firm MediaPlant, LLC. Salkowitz is also the author of several books including "Generation Blend" and co-author of "Listening to the Future".

The Provost Office and the Graduate School are sponsoring three events for Salkowitz.

He will give a student presentation in the Black and Gold Room of the Memorial Union at 10:30. He will discuss his experience with young entrepreneurs from around the globe and will outline strategies to help students prepare for their future including new technology, bottom-up strategies for knowledge-based businesses, and global networking.

Salkowitz will give a short presentation on "How Young Entrepreneurs are Changing Global Business and What it Means for Educators" at A faculty presentation and luncheon starting at noon in Stouffer Lounge in the Memorial Union and will answer questions based on his recent book, "Young World Rising."

A faculty strategy session will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Trails Room in the Memorial Union. Faculty members will have the opportunity to discuss with Salkowitz several teaching and learning strategies to use in and out of the classroom. These strategies will be connected to the Red Balloon Project and represent performance-based learning projects employed across the curriculum.