2020 - 2021 - 2022
Brent Moritz featured in Smeal Magazine
Brent Moritz, associate professor of supply chain management, and his colleagues at the University of North Texas and American University recently published a paper exploring the bullwhip effect in the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management journal. Read the article here.
Dan Guide featured in Smeal Magazine
In the latest issue of Smeal Magazine, Daniel Guide, the Smeal Chaired Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management, shares his expertise on implementing reverse logistics to increase sustainability and improve the bottom line. Read the article here.
Towards the US Bioeconomy Development: Bright Spots, Challenges, and Key Factors Going Forward
Evelyn Thomchick and Kusumal Ruamsook, in collaboration with multi-disciplinary team members, discussed with professionals engaging in various bioeconomy enterprises on the development of the US bioeconomy. This report highlights eight themes that emerged from the lively focus group discussions.
Dan Guide quoted in story on CNN.com
Dan Guide, Smeal Chaired Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management, was quoted in a CNN Underscored story titled, "Why you should avoid online returns, according to the experts". Read the story.
Supply Chain & Information Systems faculty spotlight with Serkan Yilmaz
Serkan Yilmaz is an assistant clinical professor in the Supply Chain and Information Systems Department. Yilmaz joined the faculty this year and sat down to share his experiences in industry and his journey to academia. Watch the full interview now.
Faculty research: 'Top reviews' can help sway shoppers, but there are limits
A research paper co-authored by Wael Jabr, assistant professor of supply chain and information systems, revealed that top reviews, which are featured reviews that consumers have endorsed as the most helpful, can lead to higher sales and improved customer satisfaction. However, the researchers also found that when there are too many featured reviews, their influence can start to wane. Read more.
Brent Moritz interviewed for WTAJ-TV story
Brent Moritz, associate professor of supply chain management, was interviewed for a story titled, "Rising diesel fuel prices causing supply chain issues, high costs for businesses." Read the story.
Sue Purdum named to ISM University Committee
Sue Purdum, associate teaching professor of supply chain, is serving as an academic committee member of the Institute for Supply Management's University Committee. Her term runs from October 2022 through October 2024.
Johanna Amaya authors chapter in supply chain management research book
Johanna Amaya, assistant professor in supply chain and information systems, wrote a chapter titled, "Research Needs in Disaster Response Logistics" for the "Handbook of Research Methods for Supply Chain Management." The chapter defines the field of disaster response logistics (DRL) and provides a comprehensive overview of the wide range of emergency functions as part of DRL.
Faculty research: Psychological distance affects inventory decision making
A paper published by Brent Moritz, associate professor of supply chain management, in the journal Production and Operations Management, reveals that psychological factors can affect how inventory managers perceive their suppliers. Read more.
Saurabh Bansal and Suresh Muthulingam recently accepted in Production and Operations Management (POM) Journal
A research paper by Drs. Saurabh Bansal and Suresh Muthulingam, faculty members in the SC&IS Department, was recently accepted at the POM journal — one of the leading journals in Operations Management. Their paper, Can Precise Numbers Boost Energy Efficiency?, finds that the precision of numbers used to present energy savings recommendations increases the adoption of energy efficiency recommendations. When precise costs and savings are used to present energy efficiency recommendations, the precise numbers enhance credibility—increasing the adoption of energy efficiency recommendations. Read more.
Steve Tracey and CSCR corporate sponsor, Walmart, earn accolades at 2022 DISCOVER Summit
Hershey, Pennsylvania is commonly known as “The Sweetest Place On Earth,” but as of last week it’s also known as the location for this year’s DISCOVER (Diversity & Inclusion in Supply Chain) summit, held October 17 – 18. CSCR executive director Steve Tracey and Walmart, a CSCR corporate sponsor, were among the nine honored with an award during the event.
DISCOVER is a cross-industry organization which serves as a catalyst for the advancement of people of color in supply chain and the summit presented an opportunity for the supply chain community to learn, network, and engage in discourse on diversity and inclusion.
Tracey received the 2022 Lighthouse Award, which honors the advisor of the year. Michael del Rosario accepted the 2022 Laurel Crown, which celebrates the sponsor of the year, on behalf of Walmart who has been a CSCR sponsor since 2015 and a sponsor of DISCOVER since 2021. Other 2022 awardees included Qing Zhao of BCG who received the Soaring Eagle in recognition of volunteer of the year, and USC Marshall who received the Golden Leaf for their efforts in collaboration. The DISCOVER awards, aptly named Sweet Celebrations, debuted at last year’s summit and awards for 2021 were distributed this year. Read more.
Tracey, Ruamsook, Ines write blockchain story
Steve Tracey, professor of practice in supply chain management and executive director of the Center for Supply Chain Research, Kusumal Ruamsook, research associate at CSCR and instructor in supply chain management, and Henry Ines, a member of Smeal’s Board of Visitors and CEO and founder of Chainparency, co-wrote a story titled “Catching the blockchain wave for procurement applications” for Supply Chain Quarterly. Read the story.
Ian Ho recipient of three INFORMS awards
Ian Ho, assistant professor of information systems, has been recognized with three awards from INFORMS: the Gordon B. Davis Young Scholar Award, Best Paper for "Preference or Bias? Characterizing Political Slants toward the Equity on Education Donations," and Best Paper Runner-up for "Catch Me if You Can! The Economic Analysis of Geofencing." Congratulations!
Saurabh Bansal wins INFORMS award for research paper
A research paper co-written by Saurabh Bansal, associate professor of supply chain management, has been selected as the winner of the 2022 Decision Analysis Society Publication Award. The society, a subdivision of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORM), promotes the development and use of logical methods for improving decision making in public and private enterprise. The paper, which is titled “Estimating Uncertainties Using Judgmental Forecasts with Expert Heterogeneity,” can be read online. Read the paper.
Zhao, Moritz now co-directors of research for the Center for Supply Chain Research (CSCR)
The Penn State Smeal College of Business Center for Supply Chain Research recently announced Hui Zhao and Brent Moritz have become the center's new co-directors of research, succeeding Aydin Alptekinoglu. Read the story.
Aydin Alptekinoglu interviewed for WTAJ-TV story
Aydin Alptekinoglu, professor of supply chain management and Robert G. Schwartz University Endowed Fellow in Business Administration, was quoted in a WTAJ-TV story about a par of State College Area High School student who operate a custom swimwear business. Read the story.
Qian Chen paper published in Journal of Business & Economic Statistics
Qian Chen, assistant professor of supply chain & information systems and former PhD student in marketing, co-authored a paper titled, "Robust Covariance Matrix Estimation for High-Dimensional Compositional Data with Application to Sales Data Analysis" that is published in Journal of Business & Economic Statistics. Read more.
Brent Moritz interviewed on WTAJ-TV about federal gas tax cuts
Brent Moritz, associate professor of supply chain management, talked about the implications of gas tax cuts in an interview with WTAJ-TV in Altoona. Watch the interview.
Lina Wang wins national doctoral dissertation award
Lina Wang, an assistant professor of supply chain and information systems, received the 2022 Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals at its Academic Research Symposium held recently in Nashville. The award recognizes doctoral students who demonstrate significant originality and technical competence in any supply chain function. Wang's dissertation, "Platform Design and Operations in the Last-Mile of the Supply Chain" can be found online. Read more.
2022 Early Career Award for Teaching Excellence; Supply Chain & Information Systems faculty spotlight with Rashmi Sharma
This faculty spotlight features Rashmi Sharma, an assistant clinical professor in the Smeal College of Business and a managing director of Laboratory for Economics Management and Auctions. She was introduced to supply chain while working as a software developer and now focuses her research on behavioral operations. Watch now.
Sharma was recently awarded with the 2022 Early Career Award for Teaching and Excellence. Congratulations!
Supply Chain & Information Systems faculty spotlight with Evelyn Thomchick
Evelyn Thomchick, associate professor in the Smeal Supply Chain and Information Systems Department is featured in our faculty spotlight. She is celebrating 40 years with Penn State and is sharing her journey into supply chain, recent research in sustainability, and her hopes for the field. Watch now.
Supply Chain & Information Systems faculty spotlight with Johanna Amaya
This faculty spotlight features Johanna Amaya, assistant professor in the Smeal College of Business, Supply Chain and Information Systems Department. She will dive into her experience in customer claims, how she got interested in transportation and operations side of supply chain along with her collaborative work with the Center for Supply Chain Research. Watch now.
Supply Chain & Information Systems faculty spotlight with Sue Purdum
This faculty spotlight features Sue Purdum, associate teaching professor in the Smeal College of Business, Supply Chain and Information Systems Department. She discusses her transition from industry to university along with her invigorating teaching experiences and profound involvement with the Penn State strategic involvement transformation project. Watch now.
Supply Chain & Information Systems faculty spotlight with Bob Novack
This faculty spotlight features Dr. Bob Novack, associate professor in the Smeal College of Business, Supply Chain and Information Systems Department. He will discuss the supply chain industry, his involvement with the Center for Supply Chain Research, student research, and his passion for developing student into industry professionals. Watch now.
Home country a major influence for Penn State Smeal fall 2020 student marshal
UNIVERSITY PARK — Alejandra Castaneda often returns to her home country of Colombia, where she and her family immigrated from when she was just a child. Full story here.
Supply chain management professor recognized with Wagner Prize
Saurabh Bansal, an associate professor of supply chain management in the Penn State Smeal College of Business, has been awarded the 2020 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). Full story here.
2020 Best 40 Under 40 Professors: Saurabh Bansal, The Pennsylvania State University Smeal College of Business
At a school known for the strength of its supply chain and operations management faculty, Saurabh Bansal is considered a superstar. The 39-year-old Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management and Operations Research made this year’s Best 40 Under 40 Professors list both for his strength and pipeline in research and publishing as well as the nearly-dozen strong reviews from colleagues and students. Full story here.
Home country a major influence for Penn State Smeal fall 2020 student marshal
UNIVERSITY PARK — Alejandra Castaneda often returns to her home country of Colombia, where she and her family immigrated from when she was just a child. Full story here.
Supply chain management professor recognized with Wagner Prize
Saurabh Bansal, an associate professor of supply chain management in the Penn State Smeal College of Business, has been awarded the 2020 Daniel H. Wagner Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Advanced Analytics and Operations Research by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). Full story here.
2020 Best 40 Under 40 Professors: Saurabh Bansal, The Pennsylvania State University Smeal College of Business
At a school known for the strength of its supply chain and operations management faculty, Saurabh Bansal is considered a superstar. The 39-year-old Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management and Operations Research made this year’s Best 40 Under 40 Professors list both for his strength and pipeline in research and publishing as well as the nearly-dozen strong reviews from colleagues and students. Full story here.
Veronica Villena Receives Multiple Honors
Congratulations to Veronica Villena on being one of three finalists for the 2020 Chan Hahn Best Paper Award of the OM/SCM community (Academy of Management Society). Villena was also recognized by POMS (Production and Operations Management) that her sole-authored paper, “The Missing Link? The Strategic Role of Procurement in Building Sustainable Supply Networks,” is among the top 10% of most downloaded papers.
Alana E Gomez Receives Inspiring Student Leader Award
Alana Gomez (MIS) is a Smeal Diversity Enhancement Programs Scholar and the current president of the Association of Latino Professionals for America. In her leadership position, Gomez has ensured that the organization maintains positive relationships with corporate partners and offers networking opportunities for students. Additionally, she is a Bunton-Waller Merit Awardee, a Boeing Case Competition second-place winner, and an attendance lead for Sociology 119. Full story here.
Penn State Smeal names spring 2020 Senior Award honorees
Congratulations to the following students on receiving 2020 Senior Awards:
Francesco Liciaga (SCIS) received The John M. and Anne B. Stevens Academic Integrity Award: Awarded to a graduating senior or seniors who demonstrate leadership in academic integrity by serving on a college committee, task force or in a leadership role, dedicated to upholding the Smeal Honor Code and to promoting a culture of academic integrity.
Sarah Roman (SCIS), Demetrios Speros (MIS), and Katie Gustas (SCIS) received the Ralph H. Wherry Student Service Award: This award honors graduating seniors who excelled in service to the college, have exhibited academic achievement, and manifest the promise of a successful professional career.
Alejandra Castaneda (MIS/International Politics) received The Diversity Leadership Award: This award honors a graduating Smeal student who demonstrates leadership activities that promote the college’s efforts to build a culture that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes diversity. Full story here.
Penn State Smeal spring 2020 supply chain marshal points to Novack as guiding force in academic journey
Many people can point to one person who changed the trajectory of their academic journey. For Rachel Hooker, that individual is Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Bob Novack. Hooker, who graduated May 9 with a 3.99 GPA in supply chain and information systems, has been selected as Smeal’s spring 2020 supply chain and information systems student marshal. Hooker said that Novack, as well as a couple others, were instrumental in helping her to succeed academically. Full story here.
Elizabeth Weiland and Eden Jacoby Receive R. Gene Richter Scholarship Award
Elizabeth Weiland and Eden Jacoby, Supply Chain and Information Systems majors at Penn State's Smeal College of Business, were chosen by the R. Gene and Nancy D. Richter Foundation to receive the 2020 R. Gene Richter Scholarship Award. The scholarship is presented annually to senior supply chain students based on high-achieving academic records, strong leadership skills, high ethical standards, and a commitment to a career in supply chain management. Full story here.
Hayley Peterson Receives AWESOME Scholarship
Congratulation to Hayley Peterson (SCIS) on receiving the AWESOME (Advancing Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education) Scholarship. The AWE Fellowship is offered by the AWESOME organization (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply chain Operations, Management and Education) in collaboration with the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics. Hayley is part of the 2020 group who will be going to AWESOME’s annual conference at McDonald’s HQ outside of Chicago late Fall and will receive an all expenses paid trip to CSCMP’s Global Annual Conference to take place in Orlando, Florida in September. Learn more.
MIT Supply Chain Excellence Awardees
Congratulations to Rachel Hooker (SCIS) on receiving The MIT Supply Chain Excellence Award. These fellowships are given annually at select partner universities to the most outstanding graduating senior supply chain and/or industrial engineering majors. Liem Phan (SCIS) received Honorable Mention for this award. Full story here.
Behind the front line: Penn State Smeal’s supply chain experts support COVID-19 response initiatives
The COVID-19 pandemic has shined the national spotlight on something most people don’t understand very well, if at all – supply chain management.
“If you can’t get what you need or want, you might have a supply chain problem,” said Steve Tracey, executive director of the nationally respected Center for Supply Chain Research® at the Penn State Smeal College of Business. “Viewed through that lens, the current pandemic has created one of the biggest supply chain crises in decades.”
Masks, gowns, face shields, ventilators, test kits and, yes, even toilet paper – all have been in short supply for months. Full story here.
CSCR®’s Supply Chain Expertise Joins Penn State’s COVID-19 Response
Not many could have predicted a pandemic to hit the United States back in February. Students and faculty at a college campus like Penn State were still shuffling between classes, graduation gowns were hanging in dorm room closets, and academic events filled a busy Spring calendar. By March, the outlook changed dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated within the US and lifestyle changes like online learning, social distancing, and stay-at-home quarantine became the new norm.
While others were still grappling with all the changes, Smeal’s Center for Supply Chain Research® immediately shifted into action to combat these unprecedented times. Susan Purdum, associate teaching professor in supply chain at Penn State, said her involvement with the pandemic’s challenges began with a call on March 23 from the Hershey Company’s Jason Reiman, SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer and former member of CSCR®’s Board of Advisors. Full story here.
Penn State industrial engineering to host national simulation workshop
The Penn State Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME), in collaboration with the Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems (SCIS) in the Smeal College of Business, will host the 2020 INFORMS Simulation Society Workshop (I-SIM) from June 21 to 24 on the University Park campus.
Titled "From Data to Decision-making: Contending with Uncertainty and Non-Stationarity in Simulation Theory," the workshop will focus on addressing a range of opportunities and challenges that arise from employing data to drive simulation methodologies. These challenges range from utilizing data to address uncertainty and risk, contending with the underlying unpredictable data processes and reflecting on the fundamental questions in simulation methodologies. Full story here.
Penn State Smeal introduces new one-year residential master’s in business analytics
The Penn State Smeal Master’s in Business Analytics (M-BAN) is a one-year residential program that dives into the world of business analytics and gives recent graduates the opportunity to sharpen their analytics skillset. The Penn State Smeal College of Business is now offering a new accelerated master’s that delivers the skills needed to transform raw data into evidence-based decisions for students who want to quickly rise in their organization.
The Penn State Smeal Master’s in Business Analytics (M-BAN) is a one-year residential program that dives into the world of business analytics and gives recent graduates the opportunity to sharpen their analytics skillset.
“Students can be excited about this program not only for the opportunities in business analytics or analytics positions, but many students will find they are the ones introducing analytics into their organizations,” said Chris Solo, Smeal clinical assistant professor of supply chain and analytics, and program faculty director. Full story here.
Lobna Ahmed receives Service Scholarship
Congratulations to Lobna Ahmed on receiving the Fannie Lou Hamer and W.E.B. DuBois Service Scholarships at the Martin Luther King banquet. Lobna is majoring in management information systems and minoring in security and risk analysis with an option in cybersecurity in the Smeal College of Business. Full story here.
SC&IS Students receive NASPO Scholarship
Congratulations to Sarah Lanciotti, Elizabeth Weiland, and Nicholas Krusko on receiving the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Scholarship. More information on NASPO found here.