Latest News: May 2005

Jaffe's Teaching Inspires $500,000 Gift To Former University

Austin Jaffe, who departed the University of Oregon 25 years ago to join the faculty of Penn State's Smeal College of Business, left an indelible impression on his students before leaving. So indelible, in fact, that two of his former students recently contributed $500,000 to Oregon in honor of Jaffe's excellence as a teacher.

Executive MBA Pre-Commencement Features Former N.J. Nets Owner

Lewis Katz, former owner and managing partner of the New Jersey Nets basketball franchise, will offer the pre-commencement address to graduates of the Penn State Smeal College of Business Executive MBA Program during a ceremony on June 11 at University Park.

Academy Of Management Recognizes Entrepreneurship Paper

A report prepared by a trio of Penn State researchers describing innovative new methods for teaching entrepreneurship has been accepted into the Best Paper Proceedings at the 2005 Academy of Management Meeting in Hawaii.

Smeal Op-Ed: The Class of 9/11

This month and next, millions of young college graduates who had just began their collegiate journeys on 9/11 will take their diplomas and head into the "real world," a place many fear will conspire to rob them of their freedom and youthful good looks but where they hear the pay is better and the restaurants are more expensive.

MBNA's Struthers Asks Graduates To Define Success

Richard K. Struthers '77, vice chairman and chief lending officer of MBNA, offered the commencement address at the May 15 graduation ceremony for Penn State's Smeal College of Business. During his speech, Struthers asked graduates to define success for themselves and formulate a plan to keep striving for higher goals.

Sheehan Named Associate Dean For MBA Programs

Dennis Sheehan, professor of finance at Penn State's Smeal College of Business, has been named associate dean for MBA programs at the college. He will lead the academic and operational aspects of Smeal's full-time MBA program at University Park and its executive MBA program in Philadelphia.

Gedrich To Assume Alumni Board Presidency

Alan Gedrich, a partner in the Investment Management Department of the law firm Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP in Philadelphia, will begin serving a two-year term as president of the Alumni Society Board for Penn State's Smeal College of Business in July.

eBRC Drives New Book On Agile Enterprise

Nirmal Pal, executive director of the eBusiness Research Center (eBRC) at Penn State's Smeal College of Business, is the co-editor of a new book on corporate agility, which features the insights of numerous thought leaders on a topic increasingly identified as a key to corporate success.

Students Honored With Circle Of Excellence Awards

Two graduating students from Penn State's Smeal College of Business were honored with Circle of Excellence Awards in April as part of the college's Mitte Scholarship Program. The program annually awards undergraduate and graduate scholarships.

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