HARTSVILLE, S.C. (courtesy coker.edu) — Coker University President Natalie J. Harder was a featured speaker at the March 17 State of Education Breakfast, an annual event hosted by the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Harder joined South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, Florence-Darlington Technical College President Jermaine Ford, Darlington County School District Superintendent Tim Newman, and Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics President Danny Dorsel in updating the region’s business community on where higher education and K-12 currently stands.
Harder focused her remarks on Coker’s recent push to develop programs aligned with the needs of the business community, highlighting efforts to add four new nursing and health sciences programs at Coker this fall. She also emphasized Coker’s commitment to ensure that all Coker students graduate with career knowledge – such as internships or experiential learning.
Earlier this year, Coker University opened its Career Center to ensure that all students, from freshmen through graduation, have access to information and opportunities that align with their career goals.
ABOUT COKER UNIVERSITY
Coker University is a student-focused, comprehensive institution of higher education with a strong liberal arts core, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. Coker combines round table, discussion-based learning with hands-on experiences to encourage active participation in and out of the classroom. A supportive, close-knit community prepares Coker students with the confidence and practical life skills they need to reach their personal best, in college and beyond.
Founded in 1908, Coker is a bachelor’s and master’s degree-granting institution and competes in 21 NCAA Division II sports. Coker is included among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review, and by Washington Monthly as a “Best Bang for Your Buck” college in the southeast.