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DALLAS, Texas (SMU) - Robert Gardner, director of the Cox School's Executive and Management Development department, was recently elected Vice Chair of UNICON, the International University Consortium for Executive Education. UNICON, comprised of more than 70 business school worldwide, is an organization committed to management and executive education and development.

As Vice Chair, Gardner will serve on the executive committee of the organization and will then assume the role of Chair for 2002 - 2003.

"I'm privileged to take on a greater leadership role in this organization of worldwide players in university executive education," said Gardner. "The position brings visibility to the Cox School's executive education programs and is an opportunity to contribute back to the industry."

The International University Consortium for Executive Education is an organization of leading business schools with a mission to help members continue to remain current with developments in executive education while enhancing member services to corporate clients. Two-thirds of the business schools participating in UNICON are in the United States. Others are located in Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The Executive & Management Development division at SMU's Cox School of Business provides working professionals access to both tactical and strategic business seminars. In 2000/2001, open enrollment executive education offerings included 46 different programs attracting some 2,871 participants from 33 countries. Cox has been offering executive education programs in Dallas and around the world for more than 20 years through its Division of Executive & Management Development.