The Black School of Business was proud to begin the 2023-24 academic year with a remarkable achievement—the extension of our AACSB accreditation until 2028! This accreditation, continuously maintained since 2003, is a testament to the school's unwavering commitment to excellence in business education. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners.
Our five-year strategic plan, Vision 2028, which we launched this fall, emphasizes engagement, collaboration, and impact. I encourage you to review this Director's Briefing for the highlights and developments that capture the energy and progress of our school.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ozgun Demirag
Interim Director, Black School of Business
Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management
ozc1@psu.edu
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Dr. Bill Johnson, professor of management, has been chosen for the 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to conduct research in Thailand.
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Dr. Kenneth Louie, associate professor of economics, is a member of a research team that secured a $775,438 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to explore the “Future of Digital Facility Management.”
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Carol Putman, discipline lead for Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies, was honored with the Guy W. Wilson Award for Excellence in Academic Advising at Penn State Behrend.
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Business Showcase Highlights Student Projects |
Business Showcase 2023 featured 25 students from diverse programs in the Black School of Business, presenting 13 projects. This annual event provides a platform for showcasing Innovation Through Collaboration projects, Learning by Doing initiatives, faculty-supervised research, Open Lab endeavors, capstone projects, and internships. Projects included the design of an online insurance platform to strategic planning for an Ohio public school system and exploring the relationship between a country’s GDP per capita and happiness score. Additional projects delved into Duolingo's market valuation, effective ChatGPT use, and expansion of Behrend’s Lion Pantry on campus.
To see archived presentations from the Business Showcase, click here.
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Black School of Business Offers Student Funding to Pursue Professional Designations |
Eighteen students from various majors and the Master of Project Management program received funds to ease financial burdens tied to industry certifications. A record number of students applied to be considered for the funding, which totaled approximately $9,500 for the fall 2023 semester. This funding empowers students to pursue sought-after certifications like Certified Financial Planner, Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems, Certified Scrum Master, and Certified Associate in Project Management.
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Students Excel in Case Competitions |
Matthew King (PSCM and IBE) and Joshua McGee (IBE) took 2nd place at the November 2023 Race to the Case competition in Pittsburgh. The interdisciplinary Behrend team competed against teams from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, and other universities.
In another competition, Penn State’s Smeal College of Business Undergraduate Sustainability Case Competition, Natthanan Nithithanatchinnapat and Carolyn Magee (PSCM students) were part of team that earned 3rd place, addressing food insecurity on campus.
Another successful team of Matthew King, Michael Horn (PSCM and International Business), and Alec Kliem (IBE) participated in the Duquesne University SCM Case Competition.
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Standout Seniors Featured on Behrend Blog |
The Behrend Blog featured standout School of Business seniors who graduated in May 2023:
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Carly Evans (Marketing), a collaborator on an integrated marketing campaign
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Aruj Bhargava (Finance and Accounting), Bloomberg terminal manager, Erie Insurance Group Leadership Scholarship winner, and networking pro
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Seth Myers (PSCM and IBE), excelling academically and playing four years of basketball
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Angela Belack (Accounting and Finance), achieving success in soccer, finance, and the CFA Institute Research Challenge Team
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Shannon Miller (Finance and IBE), a standout in Beta Gamma Sigma, the CFA Institute Research Challenge Team, and a tutor, earning the Black School of Business Writing Award in 2023
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Matt Strupczewski (Political Science and Marketing), recipient of the Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award and president of the Student Government Association
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Students Attend Professional Networking Trips |
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) student club at the Black School of Business actively engaged in the FPA of Pittsburgh Financial Forum. Four students attended the Charles Schwab Impact 2023 national conference in Philadelphia, courtesy of a grant from Schwab Advisor Services and the Charles Schwab Foundation.
The club also organized a successful networking trip to Pittsburgh, visiting Allegheny Financial Group, Beratung Advisors, Fort Pitt Capital Group, and Hapanowicz & Associates. A spring networking trip to Pittsburgh is planned for PSCM and IBE students in January 2024.
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Student Trip to Pittsburgh (above)
Impact 2023 (below)
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Students Inducted Into Beta Gamma Sigma at Spring Ceremony |
Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society, acknowledges the highest-achieving undergraduate and graduate students at AACSB-accredited business schools. In 2023, the Black School of Business proudly inducted 39 students into its chapter, extending recognition to Dr. Kenneth Louie, associate professor of economics, as an honorary faculty member and Mr. Derek Martin, executive director of the Erie International Airport and Black School of Business Advisory Board member, as a distinguished honorary member. Heartfelt congratulations to all those recognized for their outstanding achievements this year! |
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Dr. Greg Filbeck, Dr. Kenneth Louie,
Mr. Derek Martin
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Eleven Students Receive CFA Institute University Affiliation Scholarship |
Congratulations to Behrend's CFA Institute University Affiliation Program Scholarship recipients for 2023-24! All recipients will be sitting for the CFA exams in 2024. |
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Students Network with Professionals During Accounting Day (above)
Professional Panel with Marketing Students (below)
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Business Major Days Help Students Explore Careers |
Major Days offer valuable opportunities for students and professionals to connect, exposing students to potential careers and industry updates. These events encompass networking, Q&A sessions, mini-career fairs, and interviews. Our Fall 2023 Major Days spotlighted the following:
- Accounting
- Business Economics
- Finance
- Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies (IBE)
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Marketing
- Project and Supply Chain Management (PSCM)
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All-School Alumni Reunion Held at Erie Brewing |
Alumni from the Black School of Business gathered at the Erie Brewing Company as part of Behrend's Parents, Families, and Alumni Weekend this past fall. Co-hosted by all of Behrend's academic schools, this event provided our alumni with a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and enjoy a good time! |
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Behrend Speaker Series Features Black School of Business Alumnus |
With a presentation titled “Cracking the Code: AI and Cybersecurity,” Jeremy O'Mard explored the risks posed by AI and the novel digital defenses it provides. A 2013 graduate of Penn State Behrend with a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), O'Mard now serves as an executive-in-residence in the Black School of Business, collaborating with faculty to share his experience in systems security with students in the MIS program. |
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Center for Family Business Holds Half-Day Seminar |
Matt Tozke, President and CEO of Larson Texts and Big Idea Learning
and Travis Sheetz, President and CEO of Sheetz, Inc
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In 2023, the Center for Family Business hosted two seminars during its signature events, "Your Business, Your Family, Your Legacy." The spring event featured speakers like Jamie T. Richardson, Vice President of Marketing for White Castle, while the fall session welcomed Travis Sheetz, President and COO of Sheetz. Both seminars included family business panel discussions, fostering engaging conversations. Additionally, the center collaborated with Penn State Beaver on a joint program addressing key issues in family businesses.
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The Winter/Spring 2023/2024 edition of the Black School of Business News was recently mailed. The flipbook can be found here. |
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Follow the Black School of Business on Social Media |
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