Skip navigation

USM International Business Students Celebrate at Residence of Consul General of France in New Orleans

Tue, 01/16/2018 - 10:28am | By: Van Arnold

Pictured left to right: Bryce Monroe, Eric Belin, Esq.; Hon. Vincent Sciama Consul General of France, Mary Kate Lott, Christopher Yates, Gabrielle Williams, and Rachel Williamson

Students enrolled in the International Business capstone class at The University of Southern Mississippi began the 2018 spring semester on a special note as attendees in a French American Chamber of Commerce Reception at the residence of the Consul General of France in New Orleans on Jan. 10.

The annual party, celebrated just after Epiphany and the official start of the Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, is a networking event in which French officials, and French American Chamber members meet and mingle with business executives doing business in France and elsewhere in the European Union.

Dr. John Lambert, Associate Professor of International Business at USM, is the class instructor. Lambert is also the French American Chamber of Commerce-Gulf Coast Chapter Vice President for Trade and for Mississippi.

Asked about the event's significance, Lambert noted: “This event takes place each year just before the start of the spring semester. I reach out to the international business capstone students, and a nice group of motivated students participate every year. This is immersion learning right off the bat for these students. They immediately find themselves networking with French government officials and business leaders.

Added Lambert, “Every one of them conducted themselves professionally, were very polite, and made a huge impact to the event. I received several comments about the impressions that they made. To say that I am proud of this group would be an understatement.”

Loretta Krasnow, Executive Director of the French American Chamber of Commerce – Gulf Coast Chapter, commended the USM students for their attitude and demeanor.

"They handled themselves very professionally and with aplomb. It can be an intimidating situation to walk into a roomful of professionals and begin introducing yourself and talking business but they did so with confidence and assurance. At the end of the evening they made sure to shake hands and mentioned that the two-hour trip was 'well worth it.' ”

To learn more about the International Business program at USM, call 601.266.4659 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/business