As we begin a new academic year, I’d like to highlight the many ways the Black School of Business advanced its mission and expanded its impact in 2024–2025. Our faculty and staff demonstrated exceptional commitment and creativity by advancing academic excellence, launching new initiatives, hosting regional conferences, leading professional development workshops, and supporting student research and projects.

Our students distinguished themselves through research presentations at national and international conferences, case competitions, academic travel, and project-based learning. Through these experiences, they learned by doing and translated classroom knowledge into real-world applications. From presenting research on data privacy and sustainability to earning top rankings in business competitions across disciplines, they continue to stand out for their initiative, curiosity, and practical skills.

We hosted events and conferences that addressed timely topics, including artificial intelligence in business and regional economic revitalization, reinforcing our role as a hub for thought leadership and applied learning. We also introduced new academic offerings and career readiness programming aligned with the evolving demands of today’s business environment, helping ensure our students are prepared to lead in a changing world.

Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, alumni, advisory board members, executives in residence, industry and community partners, and supporters. Your continued commitment and collaboration make our progress possible. I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ozgun Demirag

Director, Black School of Business

Email Dr. Demirag

• On June 17, 2025, the Center for Family Business held a half-day event titled "Leveraging AI for Business Growth" that explored the transformative power of AI in driving business efficiency and growth. The program equipped attendees with practical knowledge on integrating AI into their business operations, focusing on task automation and strategic decision-making.

• The Center for Financial Literacy held its second annual workshop on June 20, focused on helping local high school educators prepare for state-mandated financial literacy teaching. The event provided an opportunity to earn continuing education credits through the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5. Participants took home a financial calculator and a selection of books related to financial literacy.

• Through a partnership with Next Gen Personal Finance, our K-12 outreach website now contains comprehensive resources for teachers on financial literacy, free of charge.

• The Black School of Business hosted the 2025 Midwest Decision Sciences Institute Conference, held on April 11-12, 2025. The conference theme was “Responsible Leadership and Decision Making for Resilient Businesses Through Analytics.” The two-day event, attended by 150 people, included research presentations, student case competitions, a formal dinner with a keynote speaker, and awards.

• The Economic Research Institute of Erie held its annual ERIE Conference on July 23, which brought speakers and the public to the Behrend campus to discuss “Economic Transformation and Revival: Erie’s Path to Prosperity.” Topics included the Erie economy, expanding Erie’s international economic reach, the impact of AI on economic transformation and revival, and more.

• Behrend was recently recognized in the "Research Colleges and Universities" category by the Carnegie Classifications. This achievement sets us apart as one of only two Penn State colleges (along with Harrisburg) with this distinction. It is a result of Behrend's success in externally sponsored research and development activities that support faculty scholarship.

• We recently launched the C3 Career Readiness program, which integrates curricular and co-curricular programming to help students develop professional skills. The program has adopted the eight career competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Each month, career readiness programming will focus on one competency, allowing students to learn more about the skills employers want in today’s graduates.

• We honored outstanding faculty, staff, board members, alumni, and corporate partners at our recent Black School of Business Spring Banquet in May. Thank you to Mayor Joe Schember for his keynote speech, and congratulations to our award winners!

• The Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend now offers accelerated undergraduate degree pathways in Management Information Systems (MIS) and Project and Supply Chain Management (PSCM) through Behrend’s Degree in 3 initiative (Accelerated Degree Programs | Penn State Behrend). A 4+1 Fast Track MBA option is also available, enabling students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in just five years.

• Business students can now pursue two interdisciplinary certificates that deepen their understanding of artificial intelligence across business environments and societal contexts. Developed collaboratively by faculty from the Schools of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Engineering, the two offerings are the Artificial Intelligence and Society Certificate and Building Artificial Intelligence Certificate.

• Beginning Fall 2025, the MBA program will carry a STEM designation, reflecting its strong focus on technology and analytics, enabling enrollment of international students. The Black School of Business also offers STEM-designated undergraduate degrees in Business Economics, Functional Data Analytics, Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies, and Project and Supply Chain Management.