Dr. Caroline Glackin, Fayetteville State University Recognized for Extraordinary Achievement in Advancing Understanding of the Direct Selling Business Model

Washington, DC—June 2023Dr. Caroline Glackin, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment at Fayetteville State University became the most recent recipient of the prestigious the DSEF Educator of the Year Award.

The Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) honored Dr. Glackin on June 15 at the Direct Selling Association’s 2023 Engage conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Created in 2017, the DSEF Educator of the Year award is awarded to DSEF Fellows who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, leadership, personal involvement, teaching and research.

“The DSEF team is thrilled to recognize Dr. Glackin for her commitment to advancing understanding of the direct selling business model,” said Gary Huggins, DSEF Executive Director. “Caroline’s prolific authorship, publishing and investigative work on the channel includes award-winning case studies in widely used textbooks and research published in quality, reputable and peer-reviewed academic journals.”

Caroline has made resounding contributions to DSEF’s educational mission, shaping student learning on diverse topics that include minority and women’s entrepreneurship, salesforce effectuation, entrepreneurial leadership, and business innovation by partnering with direct selling company founders on case studies and by hosting executive guest speakers in the classroom. As a researcher, she employs cutting-edge analytical methods to provide academics and practitioners with actionable insights.

“Engagement with DSEF and DSA member executives has been an incredible experience,” says Caroline. “I’ve found leaders in this channel to be welcoming, inquisitive, and willing to reflect on their successes and challenges in an open and honest way. There is an attitude of getting to ‘yes’ and an interest in continuous improvement that is contagious.”

ABOUT DSEF
For nearly 50 years, DSEF has partnered with members of the academic community to support research and education programs. These programs expand the knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of direct selling. The Foundation works with more than 250 professors in a variety of disciplines—such as entrepreneurship, marketing, ethics, sales, consumer studies, business and economics—to develop direct selling-related academic research, case studies and teaching content. Direct selling in the United States in 2021 achieved a record high of $42.7 billion annually and through 7.3 million U.S. micro-entrepreneurs selling on a part-time or full-time basis. More than 44 million people actively purchased products and services through the direct selling channel in 2021