https://www.cfasociety.org/pittsburgh/society-events/career-fair

https://gardnerinstitute.org/event/symposium-2024/

Many PW deans and senior managers are here building insight and getting inspired.

My symposium track is Transforming the Second College Year. For yesterday's afternoon workshop, we worked in Padlet.

So, I am posting a Padlet to Padlet. 😊

Dr. Josepha Kuvshinikov from Gannon University spoke about his work with local middle schools. He suggested a peer mentor system to build trust with student refugees, and I enjoyed his talk.

Tony Stout, Chair of the Business Department at the College of Southern Maryland, led a leadership activity using AI. His department has created three labels for assignments that range from encouraging AI use to prohibiting it. I hope we can learn from this approach!

Dr. Ron Williams, a professor in the College of Business, discussed the challenges of accreditation in higher education. He recommended balancing formal meetings and informal discussions among faculty to achieve positive outcomes. I valued his insights because I believe diverse communication methods are key to effective collaboration.

Please plan to join us in person on Clarion campus in the movie theater or online on the University Facebook page. You will have a chance to vote for your favorite to help them win an extra $250. First place receives $3,000, 2nd place $2,000 and third place $1,000.

Here are Melissa's students with their wares from "Dr. G's bag of unusual objects" where they picked an item and pitched it for its non obvious use. Among many brilliant pitches were "the conversation bomb -- leave those unwanted conversations in a burst of lavender scented rejection for just $9.99!", a bulletproof hamster helmet, and a shot glass stabilizer. 😂

Thank you so much for all the fun, connection, and laughs.

The day was filled with great connection and chats that ranged from silly to serious making is a fun and productive day.

I also had take out from Clarion's Pizza Pub, which made the trip even better. 🍕

Thanks for being so generous with your time, Clarion BE&C!

I'm excited to continue our strong relationship with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland!

To give you some background, in 2019, I co-organized the Undergraduate Poster Competition with a professor from Akron and also served as a judge. We had four Edinboro students participate in that competition. Since 2022, I've also been an advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Economic Scholars Program.

I'm eager to see our talented PennWest students showcase their outstanding work at the upcoming conference!

Students also attended the CFA Society of Pittsburgh’s Emerging Leaders Group https://www.cfasociety.org/pittsburgh/about-us/elg.

Shaun is with the students in this picture in the lobby of the ever-opulent Pittsburgh Omni.

Amazing work, Shaun!

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/law/best-online-legal-studies-degree-programs/

The president discussed the importance of sectoral analysis for students in their initial job searches. Next, he illuminated key financial concepts through his role at PennWest by applying Porter's value chain, taking the class through the strategic management framework with insitutional examples.

A huge thanks to Christian and the finance club for a great and informative event.

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

PennWest Edinboro is a finalist for an IBS (Intercollegiate Broadcasting System) college media award in the “Best Community Outreach Event” category for WFSE and campus media’s contribution to “The Great American Eclipse” event on campus last April 8^th. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, March 8^th, as the culminating event for the 2024-2025 IBS conference.

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀

https://www.pennwest.edu/about/news/2025/club-basketball.php

This year, we submitted three award entries, and our "Best Community Outreach Event" was named a Top 5 finalist—placing us among the top 5% of all entries, according to the IBS President. While we didn’t take home the award, this recognition is a testament to our students’ dedication and impact.

Beyond the competition, our students had an incredible experience, attending engaging seminars on radio and media, networking with industry professionals, and exploring New York City's most iconic attractions.

For me, the conference highlights included hearing from (among others):

·         Richard Barone – Former lead singer of The Bongos (1980s pop/New Wave band) and now a faculty member in NYC, teaching music history and production.

·         Mike McVay – President of McVay Media and one of the nation's top radio consultants.

·         Al Roker – Longtime Today show weather anchor and keynote speaker, delivering an inspiring address.

It was truly an enriching and rewarding experience for everyone involved, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in student media.

Our first guest host, Dr. Michael Skelly from the Psychology Department, kicked off the series on Tuesday, March 12, 2025, from 7-8 p.m., sharing personal reflections and a handpicked playlist. Stay tuned for more guest hosts in the coming weeks!

Interested in hosting? We'd love to feature you on the show! Reach out to us to claim your spot and make your mark on the WFSE airwaves.

The planning committee members, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Alena Clark (DEI Office), Jingze Jiang, PhD, Melissa Gibson, PhD, Nan Li, PhD, Rhonda Gifford (Career Center), Susan Ryan, PhD, Sandra Trejos, PhD, Songyee Hur, PhD, Stephanie Adam, PhD, Savannah Dorsey (DEI Office)

They have been working with me since Fall 2024 to develop their Applied Econometrics class project into a research project and used this event to practice for their upcoming presentation at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland next Monday.

They outperformed students from Ivy leagues (e.g. Columbia University) and R1 universities (e.g. Boston University).The Fed will feature their work in the auditorium, with Wayeera scheduled to present her research immediately following the president/CEO of the Fed's speech.

I was honored to meet both students' families at California today. Diletta's family traveled 8 hours from Italy yesterday to support her presentation at the Fed.

Thank you, Stephanie, Nan, Christian, Josh, Candice for your hospitality! I enjoyed the visit at the beautiful California campus!

I always preach "take a picture, post to the department Padlet!" and I forgot to take a picture (there were Dunkin' Donuts causing an ongoing distraction 😜). So, instead, I chose to highlight some of Mr. Bryson's achievements with his students and finance academy, which includes the WPIAL Finance Challenge: The students were fantastic and so engaged. I hope to have some join us at PennWest in the coming years.

https://www.facebook.com/SenatorStefano/posts/congratulations-to-mr-bryson-and-his-students-at-laurel-highlands-school-distric/963638685570763/

https://wpial.org/news/2025/1/31/winners-announced-from-2024-financial-trivia-challenge-powered-by-first-national-bank.aspx

https://jeremybryson.wixsite.com/mysite

PennWest students earn prestigious global economics conference spots.

I am proud to share Dr. Jiang's and her students' successes at a recent global economic research conference.

We are so proud of our PennWest BE&C students and Dr. Jiang's hard work and dedication in helping our students compete and thrive at such a prestigious venue.

https://www.pennwest.edu/about/news/2025/economic-scholars-program.php

Beth M. Hammack is the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, one of 12 regional Reserve Banks in the Federal Reserve System. She began her term on August 21, 2024. In this capacity, she participates in the formulation of US monetary policy and oversees 1,100 employees in the Bank’s Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh offices who conduct economic research, supervise banking institutions, and provide payment services to commercial banks and the US government. Prior to the Fed, Beth was the co-head of the Global Financing Group at Goldman Sachs.

Some of you may recall, we had our first PennWest Business Unit retreat at the SAI Farmhouse in 2022 😊

He did not attend his ceremony, because he was in the audience today in the role of proud parent - instead of full academic reglaia as a member of the faculty or as a graduate himself - to see his daughter Mia cross the stage at the California Campus (honors and Summa Cum Laude!). Son, Alex, graduated from PennWest Edinboro in spring 2024. Grandfather graduated from Cal in 1968.

What a legacy of Olas!

• Aaysha Noor, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Erie Insurance;

• Razin Karu, Executive Director, Governor Shapiro’s Advisory Commission;

• Niken Astari Carpenter, Former New American Liaison for the City of Erie, PA, and Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs.

The event was well-attended, with approximately 70 employees from Erie Insurance. It's also noteworthy that Erie Insurance is a significant employer of our PennWest graduates.

This research is significant as it represents the first economic study to evaluate the long-term implications of biodegradable plastics for soil health. Addressing the complexities of this topic necessitated a close working relationship with crop scientists, soil scientists, and material scientists from Washington State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Their data on mulch behavior and properties were fundamental to our structural economic model and simulations, highlighting the importance of this interdisciplinary collaboration for assessing real-world applications.

The generous funding support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was instrumental in conducting this research and has enabled us to offer the article as open access, thereby broadening its reach and impact.

The full article, "Optimizing Microplastic Pollution in a Terrestrial Environment: A Case for Soil-Biodegradable Mulches," can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2025.20

Collaborative Strategies for Academic and Professional Success.

Thank you for representing PennWest so well, Jingze, and congratulations on this well-deserved success.

With 1,305 reviewers contributing their time and expertise, your engagement has significantly strengthened the quality and impact of our program.

Among this exceptional group, 28 reviewers have been specially recognized for their outstanding contributions...

I am very grateful to the Entrepreneurship division of the Academy of Management for this recognition.

On September 11, 2025, they took a group of ten students from the Edinboro and California campuses to the 2025 CFA Society of Pittsburgh Career Fair. This event was held at the River’s Club, and the day consisted of panel discussions, networking, and professional development events.

Employers in attendance included BNY Mellon, Erie Insurance, Federated Hermes, Waldron Private Wealth, C.S.

McKee, First National Bank, Dollar Bank, Highmark Health, T. Rowe Price, PNC Bank, and American Century Investments.

Fantastic work, Shaun and Nan!

https://www.pennwest.edu/about/news/images/clarion-sbdc-recognized-for-excellence.php

Stephanie Adam

Thank you for lending your invaluable expertise to improving PennWest, Andrew! I know you helped many build insight for all attendees for turning destructive conflict into constructive dialogue.

Cafe con Leche means "coffee with milk," which is a traditional beverage in most Iberoamerican countries that cherish conversations, discussions, and the connections that family and friends often have around a table, patio, or anywhere else, to catch up and strengthen their communities. Topics discussed included history, food, music, customs, and many other ways in which Hispanics have been part of the American fiber, even before the USA was constituted as a country.

This event is usually held in September.

Chris hosted the event at the shop of one of the clients. Chris delivered a presentation about the NWPA Made grant-funded ($400,000 range) project. Two Corporate Communication graduate students—Sabrina Bootz and Ben Kalmey—discussed how they assisted in the branding and development of the project.

~Miguel

Three students from the Edinboro and California campuses of PennWest University’s Finance and Personal Financial Planning and Mathematics program attended the event at Howmet Aerospace for a regional investment research challenge hosted by the CFA Society of Pittsburgh.

This event was held at the headquarters of Howmet Aerospace, a leading Pittsburgh aerospace company. The event provided these students with the opportunity to meet leaders at Howmet, as they provided insight into their company that the students will expand upon as they begin their investment analysis.

Well done FPFP!

Our unit includes some basic coverage of organizational design. Students were in two groups. One with an organic structure with a flat hierarchy and decentralized communication flow. The mechanistic group had a narrow span of control and formal communication rules.

The challenge was to build the highest stable Lego tower they could in 15 minutes using their assigned structures (matching Lego kits, of course).

Team Organic won. Team Mechanistic's tower had googly eyes on it, so what they didn't achieve in height, they made up for in whimsy. 😆

The club's ambitious mission is truly inspiring: to foster a deeper connection to the field of economics by bringing students together to discuss real-world topics, build community through engaging activities, and deepen their commitment to the broader community through service and volunteerism.

ECON Connect's focus on professional development is particularly noteworthy, as they aim to improve job readiness, provide support for scholarly ambitions, and offer recognition for scholastic achievement. This is precisely the kind of proactive, holistic engagement we encourage in our students.

Join me in congratulating the founders (President: Rhonda Gardner (Math Major, Econ Minor); Vice President: Sadiyah Dexter (Math Major, Econ Minor); Treasuer: JD Colie (Political Science Major); Secretary: Olivia Tucker (BSBA-Marketing Major); Public Relations: Madelyn Manupella (BSBA-Marketing Major)) of ECON Connect on their vision and leadership. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they'll have!

Here's the video link if you have five minutes to waste: https://vimeo.com/1141249609

The article is based on COVID-19 research Drs. Lingwall and Ashwell conducted during Lingwall's sabbatical in New Zealand during Spring 2023.

Published by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), this peer-reviewed journal accepts only 11 percent of submissions.

Lingwall's presentation was based on research he and his colleague Dr. Doug Ashwell of Massey University conducted during Lingwall's Spring 2023 sabbatical in Wellington, New Zealand.

They chatted with Dr. Jiang, sharing their career journeys, tips for navigating macroeconomics, how to stand out in job applications, and the impact of Generative AI.

​We are so grateful to our alumni for giving back and helping our students define their path and prepare for the post-graduation world.

Thank, Edinboro Campus Career Center, for helping promote the event and supply the gifts for our Alumni!

A summary of the presentation was published by Catholic News Agency, a service of EWTN News with worldwide distribution. Click here to read the article: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267459/catholic-social-scientists-reframe-perspective-on-retirement

I'm excited to announce that Matthrew Posego and Kara Hooppell will be working with me to submit their research to the 2026 Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Undergraduate Research Conference!

These students from my Applied Econometrics class have shown exceptional creativity, economic thinking, data analysis skills, and a strong work ethic. They have committed to dedicating time outside of their regular coursework next semester to prepare for this conference, and I look forward to advising them on their papers.

We are hoping to replicate last year's incredible results, where Diletta and Wayeera made the top list—with Wayeera ranking #1 among all applicants before heading to the University of Pittsburgh for her Dual Master's in Quantitative Economics and Political Science.

Rooting for both Matt and Kara to be selected!

The hybrid session was well attended and students had the chance to ask questions while enjoying hot chocolate and dessert.

The chapter appears in the book Masculinities in Contemporary Science-Fiction Television.

Such great and intriguing work. Congratulations on this accomplishment!

It’s wonderful to see faculty scholarship that’s so accessible and practical, designed for our students and real people making real money decisions.

Way to go, Christian and Chad. Proud to celebrate this accomplishment with you 📘🎊!

Recognized faculty included: Bell, Chad, Gary, John E., Kreag, Lacey, Miguel, Paul W., Sonia, and Tony J.

🌟 Special shout-out to John Eichlin, who had 10 student-athletes show appreciation for him. What an incredible testament to his support and impact! 🌟

Thank you all for representing our department so well and for making a difference in our students' lives every day.

https://clariongoldeneagles.com/news/2026/2/6/athletic-department-athletics-honors-233-scholar-athletes-at-annual-luncheon.aspx

Sean Peebles, former WFSE General Manager and now in his ninth year as the Public Address Announcer for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA, returned to share insights from his professional journey. Kayla Crosby, owner of the Lake Erie Jackals of the Basketball Super League, also spoke with students about leadership, entrepreneurship, and building a professional franchise now playing its home games at McComb Fieldhouse.

Both guests shared powerful personal stories, practical career advice, and genuine encouragement that truly resonated with our campus media students. It was a memorable evening made possible by two remarkable professionals.

Rich's class hosted Cody Ambrose, a Senior Marketing Specialist at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

In this picture, Cody has his 2017 homecoming court photo on the slide as he begins his presentation, sharing an honest and engaging look at his career journey since graduating in 2018 with a major in Communication Studies (Public Relations concentration) and a minor in Event Planning & Management. He provided insight into the day-to-day realities of marketing, industry trends, and the excitement behind the metrics - including his now-famous enthusiasm for click-through rate increases!

The large audience speaker is President Anderson, who was incredibly gracious and engaging to over 400 teachers!

I was able to talk to about 35 high school math, economics, and civics teachers.

Pennsylvania recently added a graduation requirement for all students graduating in 2027 to prove proficient in personal finance, so we discussed the importance financial literacy plays in our communities, families, and society at large.

Great time!

BE&C had the pleasure of hosting 20 students from the Laurel Highlands High School Business Education Program, who brought great energy to campus. It was a full day of exploring, learning, and connecting. So much fun!

I loved having the chance to spend time with them and share what makes our department such a great place to learn.

Big thanks to everyone who helped make the day run so smoothly. I appreciate the faculty who welcomed our guests into their classes. Big thanks to Gary Williams for hosting the whole crew in MGMT 3000 first thing at 9 am! They also got a chance to participate in today's biggest event, the Women in Business Panel Discussion.

Planning Committee:
Sandra R. Trejos; Susan Ryan; Nan Li; Rhonda Gifford; Kristine Doppelheuer; Songyee Hur; Alena Clark; Savannah Dorsey; Melissa Gibson; Stephanie Adam; Bethany Leight; Christina Moreschi.

Thanks to our MKTG3000 marketing students for creating the flyer, and to our president, Jon Anderson, and BEC Vice Dean Jaunice Vega for their attendance and continued support.

There was an atmosphere of gratitude and joy!

It is exciting to see the club continue to grow, supported by the strong leadership and dedication of the student leadership team. This initiative is truly student-driven—our students took the lead in securing and inviting the guest speaker.

I sincerely thank Professor William Gary for his continued support of the organization and his dedication to serving our students.

We were thrilled to see such strong student engagement, both in attendance and in the thoughtful feedback shared after the event. Many students expressed how impactful it was to hear real-world experiences and career advice from our inspiring panelists.

A special highlight was the presence of Erie Mayor Devlin, whose support and engagement with our students made the event even more meaningful. Mayor Devlin is our PennWest Alumna.

This event would not have been possible without the incredible efforts of our planning committee (Sandra R. Trejos; Susan Ryan; Nan Li; Rhonda Gifford; Kristine Doppelheuer; Songyee Hur; Alena Clark; Savannah Dorsey; Melissa Gibson; Stephanie Adam; Bethany Leight; Christina Moreschi, Jingze Jiang) and the strong support from our department faculty, who helped promote the event and encouraged students to attend. Their collective effort truly made a difference.

Moments like this remind us of the power of collaboration and our shared commitment to student success.

I was also glad to have my daughters join us—they loved being part of such a positive and energetic group!

Moments like this highlight how amazing our students are and how important it is to build connections beyond academics. Proud of our ECON Connect community!

Both of this year's student participants have been officially accepted to present their research at the Undergraduate Economics Research Conference "Economic Scholars Program" hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

Following a successful tradition, these students transformed their Applied Econometrics class projects into professional-grade research. To give a sense of the caliber of this event, last year’s conference featured projects from R1 and Ivy League institutions. These students are truly representing the high-quality, rigorous education provided by the PennWest BEC Department.

The selection process is famously competitive; the conference organizers at the Fed shared:

"It was so highly competitive, so your students should be very proud of their accomplishment."

The department is also grateful to two standout students from last year’s course. Having turned their own class projects into Fed-presented research last year, they recently joined this year’s cohort via Zoom to share their first-hand experiences and "lessons learned."

Mentoring students as they navigate the research process for the first time is one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession. Seeing PennWest students rise to this level of national competition and support one another is a true highlight of the academic year.

🚗 Cleveland Bound

On April 17th, the group along with their research adviser will travel to the Fed for the presentation. Look forward to another year of success as these students represent the excellence of their education on a national stage.

Students worked in teams to design creative structures using limited materials - putting their collaboration, problem-solving, and leadership skills to the test.

From innovative designs to lots of laughter, it was a fun and engaging way to experience real-world teamwork in action.

Activities like this highlight the importance of communication, adaptability, and creativity, core skills for future managers. Thanks, Gary, for sharing this great day of learning and team building!

From navigating the process of establishing the club with SGA, launching social media, to organizing a wide range of engaging events—this team has done it all.

Their journey reflects not only creativity and initiative, but also resilience. Despite leadership transitions and challenges along the way, they adapted, stayed committed, and continued to move forward stronger.

✨ Highlights from the year include:

• Fun community-building events like roller skating, board game night

• Professional development opportunities, including attending an economics conference at the Federal Reserve, discussion on macroeconomics issues

• Successful fundraising efforts (Bakery sale and Bean&Bear Cafe), raising $331

• Creating a vibrant, student-driven presence on campus (including today’s Economics Kahoot—where I ranked #4… clearly, my students outpaced me in both speed and accuracy!)

  
  

This board showcases their hard work, collaboration, and the culture they’ve built in just one year. It’s inspiring to see what they’ve accomplished—and even more exciting to imagine what’s next.

📅 Upcoming events:

• Fundraiser at Subway (Edinboro Campus): Next Tuesday, 5–8 PM

• End-of-Year Cookout: May 2, 5–7 PM, next to Edinboro Lake

If you’re on Edinboro campus, please stop by and support these amazing students! If you have trouble to find these places, feel free to email the President of the club Rhonda GAR07376@pennwest.edu.

Let’s celebrate ECON Connect’s first year—and the strong foundation they’ve created for the future 👏

Davaka (President), Riley (vice president) and Aiden (Treasurer) lead this student organization.

They participated in sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions focused on business education, accreditation, and student success.

Thank you, Sonia and Candice, for representing BE&C so well! We are grateful for your leadership and excited about the ideas and insights you are bringing back to our department. 🎉