News Article

FSW ‘Critical Thinking in Careers’ Lecture Series Welcomes Claude Weir

Feb 6, 2015

Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) will host Bonita Springs resident Claude Weir from 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday, February 26 on the Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus in Fort Myers (Building U, Room 102). This is part of the ongoing Cornerstone “Critical Thinking in Careers” lecture series.

The event is open to the public. Weir’s lecture will be simulcast onto other FSW campuses and centers including: the Collier campus in M-201, the Charlotte campus in E-105, and the Hendry-Glades center in A-106.

A product of the New York City housing projects and a single family home, Weir climbed his way out from under poverty to graduate in the top of his class at Dartmouth College and earn a law degree from Harvard Law School. His presentation for students at FSW is entitled, “Life Lessons Learned From: A Motown Group; A Dutch Reformer; A British Prime Minister and a Boy from Brooklyn.”

First-year students at FSW enroll in the Cornerstone Experience, a course designed to help them transition into college life and teach the critical thinking skills needed for academics and careers. Cornerstone administrators have been inviting community leaders to speak to students about how critical thinking is used in their respective professions.

“Through participation in this series, we hope that students will be able to learn more about careers of interest, while also analyzing a relevant application of critical thinking,” said Eileen DeLuca, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs at FSW. “It’s also an opportunity for students to make connections with and learn from the successes of the leaders in our community.”

The FSW Foundation has partnered with the Cornerstone program to find compelling speakers that will inspire students.

“With our position in the community, the FSW Foundation is able to connect Cornerstone professors with dynamic, high-profile speakers to ultimately benefit the students at the college,” said Dr. Louis Traina, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at FSW. “The Foundation believes that investing in critical thinking is an important function of higher education.”

For more information about the Cornerstone Speaker Series, visit www.FSW.edu/fye/cornerstone.

About Claude Weir:

Claude Weir retired from JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2004 with 26 years of service, having been Executive Vice President and a Senior Managing Director in its Investment Bank, responsible for Worldwide Human Resources. Throughout his career Weir was a nationally recognized expert on sexual harassment and human resources issues, also serving earlier in his career as a prosecutor for Richmond County’s Office of the District Attorney in New York.

Splitting his time between Southwest Florida and East Hampton, New York, Weir now runs a family foundation with his wife dedicated to the causes of domestic violence, people with special needs, and the working poor. Besides volunteering at Hope Hospice and the Neighborhood Health Clinic, he also shares his life experiences with students at inner city schools.

About the FSW Foundation:

Since 1966, the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation has been enhancing the quality of higher education for FSW students and faculty. The FSW Foundation has awarded $1.2 million for student scholarships and $700,000 in academic support to the college annually since 2011. The Foundation’s focus is attracting and managing private contributions from individuals, organizations, businesses and other private foundations to support the college’s mission. To learn more about the non-profit, tax-exempt FSW Foundation or to make a gift, visit foundation.fsw.edu. 

About FSW:

Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall 2015. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: February 6, 2015