Smeal Update: October 29, 2021
Borrelli commitment will endow Institute for Real Estate Studies
A $5 million commitment from Penn State alumni Jason and Julie Borrelli, which was announced Friday afternoon in a ceremony in the Business Building Atrium, will endow the Institute for Real Estate Studies. Penn State President Eric J. Barron was on hand for the announcement. Read the story.
Team taking a data-driven, innovative approach to course design
A team at Penn State is taking a deep dive into two years’ worth of courses in the Penn State Online MBA program by studying the data that show how students learn and behave. They hope to use their findings to redesign courses in ways that will help students be more successful online learners. Read the story.
Reminder: All University Park employees subject to vaccine mandate
Penn State has determined that all University Park faculty and staff, regardless of whether or not they work on federal contracts, must submit proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8. The mandate brings Penn State into compliance with President Joe Biden’s Sept. 9 executive order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all federal employees, contractors and others. Additional information can be found in this Penn State News story.
Alumni Entrepreneurship Panel highlights diverse experiences
Five Penn State alumni took the floor recently at the Smeal Alumni Entrepreneurship Panel, giving students valuable career insight, sharing their experiences and discussing the importance of diversity in entrepreneurship. Read the story.
Save the Date: Executive Insights with JT Marino
JT Marino, co-founder of Tuft & Needle and chief disruption officer at Serta Simmons Bedding, will be our final Executive Insights guest of the fall semester. He will join us from 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. Nov. 12. Watch your inbox for an email with a registration link.
Smeal in the News
Research by Recendes, Christenson cited in Forbes
A survey report, “Across the Aisle: Unlocking the Bipartisan Power of ESG,” co-authored by Tessa Recendes, assistant professor of management and organization, and Brett Christenson, assistant clinical professor of marketing, formed the basis of a story in Forbes. Read the story.
Tracey quoted in USA Today story
Steve Tracey, professor of practice for Supply Chain and Information Systems and executive director of the Center for Supply Chain Research, was quoted in a story titled, “Fact check: Supply chain delays not related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates.” Read the story.
Next week at Smeal
Continuing the Conversation: Stop Anti-Asian/American Harassment (noon Thursday)
The Smeal Diversity Task Force has planned its next learning opportunity, “Continuing the Conversation: Stop Anti-Asian/American Harassment” for noon Thursday. Check your inbox for an email dated Oct. 4, which contains registration information.
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
Click this link to participate in this week’s survey. Results will be shared during the next Smeal Community Zoom, at 1 p.m. Monday.