About CFW
The Center for the Future of Work inspires continuous learning by cultivating career enrichment and professional advancement opportunities. CFW programs align Spears School of Business and the university land-grant mission in preparing people to make a positive impact in the world.
Professional success
Who we are
Our Vision
- Innovate: Become nationally recognized at the forefront of professional development within the realm of higher education.
- Educate: Offer cutting edge programs to the nation’s workforce through enhanced avenues of continued learning.
- Facilitate: Prepare professionals to meet the demands of the ever-changing workforce through open enrollment and customized programs and conferences.
Our Faculty
Spears Business faculty is composed of noted scholars, authors, sought-after consultants and practitioners. Many of our faculty have received outstanding teaching awards and have been recognized for innovative instruction. They are nationally and internationally recognized for their publications and leadership positions in professional academic associations.
Our History
The OSU business college’s outreach branch was formerly named Commerce Extension when it began in 1953. Since 2004 it has been known as the Center for Executive and Professional Development, most recently shifting to the Center for the Future of Work. The Tulsa Business Forums (est. 1986) and Executive Management Briefings (est. 1989) showcased political and business leaders from around the world, including presidents from the United States (George H.W. Bush), the Soviet Union (Mikhail Gorbachev), Mexico (Vicente Fox) and Poland (Lech Walesa), and most recently in 2021, Martha Stewart.- Our Awards
The outreach team at Spears Business has been recognized with numerous honors over the years.
- Most recently, the OSU Introductory Tribal Finance and Accounting Certificate program was recognized as the nation’s best by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA)
- the OSU Accounting Conferences for the national noncredit program award through the Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE).
- A Spears School of Business faculty member was also recognized by UPCEA for his work in outreach with the national Excellence in Teaching Award.
- Other programs that have received awards include the:
- Tulsa Business Forums
- Leadership Development Consortium and the
- Executive Education Partnership Program
