Background

David Hudgens is a clinical associate professor of international business in the Sonoco International Business Department at the Darla Moore School of Business. He has more than thirty years of experience as an international educator, researcher, clinician and counselor. His teaching and research projects are oriented to organizations and institutions of higher education worldwide, and address the fields of human development, economic development, cross-cultural communications, international education and international business.

Professor Hudgens currently teaches Introduction to International Business, Globalization and International Business, and Special Topics in International Business at the undergraduate level as well as Exploring Global Business, a short-form graduate course in China for the Professional MBA Program at the Moore School. He teaches the Maymester course, Transition Economies in Southeast Asia, which is in Vietnam in collaboration with the Foreign Trade University (FTU) in Hanoi. Dr. Hudgens also teaches in the South Carolina Honors College and serves as a director for Senior Honors Thesis Projects.

Dr. Hudgens is the faculty director for the Responsible International Leadership (RIL) undergraduate International Business Cohort Program, in partnership with ESSEC Business School in Cergy, France. He closely works with many programs and institutions, including the International Business and Chinese Enterprise (IBCE) Cohort Program in partnership with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Beijing Language and Culture University in China, and the Mandarin Training Center at the National Taiwan Normal University, Foreign Trade University in Vietnam, and Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico.

Since 1989, Dr. Hudgens has regularly worked in settings across the world, and previously resided in Beijing, Harbin, Nanjing and Inner Mongolia in China. Prior to joining the University of South Carolina, he served in government with the International Trade Division of the South Carolina Department of Commerce. In addition to his academic training in the behavioral and social sciences, as well as international affairs, Dr. Hudgens has advanced clinical training in psychoeducational studies (Educational Specialist, EdS). He is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the State of South Carolina and holds national certification (NCC) from the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Research

Dr. Hudgens’ current research includes a formative study on international careers, mental health and resilience and a project on language competence, international management and global contexts. Previous projects have addressed public policy and poverty involving cross-sectoral collaboration in the public, private and non-profit sectors, where he served as a lead researcher on a project focused on poverty alleviation programs and innovative roles in the private sector in the Americas and Southeast Asia. Other projects addressed economic development, globalization and changing patterns of education as well as research examining efficacy in cross-cultural communication. Dr. Hudgens also serves as a co-editor on a digital curriculum project for curating international business cases and materials for use in undergraduate, graduate and executive education.

Education

• Ed.S., Education Specialist, University of South Carolina, 2008
• Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology, University of Pittsburgh, 2001
• Certificate, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, 1995
• MA, Cultural Anthropology, Comparative Economy and Society, University of Connecticut, 1991
• BS, Sociology, College of Charleston, 1987