Alumni And Friends: Meet Dean Thomas At Events On Both Coasts

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA (January 30, 2007) – Several upcoming events in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose, and Washington will provide an opportunity for area friends and alumni of the Smeal College of Business to meet the college's dean and hear the latest news from Penn State and Smeal.

At each event, Dean James Thomas will talk about some of the issues and trends currently affecting business and business education and share some of his vision for the future of the college.

Each reception is an opportunity to network with fellow alumni and connect with old friends and colleagues.

Penn State Provost Rod Erickson and other guests will join Thomas in particular cities.

The New York event, which is part of the Penn State Alumni Association’s "City Lights" series, will also feature Smeal Endowed University Fellow and Professor of Finance J. Randall Woolridge, who will share some of his expertise on strategic investment and explain how one's investment personality can affect financial decisions.

The New York reception begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Manhattan headquarters of Pfizer at 235 East 42nd Street.

Specifics for each of the other cities are:

- Washington: 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel at 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

- Los Angeles: 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, at Walt Disney Studios in the Rotunda Dining Room of the Team Disney Building at 500 South Buena Vista Street in Burbank.

- San Francisco: 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, at One Market Restaurant at 1 Market Street.

- San Jose: 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara at 5101 Great America Parkway in Santa Clara.

- Boston: 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 3 at the home of Bryon Deysher, member of the Smeal Board of Visitors.

More details and registration information will be published as availablie at www.smeal.psu.edu/dean.

About Dean Thomas
Thomas, who himself is a Penn State alumnus, became Smeal's fifth dean on July 1. Prior to that, he was dean of Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology since its inception in 1999. From 1987 until 1999, Thomas spent 12 years on the Smeal faculty, culminating in appointments as senior associate dean and professor of management and organization.

He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Penn State, a master's degree in political science from Florida State, and a Ph.D. in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin.