Smeal Update: March 26, 2021

Smeal alumnus leaves lasting legacy by creating the Fred H. Schaefer Scholars Program in Accounting

The Penn State Smeal College of Business has received a $4 million gift from the estate of late alumnus Fred Schaefer to create the Fred H. Schaefer Scholars Program in Accounting. The gift is among the top five for the college. Read the story.

Management faculty seeking participants for research study

Carolyn Dang, assistant professor of organizational behavior and Cook Fellow in Ethics, and Aparna Joshi, Arnold Family Professor of Management, are seeking participants to complete a study on organizational engagement. The study asks participants for input on some important issues facing employees’ engagement in organizations today. Participants will be compensated. More information and can be found online.

Upcoming Tarriff Center Webinar focuses on global implications

The next Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility webinar, titled “Living Our Values: Global Implications,” will take place at 6 p.m. April 6. Panelists with international experience will examine how shared values are applied in different cultural contexts and offer insights on topics such as minimizing ethical complications due to differing cultural norms. The webinar will be co-moderated by Farid Alias, a member of Smeal’s Board of Visitors and group president and CEO/executive director of Maybank; and Michelle Darnell, director of the Tarriff Center. Panelists will be:
Ken Berger, former CEO of ConvaTec; Jeff Douville, director of Global Transportation for Stanley Black and Decker and Tarriff Center Advisory Board Member; and, Frederik Wenzel, CEO of Schuetz Container Systems and Tarriff Center Advisory Board Member. Register at bit.ly/values-global

Smeal in the News

Wisconsin’s Yavas to deliver inaugural Jaffe Real Estate Lecture

Abdullah Yavas, the Robert E. Wangard Real Estate Chair at the University of Wisconsin and a former member of the Penn State Smeal College of Business faculty, will deliver via Zoom the inaugural lecture in the Austin J. Jaffe Real Estate Lecture Series on April 6. Read the story.

Former Lady Lion Monroe still dishing assists to Penn State Smeal

Former Penn State women's basketball player Meredith Monroe, who holds a bachelor's in finance and an MBA from Smeal, is still handing out assists to the college in a number of ways. Read the story.

Aparna Joshi, Don Hambrick author story for Nonprofit Quarterly

Aparna Joshi, Arnold Family Professor of Management, and Don Hambrick, Evan Pugh University Professor and Smeal Chaired Professor of Management, co-authored an article titled “Navigating Succession: Four Exiting CEO Mindsets” for Nonprofit Quarterly. Read the story.

Ask the Dean open for your questions

Send your questions to AskTheDean@smeal.psu.edu. We’ll do our best to provide answers in a video to be included in an upcoming Smeal Update.

Do you know someone who rocks? Nominate them!

Each month the Smeal Staff Advisory Committee names a You Rock! Award recipient. You can nominate a co-worker for the You Rock! Award online.

The Smeal Community Weekly Poll

This week's survey asks you to share your thoughts on a particular pizza topping. Click this link to participate. Results will be shared during next week's Smeal Community Zoom.

Key reminders for faculty

April 1 is the deadline for tenure-line faculty in the penultimate year of their probationary period to accept a one-year extension to their probationary period due to COVID-19. By completing the online form, the faculty member’s probationary period will be extended by one year.

President Eric Barron will host webcasts this spring to discuss important topics for the University community about the impact of the pandemic on Penn State, the University’s ongoing response, and plans as the University substantially expands in-person courses this summer and plans for a full on-campus experience in the fall.