Kania Magazine - Spring 2019 by The University of Scranton

THE AUTHUR J. KANIA SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

Kania SPRING 2019

magazine

Student Advisory Board Helps Drive New Initiatives Three Graduate Degrees Added to Curriculum

spring 2019

Geisinger Health System Partners with Kania School

T H E

U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

S C R A N T O Ni

contents Sections

Features

academic innovation

Outstanding Alumni

Patti Clarke, John Dionne, Linda McGowan and Tom O’Brien have done significant work on behalf of their alma mater.

student success 7

faculty news 12

Geisinger Health System

alumni engagement

The regional health care organization has been serving Pennsylvanians for the past 104 years.

community impact 23

On the cover

Kania magazine

Jordan Reis, ’19, Brina Desai, ’17, G’19, Sydney Garofolo, ’19, Abbey Murphy, ’20, and Mark Miller, ’19, are some of the student leaders this year in the Kania School.

Kania students meet with Terry Hayes ’82, senior vice president — Northeast, (front left) and Mike DeSalvo ’98, director — Northeast Business Development, (front right) of T-Mobile USA, Inc., during a President’s Business Council networking trip to New York City in 2017.

Kania magazine

Editor Kristin Wintermantel Durkin Contributing Editor Debra Parry Editorial Board Douglas Boyle Kristin Wintermantel Durkin Robert McKeage Debra Parry Jordan Petsas Murli Rajan Abhijit Roy David Salerno Rose Sebastianelli Photography Terry Connors Chad Sebring Interim Dean of the Kania School Murli Rajan Interim Associate Dean of the Kania School David Salerno Design and Printing Printing and Mailing Services President — The University of Scranton Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J.

Kania Magazine is published by The Kania School of Management at The University of Scranton for its alumni and friends. Kania School of Management Dean’s Office 320 Madison Avenue Brennan Hall Suite 400 Scranton, PA 18510 570.941.4208

The Kania School of Management is an exciting place where faculty, staff, students and alumni are all engaged in the education of future business leaders with a unique focus on Catholic and Jesuit ideals. The stories in this edition of Kania Magazine demonstrate how we collaborate to form our students into productive, ethical, and socially responsible individuals. Our faculty have been busy developing innovative new programs and courses, and many of our programs have received national rankings. We have developed a successful partnership with Geisinger Health Systems to offer a customized MBA program at various Geisinger locations. The Accounting Department has developed masters and doctoral programs and the Operations and Information Management Department has introduced business analytics programming to the undergraduate and graduate curricula. The Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department has expanded offerings so that an entrepreneurship major is now available to all business students, and the Economics and Finance Department has just introduced a promising new master’s program. Staff also play an important role in ensuring student success. Our advisors ensure students stay on track for graduation, the Passport Program prepares students for the job market, and our internship office helps students find internship and employment opportunities. Our students are active participants in Kania School life. The newly formed Student Advisory Board communicates student concerns directly to the deans and helps maintain an open line of communication between the administration and the student body. Our students serve as excellent ambassadors for the Kania School at Open House presentations and help plan events like Young Alumni Day and NASCAR Day. The Kania School has strong ties with alumni, and we offer many events that allow students to meet and network with our graduates. Initiatives like Young Alumni Day and the Executive in Residence program bring recent alumni and senior executives to campus to coach students on interviewing skills and resume preparation, and share insights about opportunities in different fields. These professional contacts have generated numerous internship and employment opportunities for students. I invite you to delve into the pages of this magazine and learn more about the wonderful things going on in the Kania School of Management. Please let us know if you have any ideas or comments and do consider visiting us if you can. Sincerely,

Murli Rajan, Ph.D., CFA Interim Dean

spring 2019

The University of Scranton is a Catholic, Jesuit educational institution serving men and women.

Message from the Dean

National Rankings: How We Stand Out The Kania School has gained a national reputation in recent years, with several of our programs ranked among the top in the country. UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS 1

MBA CONCENTRATIONS 1

#31

#15 Operations Management

#36

#20 Information Systems

Entrepreneurship major

#23 Finance

Finance major

#37

#28 Accounting

Accounting major

ONLINE MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY PROGRAM

for the third consecutive year

PART TIME MBA PROGRAM 1

#3 #4 3

4,5

#74

ONLINE MBA PROGRAM 1

#19

among private colleges

Kania magazine

among faith-based colleges

among Jesuit colleges

Sources: 1

.S. News & World Report’s 2019 “Best Business Schools” U The Best Colleges, an independent online higher education resource, 2019 3 Best College Reviews, 2018 4 Master’s Program Guide, an online resource for graduate programs, 2018 listing of “50 Best Online Master of Accounting Degree Programs 5 Accounting Degree Review, 2019 6 The website Online MBA Report, 2017 2

academic innovation

Kania School Launches New Opportunity for Outstanding Students

Twenty freshmen were admitted in Fall 2018 into the first class of the new Business Honors Program. They are: first row, from left: Claudia Bennett, Alyssa Lamparelli, Austin Glidewell, Carolina Murphy and Megan Yanick; second row: Caitlin Schreiber, Livia Kelly, Erin Wilson, Robert Arena and Hanna Guarnuccio; third row: Jake Croston, Matthew Lavin, Shane McKeon, Christopher Bauer and Christopher Coico; fourth row: Luke Mazzotta, Peter Amicucci, Alexander Schwabe and Philip Cocco. Absent from photo: Holly McCarthy.

intellectual challenges that will set them apart when they apply for a job or graduate school. He also anticipates that students in the program will seek learning opportunities beyond required class work, develop lifetime networks with their professors, and take on substantive projects that serve the campus or community. “The program is designed to provide a richer academic experience for outstanding students,” he said. The Business Honors Program is the University’s fourth honors program, and the second that is open to freshmen. The other three honors programs are the four-year Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program, the three-year undergraduate Honors Program and the two-year Business Leadership Honors Program. – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

spring 2019

he Kania School became home to the University’s newest honors program in the fall of 2018, with 20 freshmen in the first cohort. Encouraged by former Dean Michael Mensah, Ph.D., faculty developed the Business Honors Program last year as a way to serve students with exceptional academic aptitude and leadership skills. “It includes a curriculum designed to develop the business acumen and interpersonal skills needed for careers of leadership in business,” said Murli Rajan, Ph.D., CFA, interim dean of the Kania School. “The program also focuses on personal and professional development through career-building activities and service work.” Students in the program will undertake four years of honors studies in accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, management, marketing, and operations management. Besides fulfilling normal course requirements, honors students must also write a paper in each of their honors classes, on a topic chosen by the professor. They are also required to complete an honors thesis, annual community service, and two of the following three options: an internship, a study-abroad experience or a journal publication. To remain in the program, they must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above. While most students will enter the program as incoming freshmen, some sophomores will be admitted based upon their freshman year academic performance. Incoming freshmen are evaluated on criteria including their high school academic performance, extracurricular activities and potential to contribute to the honors program. Students can also apply in the spring of their freshman year if they have completed 15 credits and have a GPA of at least 3.5. The enrollment is expected to be around 25 each year. Business Honors Program Director Christos Pargianas, Ph.D., believes the program will appeal to talented, highly motivated young people who are looking for additional

Three Graduate Degrees Added To Business School Curriculum

he Kania School has undergone exceptional growth in recent years, with the addition of three new graduate programs to its curriculum. Since 2015, a Master of Accountancy, a Master of Science in Finance, and a Doctor of Business Administration program have launched. •

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The Master of Accountancy program, which began in January 2015, is Kania’s second master’s degree, following the MBA program. About 160 students are currently enrolled, both on-campus and online. MAcc Program Director James F. Boyle, DBA, CPA, credits the close involvement of the Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council and continuous innovation as keys to the program’s success. “Much of the success of the program is attributable to our continuous evaluation of the curriculum and the strong

involvement of our successful executive alumni who currently serve in public accounting (Big Four, national, and regional firms) and major public and private companies,” he said. Besides the MAcc degree itself, the Accounting Depart ment is also on the brink of offering the opportunity to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting in four years. Beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year, incoming accounting students will be able to pursue that option. In recently published rankings, Scranton’s MAcc Program is often recognized among the top five in the nation. The Best Colleges, an online higher education resource, has ranked it first in the nation for the past three years, while Accounting Degree Review placed it fourth nationwide in its 2019 rankings. “When you review the names of the institutions included in the top five in these rankings and find Scranton included among such nationally recognized institutions for quality and reputation, everyone involved with Scranton’s MAcc program should be very proud,” said Associate Professor Douglas M. Boyle, DBA, CPA, CMA, chair of the Accounting Department.

Kania magazine

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Students in the Doctor of Business Administration program met recently with faculty and University trustees. First row, from left: DBA faculty Robert Spalletta, Ph.D., professor of physics/electrical engineering; Daniel West, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Health Administration and Human Resources Department; and Douglas M. Boyle, D.B.A., associate professor, chair of the Accounting Department and DBA program director; and trustees Christopher Kane, Tracy Bannon and Frank Dubas. Second row: DBA faculty Rebecca Mikesell, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication, and James Boyle, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting; and DBA students Ashley L. Stampone, Ronald Parker and Joy Chacko. Third row: DBA students Ran Li, Daniel Gaydon, Heather Losi, Jessica L. Hildebrand, Shea N. Burden, Linette Rayeski, James W. Sunday and Alexis C. Montelone. Fourth row: DBA students Amanda Marcy, Patrick O’Brien, Craig Gallagher, Savas Saymaz, Marcus Burke, Felisha N. Fret, Afia A. Oppong, Hugh Lambert and Charles Speicher.

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In the fall of 2017, the Kania School launched the nation’s only Doctor of Business Administration degree with a sole concentration in accounting. The program was created in direct response to calls made by the Pathways Commission on Accounting Higher Education to mitigate the shortage of accounting faculty in America and advance the practice relevancy of doctoral education, according to Dr. Douglas Boyle. Prior to the program’s launch, Scranton’s accounting faculty published extensively and gave interviews in several academic journals on the topic of doctoral programs for experienced accounting professionals. Additionally, Dr. Boyle served on the Pathways Commission’s Nontraditional Doctoral Education Task Force. This research and practice experience enabled Scranton’s DBA to realize program success.

The program develops experienced accounting professionals into teachers who are capable of producing advanced, practice-relevant research. It provides students with an understanding of academia along with advanced research and teaching skills. Doctoral students can complete their degree in as few as three years. The program is offered in a cohort model, where participants spend three weekends a semester on campus while maintaining their fulltime professional careers. Upon completion of their dissertation proposal defenses, graduates may pursue full-time, tenure-track positions at accredited institutions.

In the fall of 2017, the Kania School welcomed to campus the first cohort of students enrolled in the new doctor of business administration (DBA) program. First row, from left: Douglas M. Boyle, DBA, accounting department chair and DBA program director; and students Anthony Fulmore, Joy Chacko, Amanda Marcy and Patrick O’Brien. Back row: Students Heather Losi, Ronald Parker, Marcus Burke, Elena Isaacson, Stephanie Lee and Daniel Gaydon. Absent from the photo are students Craig Gallagher and Katheryn Zielinski.

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The Master of Science in Finance program launched in the spring of 2018 with online classes. The on-campus portion followed last fall.

“From the inception of the program, we strove to design and deliver a curriculum that is not only rigorous and cutting-edge but also deeply grounded in Jesuit tradition and high ethical standards.” – Associate Professor Aram Balagyozyan, Ph.D., director of the MSF program

The degree provides students with specialized knowledge of financial securities, financial markets and institutions, foreign exchange markets, investment risk criteria and metrics, capital budgeting techniques, and hedging (continued on next page)

spring 2019

“The level of engagement and collaboration shown by our students and faculty in the first two cohorts has been inspiring. The students have greatly advanced their level of knowledge in the areas of business theory, research process and design, academic governance, literature review, research methods, and Ignition identity,” Dr. Boyle said.

Graduate Degrees Added (continued from page 5) strategies. Besides providing students with a superior education in finance, faculty in the program strive to help them to prepare for widely recognized professional certifications, such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Certified Financial Planner (CFP). With a specialized curriculum consisting of eight core courses, two electives, and six foundation modules, the program offers a solid base for these certificates. One unique feature of the MSF program is that students will have an opportunity to acquire hands-on experience working with Bloomberg terminals and earn the Bloomberg Market Concepts certificate. The idea of creating the program came from within the Department of Economics and Finance. Various constituencies — including the department’s Advisory Board, alumni, and university administrators — supported the

idea, and the department began developing the program in 2016. In that process, one on-campus and five online courses were developed. “From the inception of the program we strove to design and deliver a curriculum that is not only rigorous and cutting-edge but also deeply grounded in Jesuit tradition and high ethical standards,” said Associate Professor Aram Balagyozyan, Ph.D., director of the MSF program. “In my view, this unique feature is what distinguishes the University of Scranton MSF program from other graduate programs in finance.” Faculty members intend to keep the MSF program current with changes in the industry by actively engaging in program assessment and involving the Economics and Finance Advisory Board in the curricular process. – Douglas Boyle, James Boyle, Aram Balagyozyan

New Business Analytics Program Launched by OIM Department A Business Analytics concentration and minor along with two new courses — Data Mining and Excel for Business Applications — have made their debut in the Operations and Information Management department. These offerings were developed to make students more marketable and competitive as they seek employment opportunities, said Professor Nabil Tamimi, Ph.D., department chair.

Kania magazine

■ The Business Analytics concentration/minor teaches

students how to analyze “Big Data” — data that is harnessed from e-commerce transactions and social media — to gain better insights and make better business decisions. A new Business Analytics major will launch in Fall 2019. Business analysts work in various industries, including finance, marketing, operations, information technology, and accounting. Dr. Tamimi said the new program was developed based on feedback from practitioners in the field and the University’s Board of Trustees, as well as demands from companies looking for graduates with such skills. ■ The Data Mining course, taught by Associate

Professor Yibai Li, Ph.D., is part of the Business

Analytics program. Data mining refers to a process in which people explore large amounts of data (typically business- or market-related) to find consistent patterns or systematic relationships between variables, and then apply those patterns to new subsets of data. The class teaches students how to manage a data mining project — from problem identification, data preparation, and visualization, to modeling, evaluation, and application. Dr. Li demonstrates a variety of data mining techniques using widely adopted software tools. “This course is a hands-on, intensive course,” he said. ■ Excel for Business Applications is an introductory

course that introduces students to advanced Excel functions that are useful in a variety of business applications. Professor Vincent Rocco teaches students how to create pivot tables; use logic, math, finance, date, statistical and text functions; and record basic macros. The course is required for all business students, who generally take it during sophomore year. – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

student success

Passport Program Adds To Students’ Skill Set

mbarking on a successful career in business requires more than just good grades and the requisite bachelor’s degree. Employers want recruits with strong communication and social skills — young people who know how to network, use social media responsibly and enhance their resumes with experience in their chosen field. With that in mind, the Kania School created the Passport Professional Development Program, which teaches socalled “soft skills” to our students throughout their four years at Scranton. Starting in freshman year, they must attend classes on topics such as writing a resume and researching internships. “The program prepares students to reach their career goals, enhance their professionalism and seamlessly transition them to the workplace,” said Tamara Bautista, Passport Program coordinator. Passport debuted in the fall of 2007, and eventually evolved into a tiered program with basic, intermediate and advanced modules. Last fall, Kania incorporated the basic module into a required one-credit class for freshmen, “Career and

Professional Development.” Over four weeks, students create a resume, learn how to use LinkedIn and similar platforms, and practice interview skills like eye contact and answering questions. “This (course) is the foundation, the infrastructure for the Passport Program,” said Chris Whitney, director of the Gerard R. Roche Center for Career Development. “We’re saying (to freshmen), ‘This is your tool belt,’ and after the course, we offer them a buffet of options.” Students continue developing essential skills in the intermediate and advanced modules. Those consist of networking trips and events with alumni, employers and executives; career fairs; and additional workshops. “Professional development is an ongoing process that continues throughout one’s career, therefore engaging students early in the Passport Program teaches them the importance of expanding their knowledge and skills,” Bautista said. Participation in the Passport Program has improved each year. Of the 2018 graduating class, 92 percent of the students completed the program, and 40 percent of the class completed the advanced module. – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

spring 2019

To kick off Commencement Weekend each year, the Kania Dean’s Office hosts a reception in Brennan Hall for graduates and their families. Here is a look at the 2018 event.

Deans Create Student Advisory Board

Kania magazine

he fall of 2016 brought a new addition to the Kania School – a formal student advisory board. In past years, former Dean Michael Mensah and then-Associate Dean Murli Rajan relied on an unofficial group of students for help with events around Brennan Hall. Eventually, they decided they wanted to engage students with how the business school runs and help them contribute to its development. “Our board, unique to the Kania School, illustrates our Jesuit grounding,” said Dr. Rajan, who is now interim dean. Students can positively influence the school’s future, he said, by contributing a distinct perspective and representing their classmates in regard to the governance and goals of the school. The group consists of representatives from each of Kania’s 13 clubs. The 2018-19 co-chairs are Mark Miller, ’19, and Jordan Reis, ’19. Abbey Murphy, ’20, is secretary, and Brooke Stone, ’19, is social media advisor. Members meet once a month, joined by Jason Schwass, Assistant Director for Student Internships; Cheryl Collarini, Career Relations Manager; and Tamara Bautista, Passport Program Coordinator. The deans attend two meetings each semester. The students discuss issues raised by their peers and offer suggestions to the deans, such as creating more study space in Brennan Hall. They also offer their perspective on Kania policies and programs that affect student life and professional development. “We have a unique ability to vocalize our opinions directly to the deans,” said Brooke DiMarinis, ’18, who represented the Society of Accounting Students and Beta

Alpha Psi during her tenure. The board also adds value to the business school by implementing new initiatives, such as the creation of an online video catalogue to promote the majors offered by the Kania School, new study spaces and a filtered water fountain in Brennan Hall, and a student-and-faculty barbecue to kick off the academic year. “[The board] gives a voice to all business students who reach out to them with questions or concerns by bringing these issues to the table at meetings,” Bautista said.

“[The board] gives a voice to all business students who reach out to them with questions or concerns by bringing these issues to the table at meetings.” – Tamara Bautista, Passport Program Coordinator

The deans reflected on their expectations for the board going forward – namely, full autonomy of the group as students become empowered and proactively voice their ideas to enhance the learning experience in the business school. “A problem of being in the Dean’s Office is that you lose open, direct communication with students, since you’re not face to face with students in the classroom anymore,” Dr. Rajan said. “This board solves that problem.” – Rebecca Clark, ’18

Members of the Kania Student Advisory Board for 2018-19 are, from left: Michael Kulick, Mark Miller, Justin Weckel, Luis Britez, Kyle Ascher, Brooke Stone, Abbey Murphy, Cynthia Navarro, Patrick Budicini, Nicole Angiuoli, Sam Smit, Peter Zabiegala, T.J. Murphy, Michael Spadavecchia, Jordan Reis and Juliette Porcelli. Absent from photo: Alexandra Turner, Farah Azizi and Austin Glidewell.

Student Success Stories In the fall of 2012, twin brothers Danny Clark, ’16, and John Clark, ’16, arrived on campus. Graduates of Scranton High School, they were Presidential Scholars who soon established themselves as “amazingly bright, kind and gracious individuals,” according to Dr. Daniel Mahoney, accounting professor. Danny had two majors — accounting and mathematics — and a minor in finance. John had three majors — accounting, finance, chemistry-business, Danny Clark and a minor in economics. Danny, who aspired to become an actuary, passed three actuarial exams while still an undergraduate. John, meanwhile, passed the Internal Revenue Service’s Enrolled Agent Exam. Both Danny and John graduated with summa cum laude designations in 2016. Since college, Danny has passed six actuarial exams and is an actuary with Voya Financial. John passed all four parts of the CPA Examination on the first try, and ranked sixth in Pennsylvania in CPA scores of John Clark 2016. He is a tax accountant with PwC. •

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Mark Miller, ’19, of Archbald, Pa., is Kania’s sports marketing expert. The marketing and business administration double major has completed three internships in the sports industry. Last summer he interned in the Raleigh, N.C., office of Wasserman, an international sports marketing and talent management company. He assisted with sponsorship strategy, portfolio management and evaluations of new marketing opportunities. He also audited client social media accounts and developed ideas to leverage golf sponsorships and increase overall engagement. In 2017, Miller interned with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. in Charlotte, N.C. He used Nielsen and NASCAR Analytics reports to determine consumer insights on media consumption. He also interned at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., in 2016. Miller led the planning of NASCAR Day at the University, which brought a NASCAR driver, car and other attractions to campus in 2018. He is a member of the Business Leadership Honors Program, the Business Club, and Mu Kappa Tau, the national marketing honor society. (continued on next page)

spring 2019

Marketing major Thomas G. McGinley, ’19, is a national semi-finalist for a Fulbright Grant. If selected, he will pursue a master’s in international marketing management at Lappeenranta University in Finland. An amateur cyclist, distance runner and mountaineer, he credits two experiences for largely defining his life and interests: cresting the summit of the Grand Teton at age 15, and cycling 3,400 miles from Seattle to Scranton in 2016. Last summer, he interned at IRONMAN World Headquarters in Florida, learning how the company adds value to its products and services through environmental impact studies and using renewable resources and organically-sourced food supplies for athletes and staff. McGinley, of Glenn Dale, Md., is the son of Anne Marie (Ennis) McGinley ’84 and Robert McGinley ’84, who met while undergraduates at Scranton.

Finance major Sydney McNally, ’19, interned last summer with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. As a data consultant intern, she balanced budgets by forecasting project financials and allocating resource, and communicated problem situations to management and provided alternative solutions. In January 2018, McNally did an internship with Lincoln Investment, during which she prepared Morningstar investment research reports for clients and organized client information. McNally, of Mount Laurel, N.J., is a tutor for the University’s Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and a former member of the women’s soccer team. She is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Omega Beta Sigma honor societies, as well as Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international economics honor society.

Student Success Stories (continued from page 9) For the past year and a half, Logyn Pezak Musheno, ’13, MBA ’15, has worked at Tobyhanna Army Depot as a management analyst in production management. She is responsible for assessing the depot’s performance in comparison to customer requirements. She also manages other depot metrics, sits on a sales and operations planning team and performs other analysis as needed. The Peckville resident, who earned her bachelor’s degree in operations management and her MBA with a concentration in ERP systems and operations management, said she applies what she learned in her operations management classes every day in her current job. She recently earned APICS, CPIM and PMP certifications, and believes her operations management and business writing classes at Kania gave her an advantage in that process. •

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Kania magazine

Early on as a college student, Jessica Signore, ’17, knew she wanted to work for a Fortune 500 company. Professors encouraged her to apply for an internship at Goldman Sachs, and she landed a position as an operations intern the firm’s New York City office for the summer of 2016. She gathered client account information for fixed income portfolio managers and

traders, mitigated risk by monitoring cash and liquidity, and helped manage accounts. A Bronx, N.Y. native and operations and information management major, Signore won the Frank O’Hara and Rose Kelly awards and graduated at the top of her class with a 4.0 GPA. After graduation, she joined Goldman Sachs as a senior operations analyst in the consumer and wealth management division on the retail strategy and oversight team in Jersey City, N.J. •

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Finance major Madison Williams, ’19, spent the past two summers in Manhattan on prestigious internships. In the summer of 2018, she worked in the business advisor program of Ernst & Young, where she learned about consulting practices, assisted in the testing cycle and created training documents for a new mobile application. In 2017, Williams completed an internship with the National Hockey League. She assisted the licensing team in the finance department with the financial closing of the fiscal year and also helped with projects involving an external audit. A Long Valley, N.J., resident, Williams is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Omega Beta Sigma. She was also a member of the University women’s soccer team and the 2016 Landmark Conference All-Sportsmanship Team. After graduation, she will join Ernst & Young’s advisory consultant program.

The Business Leadership Honors Program is now in its 27th year and has graduated 400 students in that time span. Each October, Business Leadership students attend the President’s Business Council Dinner in New York City with their program director, associate professor Robert McKeage, Ph.D. Pictured at the 2018 dinner at The Pierre Hotel are, seated, from left: Katherine McVeagh, ’19; Claire Fitzpatrick, ’19; Sydney Garofolo, ’19; Angela McGovern, ’19; Nhu Nguyen, ’19; Caitlin Waters, ’19; Alexandra Turner, ’19; Molly Hampsey, ’19; and Sara Rizzo, ’18. Standing, from left: Justin Weckel, ’19; Jordan Reis, ’19; Filippo Durante, ’19; Logan Pisciotti, ’19; Grant Hellings, ’19; Frank Argenti, ’18; Andrew Bamundo, ’18; Mark Miller, ’19; Brian Price, ’19; Louis Belardi, ’18; Patrick Keehan, ’19; Gavin Coutts, ’18; and Dr. McKeage.

Student Outcomes

21%

continuing education

72%

employed full-time

$65,488

Average starting salary for the Class of 2018 Kania School of Management Graduate programs

employed part-time

still seeking

$52,406

Average starting salary for the Class of 2018 Kania School of Management Undergraduate programs

spring 2019

Kania School faculty members gather in Brennan Hall. First row, from left: Yibai Li and Murli Rajan; second row: Linda Mlodzienski, Iordanis Petsas and Susan Trussler; third row: Robyn Lawrence, Taewan Kim, Hamza Adeinat and Jinghan Cai; fourth row: John Zych and David Salerno; fifth row: Robert McKeage and Peter Andersen; sixth row: Ioannis Kallianiotis and Satyanarayana Prattipati; seventh row: Ahmed Gomaa and Kingsley Gnanendran; eighth row: Deborah Gougeon, Christos Pargianas and Rose Sebastianelli; ninth row: Ashley Stampone and Amanda Marcy; 10th row: John Sailors and Nabil Tamimi; 11th row: Satyajit Ghosh and Andrew Gregorowicz; 12th row: Ozgur Isil, James Boyle and John Ruddy; 13th row: Vincent Rocco and Richard Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara; 14th row: Abhijit Roy, Douglas Boyle and Robert Giambatista. Absent from photo: Brian Carpenter, Daniel Mahoney, Aram Balagyozyan, Eleni Gousgounis, Hong Nguyen, Edward Scahill, S.P. Chattopadhyay, Jafor Chowdhury, Nancy Cummings and Irene Goll.

faculty news

Dean Mensah Retires After Thirteen Years

Kania magazine

he summer of 2018 marked the end of an era as Kania School Dean Michael Mensah, Ph.D., retired from his position after 13 successful years. Dr. Mensah took over as interim dean in 2005, during a difficult period for the business school, which was in the midst of an AACSB reaccreditation review. He was able to unify the faculty and secure reaccreditation, and later led the school through two subsequent AACSB reviews. During his tenure, Dr. Mensah oversaw the development of many new and innovative programs. He was quick to recognize the potential of the nascent market for online education, and set about developing a successful online MBA program. Later, he championed the introduction of the online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program. Under his leadership, the school developed a successful partnership with Geisinger Health Systems to offer a customized, in-person MBA program at various Geisinger locations. Another success story is the undergraduate entrepreneurship major, has enjoyed national recognition in US News & World Report rankings. During Dr. Mensah’s tenure, many Kania programs received national rankings — including the online MBA and MAcc programs, and graduate specializations in accounting, finance, information systems and operations management. At the undergraduate level, the accounting and finance programs were also ranked nationally. Dr. Kingsley Gnanendran, director of the online MBA Program, described Dr. Mensah as a bold leader. “He was unafraid to take risks and move the Kania School into innovative and non-traditional programming, best exemplified by his championing of online program delivery for the

(top) Dr. Michael Mensah gathers with friends and family at his retirement party. From left are: Peggy Rajan, Dr. Murli Rajan, Georgina Mensah, Dr. Mensah and Elizabeth Mensah. Faculty congratulate Dean Mensah on his retirement. From left are: Dr. Satya Prattipati, Georgina Mensah, Dr. Mensah, Dr. Deborah Gougeon and Dr. Leonard Gougeon.

MBA. Despite deep skepticism from various quarters on campus, he was steadfast in moving the Kania School into what was then untested waters,” Dr. Gnanendran said. Beyond programs, Dr. Mensah instituted other initiatives that strengthened ties among the business school, its alumni and the local business community. He established the Kania School Advisory Board, departmental advisory boards, the Women’s Entrepreneurship Center (WEC), and the Center for Practical Learning, which houses the Passport Program and the Internship Office. Frank Fetsko, chair of the Kania Advisory Board and executive vice president at Tompkins Financial Corporation, also noted Dr. Mensah’s numerous contributions to the University. “He was the first dean to establish an advisory board comprised of alumni and business leaders to help advise him on how best to ensure graduates from the Kania School of Management are well prepared to make a meaningful contribution in the workforce after they graduate,” he said. After spending a year as an advisor to graduate students at the University of Ghana, Dr. Mensah will rejoin the faculty as Leadership Chair in Business Education. – Murli Rajan

Updates on Retired Faculty Dr. Gerald Biberman retired in 2012 after teaching management for more than 30 years. Since then, he has written book chapters and journal articles on spirituality and management. He is also a reviewer for academic management journals and teaches meditation classes. In 2016, he received the Distinguished Service Award of the Management Spirituality and Religion Interest Group of the Academy of Management. He and his wife live in Las Vegas. •

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Since retiring to Florida in 2018, Dr. Alan Brumagim has mentored a young man whom he met as a high school senior. The teen was a potential first-generation college student, and Dr. Brumagim worked with him to determine his interests and potential fields of study. The student is currently attending the State College of Florida and earning straight A’s. •

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Dr. Cynthia Cann, a former management professor, retired in 2015. She and her husband, Michael, spend winters in Estero, Fla., where they play pickleball, explore nature preserves and partake in cultural activities at Florida Gulf Coast University. When in Pennsylvania, Dr. Cann enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren. •

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Dr. Ron Grambo is finding retirement is “at times all that it is cracked up to be.” He enjoys having extra time for his family, helping at his church and taking his golden retriever, Oliver, a registered therapy dog, for long walks. His favorite indoor hobby is woodworking. He retired in 2016 from the accounting department. •

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Dr. Riaz Hussain retired in 2018 after teaching at Scranton for 51 years. He was a physics professor for 18 years and taught finance for 33 years in the Kania School. He continues to serve as the imam of the campus mosque, and is a member of the Scranton Area Ministerium, a group of religious leaders who work to promote interfaith dialogue and cooperation. •

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After retiring in 2009, Dr. Prasadarao Kakumanu moved to Middleton, Wisconsin. He is enjoying retirement and spends most of his time reading and relaxing. – Debra Parry

spring 2019

Dr. Ying Chien, of Huntingdon Valley, is enjoying his retirement years. Since leaving Kania in 2009, he is active in his church, spends time with his daughter and granddaughters and enjoys gardening. He keeps up with business news by reading Knowledge@Wharton, an online business analysis journal.

In 2009, Dr. Frank Corcione retired after 28 years of teaching economics and finance. During his Scranton tenure, he used strong connections with alumni to help students secure internships and jobs. He was active with the faculty union and served as a consultant on economics damages in civil trials. He and his wife live in Bethlehem, Pa.

Award-Winning Faculty Research

aculty in the accounting department received the Institute of Management Accountants’ Lybrand medals and certificates of merit for three consecutive years. The Lybrand Competition recognizes the top 10 manuscripts of the year from more than 2,000 submitted to the Institute of Management Accountants’ Strategic Finance (SF) and Management Accounting Quarterly (MAQ) journals, both of which are ranked among the top five practitioner journals in the nation. ■ Professors Douglas Boyle, DBA, CPA, CMA, Brian Carpenter, Ph.D., CMA, and Daniel Mahoney, Ph.D., CPA, CFE, received the Lybrand Gold Medal in 2016 for “The Continuing Saga of Goodwill Accounting.” It was published in 2015 in MAQ. ■ Drs. Douglas Boyle, James Boyle and Brian Carpenter received a 2016 Lybrand Certificate of Merit for “The SEC Whistleblower Program Expands Focus: Retaliatory Behavior, Confidentiality Agreements, and Compliance Personnel,” published in SF in 2016, and for “Goodwill Impairment Adequacy: Perspectives of Accounting Professionals,” published in MAQ in 2016. ■ In 2015, Drs. Douglas Boyle, James Boyle, Carpenter and Mahoney received the Lybrand Silver Medal for their article “Operation Broken Gate: The SEC Holding Gatekeepers Accountable,” published in SF in 2015. ■ Drs. Douglas Boyle, James Boyle and Mahoney received a 2015 Lybrand Certificate of Merit for “Avoiding the Fraud Mind-set,” published in SF in 2015. ■ In 2014, Drs. Douglas Boyle, Carpenter and Mahoney received a Lybrand Bronze Medal for their article “New Rules for Lessee Accounting: A Summary of the Lessee Provisions of Accounting Standards Update.”

Kania magazine

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A study co-authored by operations management professors Rose Sebastianelli, Ph.D., and Nabil Tamimi, Ph.D., was recognized as an Outstanding Paper in the 2016 Emerald Literati Awards for Excellence. The Emerald Literati Awards are bestowed by Emerald Group

(top row) Dr. Douglas Boyle, Dr. James Boyle, Dr. Brian Carpenter (bottom row) Dr. Daniel Mahoney, Dr. Rose Sebastianelli, Dr. Nabil Tamimi

Publishing, which has a portfolio of nearly 300 journals, in recognition of outstanding contributions to scholarly research. Only one article is selected for Outstanding Paper recognition per journal. The article is based on work that examines how corporate environmental performance affects stock market value. The article titled “Improving the Quality of Environmental Management: Impact on Shareholder Value” was published in the International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management. While most research on the “pay to be green” question focuses on the market’s short-term reactions, this study takes a long-term perspective. The authors used the successful attainment of ISO 14000 certification, with its implied organizational commitment to improving the quality of environmental management, as the basis for creating a portfolio of stocks. They then showed this portfolio to be superior when compared to the S&P 500 Index and selected socially responsible and/or green funds, both in terms of better growth in value for an initial investment as well as higher monthly returns when using a buy-and-hold investment strategy. The study took several years to complete. Its focus on the long term helps make the results more compelling. The findings provide evidence that improved environmental performance is valued by the market and may indeed provide long-term value for shareholders. Ultimately, it is a strategy that “pays off” for investors — ultimately supporting the idea that “it pays to be green.”

alumni engagement

Human Resources Executive Finds Meaning in Engaging with Students

Patti Clarke

In college, Clarke started out as an accounting student, but switched to management because its broader scope appealed to her. Working with the Kania School as an alumna has shown her how far its programs have come since her undergraduate days, when there were fewer internships and much less networking with alumni. As part of Clarke’s work with the PBC, she helped to implement a career-coaching program in Kania. It matches students with alumni working in the field to which they aspire. Clarke always takes time to work with interns from Scranton. “I really love meeting with students – I love helping them,” she said. “If you get engaged (with the University), you will be richer for it. There are lots of ways that Scranton gives back to you.” – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

spring 2019

ometimes loved ones know you better than you know yourself. Patti Clarke, ’86, credits her husband with helping her discern that she should focus her volunteer work on The University of Scranton. A few years ago, she was asked both to join the school’s Board of Trustees and take over as chair of its President’s Business Council (PBC). Clarke was conflicted over how that could fit with her numerous other volunteer commitments. Her spouse, David, put things in perspective. “He said, ‘It seems to me that your real passion is around Scranton,’” she recalled. Clarke, the chief talent officer for the Havas Group, ended up saying yes to both commitments. It added another facet to her already close relationship with the University. In recent years, she has led the restructuring of the PBC’s careercoaching program, returned regularly to speak to Kania School students, and mentored interns and new employees who come to Havas from the University. The French advertising and communications company is one of the world’s largest, and Clarke is responsible for global human resources and talent and cultural strategy for more than 20,000 employees in over 100 countries. The job marks the latest in a long career for Clarke, who earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the Kania School in 1986. The New Jersey resident credits Jesuit education with broadening her horizons. “I was open-minded to a lot of opportunities. I wasn’t lock-set into any particular thing,” she said. “When you look at my career, I went from insurance, to Wall Street, to data information, to advertising. I can’t help but think that the breadth of the (University of) Scranton education had something to do with that.” Clarke spent 20 years with Dun & Bradstreet, the global data and analytics company, where she was chief human resources officer and also ran global internal communications. Before joining Havas, she ran a consulting business.

John Dionne – Advocating for the University For More Than 20 Years

Kania magazine

he long line of Kania alumni who volunteer for the University goes back well before the business school’s establishment in 1978. John Dionne, ’86, is one of the strongest links in that chain. For more than 20 years, the Connecticut resident has worked tirelessly on behalf of the University. He helped launch the President’s Business Council and its annual award dinner, which has raised millions of dollars for scholarships. He is a former chair of the Board of Trustees, and helped lead a capital campaign that raised $129 million. And, he and his wife, Jacquelyn Rasieleski Dionne, ’89, developed the idea for the Kania School’s Business Leader Hall of Fame. Dionne began volunteer work for Scranton because of another alumnus, Paul Montrone, ’62, for whom he had worked at the former Fisher Scientific International. “He wanted to make a substantial gift to the University, but he wanted me to take care of all the details,” Dionne recalled. “So I spent a lot of time on campus and on the phone with people at Scranton.”

John Dionne

That led to speaking engagements at Kania, and his involvement on campus took off. A New Hampshire native, Dionne came to the University because of his best friend’s uncle, Rev. J.J. Quinn, S.J., who was a professor here. “He introduced us not only to the school but also Jesuit education,” Dionne said. “I almost went to Fairfield University, also Jesuit, but chose Scranton because it was lower cost and I was self-financing my education. It was a great choice all around!”

“I find the University of Scranton students refreshing. They are far more appreciative than students I might find in my other travels.” – John Dionne, ’86 Dionne earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting, and later received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He began his career with Price Waterhouse before moving on to Fisher Scientific and other companies. He spent nearly a decade working for The Blackstone Group, leading its first proprietary hedge fund, and later, its Private Equity Business Development and Investor Relations Group. Dionne retired in 2013 and now serves as a senior advisor to Blackstone and a senior lecturer of business administration at the Harvard Business School. His work for The University of Scranton continues. He and his wife work with Interim Dean Murli Rajan, Ph.D., CFA, to plan the Business Leader Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and Dionne frequently serves as an Executive in Residence in Kania. But for all that he does on the University’s behalf, he is most proud of the students he mentors. “I think I learn a lot (from them), too. Millennials think a lot differently than we do,” he said, adding that he admires their passion and eagerness to get out into the world. “I find the University of Scranton students refreshing. They are far more appreciative than students I might find in my other travels.” – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

PwC Partner Deeply Committed to Internships and Mentoring

rowing up in a family of nine children in Apalachin, New York, Linda Mathers McGowan,’80, could not have envisioned the prestigious career she has today. The chance to go to college was not a given. Her father was a milkman, her mother a homemaker. The family squeezed into a three-bedroom ranch with one bathroom. Despite the odds, McGowan was able to make college a possibility. The University was a natural choice — she was already familiar with it because her grandparents lived in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She put herself through school by working a variety of jobs. One was with the University’s food service company, and that was how she met her career mentor, accounting professor John P. McLean. “He came up to me (at a catered event) and asked me for a bourbon Manhattan,” she recalled. From that, a mentorship was born. McGowan talked often with McLean about career options and job offers. Upon graduation, she joined Coopers and Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), and has remained with the company ever since. She has over 30 years of experience with its Banking and Capital Markets Group. She is a member of the firm’s national office and provides technical advice on regulatory and industry-specific auditing matters.

“If you were to ask me, ‘Who is one of those people who constantly gives back and remembers their roots?’ It would be Linda McGowan.” – Cheryl Collarini of the Gerard R. Roche Center for Career Development

at that school,” she explained. “I do that for Scranton.” McGowan is also involved with mentoring Kania students. Associate Professor Robert McKeage asked her for help finding mentors for students in the Business Leadership Honors Program. McGowan procured a list of alumni from the President’s Business Council and put her networking skills to work. “I started cold-calling them — and only one said no,” she said. When former Dean Michael Mensah, Ph.D., decided to create an advisory board for Kania, he tapped McGowan for leadership. She was chair for six years and still sits on that board as well as the Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council. Last fall, the University honored McGowan with its President’s Medal at the annual President’s Business Council Dinner, acknowledging her deep commitment to the school. Cheryl Collarini of the University’s Center for Career Development summed up the high regard the campus community has for McGowan: “If you were to ask me, ‘Who is one of those people who constantly gives back and remembers their roots?’ It would be Linda McGowan.” – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

spring 2019

Her service to the University began in 2002, shortly after the Sarbanes-Oxley Act passed. One of her partners, knowing the firm would be quite busy, asked if McGowan could procure some student interns from the University. She contacted Professor Brian Carpenter for recommendations, and that developed into a formal internship program. “Each school has a (PwC) partner responsible for recruiting

Linda Mathers McGowan

A Work Ethic Shaped By Jesuit Education

ll told, Tom O’Brien’s high school, college and graduate school experiences add up to a decade of Jesuit education. His introduction to the Jesuits came at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, and when it came time for college, he applied solely to The University of Scranton. That decision was mainly because of its Jesuit identity and its two-hour drive from his Philadelphia-area home. “Scranton, for me, was just a phenomenal experience,” said O’Brien, CEO and president of SumRidge Partners, adding that the University helped develop his work ethic and a sense of humility. “I think people would describe me as being direct, as being transparent, and as being fair, and I think these are all traits found in the Jesuit community.” O’Brien, ’86, earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Scranton, and later received an MBA from Fordham University. He began his career with Dean Witter as an institutional MBS trader and subsequently traded various fixed income products over his career. Later, he was co-head of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Retail Capital Markets Division and a member of its management and risk committees. It was at Morgan Stanley where O’Brien’s service to the University began. “I had gained the ability to influence hiring decisions. I had a resume from a recent Scranton graduate, and, Morgan Stanley being a bit elitist, I was told

Tom O’Brien

graduate, have each recruited students from their alma maters. SumRidge typically hires three interns each summer — one from Scranton, one from Villanova and the third from another university. The firm also employs several Scranton graduates. Several years ago, O’Brien helped former professor Frank Corcione, Ph.D., to develop the Fixed Income Securities and Markets course. “He would bring back graduates to

“I think people would describe me as being direct, as being transparent, and as being fair, and I think these are all traits found in the Jesuit community.”

Kania magazine

– Tom O’Brien, ’86

that Scranton was not on our list of schools (from which to hire),” he said. “That made me even more determined to hire a Scranton graduate.” O’Brien began working with the Kania School to recruit applicants. He remembers the caliber of the Scranton students who applied to his firm: “They were extremely hard working, they were competitive, they were tough, and they were humble.” In 2010, O’Brien co-founded SumRidge Partners, a fixed income specialist firm. He and his partner, a Villanova

teach in the class. It was a lot of fun, and definitely rewarding,” he said. “You take for granted a professor has to try to make a class interesting. But then when it’s you standing in front of a group of students, that’s another story!” He also returns to Kania frequently as an Executive in Residence. “There’s a value in students seeing the perspective of someone who has been through the job interview process, and who can talk about their life experience and career.” – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

Exceptional Alumni Inducted into Business Leader Hall of Fame

n the second floor of Brennan Hall is a wall bearing portraits of nine individuals who represent the highest ideals of Jesuit business education. They are the members of Kania’s Business Leader Hall of Fame, which was created in 2015. “Kania School leaders embraced the idea of recognizing Hall of Fame inductees as exemplars for students, other alumni, and indeed the entire Kania community,” said Michael Mensah, Ph.D., former dean. “They would be the embodiment of the Jesuit principles that frame teaching and mentoring in the Kania School: the restless pursuit of excellence and a life lived as women and men for and with others.” The Hall of Fame was the brainchild of John Dionne, ’86, and Jacquelyn Rasieleski Dionne, ’89, who worked with then-Associate Dean Murli Rajan to bring it to fruition. When the couple was honored with the President’s Medal at the 2013 President’s Business Council Dinner, they happened to see guest lists from various meet-and-greet events leading up to the dinner. “The job titles of the attendees were very impressive. I immediately thought of the Athletic Wall of Fame in the John Long Center. It struck me that it would be nice for the Kania School to honor successful alumni with a Business Leader Hall of Fame event,” Mrs. Dionne said. “Also, I wanted potential students and parents touring the University to see the alumni who benefitted from getting a degree at The University of Scranton.”

Lindner, Lasak & Feeney, who worked extensively in entrepreneurial corporate development. ■ Paul M. Montrone, Ph.D., ’62, chairman, Perspecta Trust LLC, Liberty Lane Partners and Latona Associates; former chairman and CEO, Fisher Scientific. ■ The late Gerard R. Roche, ’53, former senior chairman of the international search firm Heidrick & Struggles, who was named “Headhunter of the Century” in 2000.

The Kania alumni inducted into the school’s Business Leader Hall of Fame in 2015 (above) were, from left: John “Jack” Brennan, Christopher “Kip” Condron, Paul Montrone, Arthur Kania and the late Gerard Roche. The 2017 Hall of Fame inductees (left) included, from left: George V. Lynett, Susan Swain and Theodore “Ted” Jadick. The fourth inductee, Katherine “Kay” Reilly (right), was unable to attend the ceremony.

The 2017 inductees were: ■ Theodore “Ted” Jadick, ’61, vice chairman and managing partner, Heidrick & Struggles. ■ George V. Lynett, MBA ’71, who, with his brothers, was publisher of The (Scranton) Times-Tribune and CEO of Times-Shamrock Communications. ■ Katherine “Kay” Reilly, ’53. She and her late sister, Evelyn, were the first women to enroll in the University’s business program. ■ Susan Swain, ’76, co-CEO and president of C-SPAN. – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

spring 2019

Inducted in 2015 were: ■ John E. Brennan, ’68, who served as president and COO, SkyWay Systems; president, Activated Communications; and cofounder, president and COO, Metro Mobile CTS, Inc. ■ Christopher M. “Kip” Condron, ’70, former president and CEO, AXA Financial, Inc.; president and COO, Mellon Financial Corp.; and chairman and CEO, The Dreyfus Corp.

■ Arthur J. Kania, Esq. ’53, senior partner with Kania,

Kania Young Alumni Day Offers Networking With Recent Grads

Kania magazine

efore embarking on any new venture, it helps to talk to those who have blazed a path before you. That’s what the Kania School’s Young Alumni Day is all about. The event was originally created by Deborah J. McGovern, ’07, who wanted to share her relevant – and more importantly, recent – job search experience with students. She wanted to invite recent alumni back to campus to offer their stories and valuable advice to the Kania students who would soon be following them into the workforce. The first event took place in 2014, featuring industry panels and interview preparation sessions for accounting and finance majors. It eventually expanded to include alumni from all business backgrounds sharing insights on challenges facing young professionals in the workforce, graduate school advice, and industry-specific career guidance. In 2018 Young Alumni Day featured 18 alumni who met with more than 60 students. “The knowledge our alumni share with the students helps prepare them for success and gives them insight

into some of the pitfalls new employees face in the workforce,” said Tamara Bautista, coordinator of Kania’s Passport Program. “There is no such thing as too much networking, and this offers a more structured approach for those underclassmen who may be intimidated by approaching alumni.” The event really does give students insight into what post-graduation life is like, said Nick Papillo, ’15, regional client director with Mind Gym in New York City. “The transition period (to post-college life) can seem pretty daunting – Young Alumni Day exists to change that. ...The real-world challenges associated with this transition can be discussed in an open and collaborative format,” he said. “The result? Students are more informed, better connected and able to take on the next phase of their lives in stride.” When Papillo was a student, he viewed the event strictly as a learning opportunity. “What I didn’t realize was how powerful the networking aspect of it would prove to be, years later,” he said. “A huge reason why I was able to move to New York City post-graduation was due to the connections I made at Young Alumni Day in my senior year.” Katie Twigg, ’17, an analyst with American Express, viewed Young Alumni Day as one of her favorite events within the Kania School. As a student, she felt comfortable enough to ask questions that she might not ask in another setting. As an alumna, she could talk candidly about the challenges of finding a job. Interim Dean Murli Rajan, Ph.D., is proud of the high level of engagement the Kania School has with its alumni and called Young Alumni Day a prime example Speakers at the 2018 Kania Young Alumni Day were, from left: Jordan Den Herder, ’17; Raheel of that. Malik, ’10; Christopher Schank, ’12; Nick D’Andrea, ’14, G’16; Michael Bianco, ’16; Katherine “These alumni give up their weekend Twigg, ’17; Amanda Marcy, ’10, G’11; Jessica Signore, ’17; Allison DeCarlo, ’16; Amanda Sonzogni, ’15; Erin Fetsko, ’16; James Jencarelli, ’16; Taggart McGurrin, ’11; Larissa Hoffmann, to mentor and provide valuable career guidance to current students,” he said. “It ’16; Bill Harding, ’13; Ihyisha Simms, ’08; and Tim Harding, ’15. Absent from photo: Nicole Cruciani, ’10. is truly a reflection of Jesuit ideals being put into practice.” Nick Papillo, ’15, regional client director at Mind Gym, New York City, (top) talks with students at the 2017 Young Alumni Day. – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

Executive in Residence Program Offers Industry Insight and Career Advice

Executive in Residence John Dionne, ’86 (top), speaks to students in a Fixed Income Securities and Markets class. Andrew Dinnhaupt, ’89, left, and Frank Fetsko, ’86, speak in an undergraduate economics class last fall as part of the Executive in Residence Program.

“The Executive in Residence program at Kania is a great way for me to give back to the University with my time and experience,” said Andy Dinnhaupt, ’89, portfolio manager at Franklin Mutual Advisors and a frequent participant in the program. “My goal in participating in the program is to give the students an awareness, through my experiences, of the tools they can utilize from their Scranton experience to be successful as they transition into the working world. I always come away from the day with an appreciation of the positive impact the Kania School is making on the students through programs like this.” – Murli Rajan

spring 2019

ach semester in the Kania School, senior-level business executives set up shop for a day in a third-floor office suite of Brennan Hall. But they’re not here to conduct job interviews. They’ve come to campus to offer insight about their fields and share their experience with our students and faculty. This is Kania’s Executive in Residence program, which commenced in Fall 2013 and has featured 29 participants thus far. The program’s primary purpose is to provide students with a window into the world of business and learn from the experiences of very successful executives. The executives come from a wide range of businesses, including non-profits, and they interact with students in a variety of ways. They speak to underclassmen and upperclassmen in classes, discussing the nature of the work in their fields and providing career advice. In their presentations to underclassmen, the executives tend to focus on the types of things students should be doing now to prepare themselves for the internship search. Discussions with upperclassmen revolve around specifics of a field and the job search process. During the visit, students also have the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one meetings with the executives. The program has been successful because students not only learn about the most current business practices, but are also exposed to the thoughts of these senior executives on career planning, effective networking, and the importance of ethics. “The Executive in Residence program has provided me with a unique opportunity to develop lasting relationships with leaders in the financial services industry, said Patrick Budicini, a junior finance and accounting major. “While hearing these alumni speak on panels and meeting with them in small groups, I developed a greater understanding of the recruiting process and ways to differentiate myself in competitive groups of applicants for internships and jobs.” Many of the executives are alumni who enjoy the opportunity to return to campus.

corporate partnership

Geisinger Health System Collaborating with Kania

ealthcare in the United States is going through a major transformative period. By all accounts, Geisinger Health System is a leading player in this evolution. Besides running 13 hospital campuses and other healthcare facilities, the company operates the Geisinger Health Plan, which had 583,524 members in 2017, and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton. In 2018, the medical school graduated the largest class in its history, with 97 students. Such significant numbers belie the nonprofit healthcare organization’s humble beginnings. Abigail Geisinger — the widow of George Geisinger, a wealthy Danville, Pa., businessman — built a hospital to serve the region. The original George F. Geisinger Memorial Hospital opened in September 1915. A celebration had been scheduled to mark the opening, but a typhoid outbreak caused the event to be cancelled — and the hospital to open earlier than planned. Today, Geisinger Health System has become a trendsetter in the industry, with a focus on increased process improvement, increased quality of care, cost cutting, and evolving leadership opportunities for medical professionals. This evolution has resulted in a strong association between Geisinger and the Kania School. In the fall of 2015 — 100 years after the original hospital opened — the school began offering MBA classes to Geisinger

employees on-site at Geisinger locations. Geisinger’s chief human resources officer, Amy Brayford, and the executive leadership team had been looking for a high-quality, faceto-face MBA program for key employees, without requiring them to travel to a university campus. Rick Flynn, Geisinger’s director of organizational development in human resources, contacted then-Associate Dean Dean Murli Rajan, Ph.D., CFA,. Kania was one of many schools Geisinger administrators were considering. With Flynn’s input, Dr. Rajan and former dean Michael Mensah, Ph.D., designed a customized MBA program to be taught at Geisinger locations. Interim Associate Dean David Salerno, Ph.D., CPA, was named program director. Geisinger chose Kania’s proposal, and the first cohort began their studies at Geisinger’s Danville facility that fall. Since then, other cohorts at Geisinger’s Lewistown and Wyoming Valley locations have received MBA instruction. To date, two cohorts have graduated, and instruction continues at all three facilities The best evidence of the MBA program’s success comes from its participants. Sanjay Doddamani, M.D., chief medical officer, Geisinger at Home, noted, “As a physician immersed in caring as part of a broader care team, the MBA afforded me a much greater understanding of strategy, planning and clinical operations.” – David Salerno

Kania magazine

GEISINGER AT A GLANCE – Fiscal Year 2017 Statistics

Employees: 30,609 Outpatient Visits: 6,358,749 Emergency Department Visits: 346,505 Surgeries: 119,866 Births: 7,370 Patient Air Transports: 2,192 Revenue: $6.3 billion Geisinger Hospital for Advanced Medicine, located in Danville.

(Source: Geisinger’s 2017 Annual Report)

community impact Business Students Form Service Club Kania means business, as our slogan says. instance, or help identify new markets to tap, said Budicini, But Kania also means service. a junior finance and accounting major. Following the ideals that are part of a Jesuit business “We were thrilled when the Kania Service Society education, students Patrick Budicini and Kevin Bronander expressed an interest in helping us provide consulting sercreated a club within the business school that offers students vices to the small businesses in our region,” said Lisa Hall the chance to perform impactful community Zielinski, SBDC director. “Participating busiservice. Called the Kania Service Society, it nesses will get help completing projects launched in the fall of 2017. and addressing challenges while students Since then, members have taught finanwill have the chance to use their knowledge cial literacy to elementary school students, to solve real business issues and add valuin partnership with the Junior Achievement able experience to their resumes.” organization. They have also helped with Budicini came up with the beginnings of street sweeps in the Hill Section and a an idea for a service society after attending “safe trick-or-treat” program where kids Juniors Kevin Bronander and Patrick a Jesuit Business Student Alliance conferfrom local neighborhoods visit University Budicini founded the Kania Service ence at Fordham University. Society in 2017. residence halls at Halloween. “Students from other schools talked The society’s next project is a pilot program with the about business-related service that they were involved Small Business Development Center, where students in,” Budicini said. “That got me thinking that this might be will offer consulting services to small businesses in the a good idea to bring back to Scranton.” Scranton area. They can help develop business plans, for – Kristin Wintermantel Durkin

Student Interns Help Transform Lives

spring 2019

When Carolyn Giordano ’19 was encouraged as by learning how to access resources, develop a sophomore to apply for an internship with the business plans, and build the confidence to work University’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Center toward their dreams of owning a business. (WEC), she didn’t think twice. As she pursued “Interning with the Women’s Entrepreneurship her bachelor’s in management, it was important Center has been a great way to combine what I’m to her to find ways to help people. She thought learning in school with real business experience, an internship with the center would be a perfect while I also make a difference in the local commuCarolyn Giordano fit. Five semesters later, Giordano is still interning nity,” said Giordano, of Annandale, New Jersey. there. Since 2010, 42 students have completed internships Meaningful relationships develop over each semester with WEC, a partnership between the Kania School of Manas clients and students celebrate successes and find ways agement and Small Business Development Center (SBDC). to overcome challenges. Interns and SBDC staff offer business start-up information, “The work we do can seem simple on the surface,” guidance and encouragement to low-income women, those in said Giordano, of Annandale, New Jersey. “But then you transition or those trying to make a better life for themselves remember you’re impacting someone’s life.” and their families. The students gain experience in a number of To date, more than 200 women have completed the ways. They work one-on-one with clients, present training sesStartUP series and 33 have started businesses with assissions during the StartUP series, and write a monthly column in tance provided by WEC. Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal. The clients benefit – Lisa Hall-Zielinski

Program Offers College Opportunity for High School Students

Kania magazine

ineteen high school students from Northeastern Pennsylvania became the Kania School’s first Business High School Scholars last summer. They comprise the first cohort of the pilot program, which allows teens who meet academic requirements to take business courses within the Kania School at a reduced tuition rate. The intent of this initiative is to find sophomore and junior high school students interested in pursuing a business degree at The first cohort of students in the new Business High School Scholars pilot program Scranton, and to provide financial support completed their first college course last summer. Seated, from left, are: University of to participants from economically disadvan- Scranton accounting professors Daniel Mahoney, Ph.D., Douglas M. Boyle, D.B.A., and James Boyle, D.B.A.; Jeff Gingerich, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic taged backgrounds. affairs; and Tracy Bannon, University Trustee and member of the Business High School “I grew up in the west side of Scranton, Scholars Alumni Advisory Board. Standing: Peter Butera, Business High School Scholars and the education I was granted at The Alumni Advisory Board; Rev. Patrick D. Francis Rogers, S.J., executive director of The University of Scranton changed my life. I Jesuit Center; and Business High School Scholars pilot program participants: Christopher want to be sure that the same opportuni- Newell, Madison Green, Marisol Olivares Hernandez, Martin Cryan, Kylie Seyler, Emily ties are available for the kids living in my Herron, Alyssa Moore, Mallory deQuevedo, Emma Boyle, Madison Munley, Lauramarie Strage, Randall Bonitz, Charles Leo, Joseph Kologe and Mackenzie McHale. old neighborhood today,” said Douglas M. ■ Emma Boyle, Commonwealth Charter Academy Boyle, D.B.A., CPA, CMA. ■ Martin Cryan, Holy Redeemer High School Dr. Boyle graduated from the University in 1988. He is ■ Mallory deQuevedo, Mid Valley Secondary Center leading the program in collaboration with other alumni from ■ Tabitha Getz, Dunmore High School the region who also teach in Kania, including accounting ■ Madison Green, Valley View High School professors James Boyle, D.B.A., CPA, ’86, and Daniel P. ■ Emily Herron, Lackawanna Trail Junior-Senior Mahoney, Ph.D., CPA, CFE, ’81. High School Associate Professor S.P. Chattopadhyay, Ph.D., chair ■ Joseph Kologe, West Scranton High School of the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship ■ Charles Leo, Wyoming Seminary department, will also be teaching in the program. Courses ■ Mackenzie McHale, Valley View High School outside of business will be taught by Rev. Patrick D. Francis ■ Alyssa Moore, Mid Valley Secondary Center Rogers, S.J., executive director of The Jesuit Center, and ■ Madison Munley, Lakeland Junior-Senior High School Rev. Rick Malloy, S.J., Ph.D., University chaplain. ■ Christopher Newell, Abington Heights High School All faculty in the program will donate their compensation ■ Marisol Olivares Hernandez, North Pocono High School from these courses into the Boyle-Mahoney Scholarship ■ Autumn Savitski, Lake Lehman Junior-Senior Fund, which helps participating students from economically High School disadvantaged backgrounds. Additional support is being pro■ Kylie Seyler, Wyoming Seminary vided by the University’s Offices of Enrollment Management, ■ Lauramarie Strage, Crestwood High School Advancement and Finance, as well as alumni donors. ■ Trinity Veaudry, Riverside Junior-Senior High School Students who completed the first cohort of the Business ■ Zi Xuan Weng, James M. Coughlin High School High School Scholars program are: ■ Randall Bonitz, West Scranton High School – Douglas Boyle

Kania Trains Nonprofit Leaders In the spring of 2017, 15 executives from local nonprofit organizations began meeting with Kania professors to enhance their business and leadership skills. It marked the kickoff of a new effort by the University — the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program. Led by Associate Professor Douglas Boyle, D.B.A., CPA, CMA, the certificate program offers a rigorous academic component taught by Kania faculty, along with a mentorship and experiential learning. This professional development program focuses on providing leaders with the knowledge and insight necessary for them to help their organizations achieve their missions. Topics including fiscal management, marketing, grants and fundraising are included in the coursework. Participants also complete a capstone project — forming a comprehensive plan to solve a current issue faced by their organizations. According to Patrick Quinn, director of residential and adult services, ARC of NEPA, who was a member of the first cohort in 2017, the program helped him to “refine knowledge and define direction” for his career and for the nonprofit organization he serves. The program also provided him with the chance to collaborate with representatives of other area nonprofits. Local sponsors of the program are: AllOne Foundation and Charities, Geisinger Health System Foundation, The Luzerne Foundation, Moses Taylor Foundation, The University of Scranton and the Weinberg Foundation.

Members of the second cohort of students of The University of Scranton’s Nonprofit Leadership Certificate program met with faculty members at a ceremony on campus in Fall 2018. Seated, from left: Tonyehn Verkitus, Luzerne and Lackawanna Medical Societies; Athena Aardweg, NEPA Alliance; Kristen N. Follert, NEPA Community Health Care; Lauren Pluskey McLain, The Kirby Center; and Douglas Boyle, D.B.A., director of the Nonprofit Leadership Program at Scranton. Standing, from left: Angeline Abraham, Employment Opportunity Center; Katlyn J. Gardner, NEPA Community Health Care; Eloise Butovich, University of Scranton; Diane Dutko, The Luzerne Foundation; Gretchen Hunt Greaves, Commission on Economic Opportunity; Shannon Hayward, Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc.; Elizabeth Hughes, Earth Conservancy; David Falchek, American Wine Society; Janine Tomaszewski, Johnson College; April Kemp, Marley’s Mission; Teddy Michel, Ignatian Volunteer Corps of NEPA; Todd Pousley, NeighborWorks NEPA; and Nonprofit Leadership Program faculty members Jesse Ergott and Kurt Bauman. Absent from photo were: Joseph Salva, Individual Abilities in Motion; and Alison Woody, Geisinger Health Foundation.

VITA Program Provides Service to the Community and Learning Opportunities for Students The United Way recruits community volunteers and students from Lackawanna College. The United Way is supervised by two University graduates who were interns in the program. Other program partners include United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA, the Lackawanna County Library System, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of NEPA, and the Internal Revenue Service. “The community and students greatly benefit from the expertise and passion Joe demonstrates every year. The Accounting Department is most grateful for his willingness to serve those in need and help our students gain valuable practice experience though the VITA program,” said Douglas M. Boyle, DBA, CPA, CMA, Accounting Department chair. – Joseph Hammond

spring 2019

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) has been an important program for the local community and students for over 40 years The Kania School offers the tax service from Super Bowl Sunday until the first week of April to low-income and elderly taxpayers with incomes less than $55,000. The program has two branches — the service at the University and the service provided by the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. The branches serve between 2,000 and 2,400 clients each year. The United Way goes to libraries and senior centers in the two counties by appointment, while the University service is walk-in. The University has student interns and volunteers doing the preparation under the supervision of Joseph A. Hammond Jr., MBA, CPA.

Kania Faculty – Promoting the Jesuit Ideal of Service Both In and Out of the Classroom

en and women for others. That concept of service is one of the hallmarks of Jesuit education. It’s one of the values we strive to instill in our students — and one that is seen in the lives and work of our faculty. From leading students on service trips around the world to working with refugees, Kania faculty serve as exemplars of community service:

In 2018, Hamza Adeinat, Ph.D., assistant professor of operations and information management, served on a University team that assisted a refugee family from Sudan. Over several months the team visited the family, often bringing supplies for their newborn baby and literacy materials for the parents, who spoke an obscure Sudanese dialect but no English. Dr. Adeinat was previously involved with refugee work in Texas. “This is something that I like to do,” he said. “If you don’t help people around you, then what’s the point?” •

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Jordan Petsas, Ph.D., and Aram Balagyozyan, Ph.D., of the Economics and Finance Department, taught several online economics courses for refugees in Kenya. The classes were run through Jesuit Commons: Higher Education at the Margins, a consortium of Jesuit uniAram Balagyozyan versities that provides online education to people in refugee camps around the world. The professors volunteered for the work because they liked the idea of helping students who otherwise might not have access to higher education. •

Jordan Petsas

Kania magazine

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Dr. Petsas is also a board member of the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, which promotes the economic reforms and social philosophy advocated by the late Henry George. The organization also conducts scholarly research and other projects to promote George’s ideas as they apply to current events.

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Yibai Li, Ph.D., associate professor of operations and information management, undertook a data mining project with his students in 2018 to help an egg wholesaler solve a specific business problem. An executive from R.W. Sauder Inc. contacted Dr. Li for help — the company needed a data mining model that could predict egg prices six weeks ahead of time, in order to better manage its inventory. Dr. Li turned the request into a project for his data mining class. Students used the company’s 10-year sales numbers and egg prices and other information like Avian flu and severe weather incidents over the past decade. The students tried algorithms they learned in class. Their best performing model could predict the price of eggs six weeks in advance at an accuracy rate of about 93%. The students presented their results to the CEO and company executives.

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After completing the 18-month Ignatian Colleagues Program, Rose Sebastianelli, Ph.D., organized a seminar for Kania faculty, “Business Education for Justice.” One project that emerged was a collaborative effort with Ozgur Isil, Ph.D., and Yibai Li, Ph.D., to infuse social justice into core courses in statistics, management science, operations and information management. The coverage of missionrelated themes (ethics, responsibility and sustainability) in the core helps impart Jesuit ideals to business students.

Advisory Boards ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

ECONOMICS & FINANCE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD

Joseph A. Aldcowski – Solus Alternative Asset Management LP

Ryan Champagne – SumRidge Partners LLC

Jeff Bharkhda – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Joseph McCormack, Ph.D. – Capital One

Kenneth Bounds – Ernst & Young

Deborah McGovern – J.P. Morgan

Douglas M. Boyle, D.B.A. – The University of Scranton

Philip Mooney – Citi

James Boyle, D.B.A. – The University of Scranton Peter Butera – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Brian Carpenter, Ph.D. – The University of Scranton Joe Cleary – Morey’s Piers, Beachfront Water Parks & Resorts Thomas J. Collura – Hodgson Russ LLP Larry Cusack – KPMG LLP Bill Farrell – Five Star Equipment, Inc. Daniel Farrell – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Denise M. Fleming – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Robert Grasso – Deloitte & Touche LLP Frances Gray – Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group Kevin Grzelak – Sirius Group Michael Guarnuccio – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Tera Hatler – Ernst & Young Mary Haveron – Accounting Consultant Patrick Haveron – Maiden Reinsurance, Ltd. Tim Kacani – Atlas Merchant Capital, LLC Paul Lameo – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Charles A. Lenns, Esq. – Con Edison (retired) Bill Lewis – Guidehouse Peter J. Loftus – Baker Tilly, LLP (retired)

Andres Cevallos – Morgan Stanley

Marc Simpson – J.P. Morgan Bradford Tully – J.P. Morgan

ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD Jane Alperin – Jane Leslie & Co. Mandy Antoniacci – ChangeUp Ventures, LLC George Evans – Convergence, Inc. Christian Klacko – Micronotes, Inc. Taggart McGurrin – Neumentum, Inc. Kathryn Olives – Zahn Innovation Center Satya N. Prattipati, Ph.D. – The University of Scranton Jason Sensi – Campus Kaizen Layla Tabatabaie, Esq. – Consultant Jason Washo – Sho Technology Solutions, LLC

MARKETING DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD Mandy Antoniacci – ChangeUp Ventures, LLC Joseph Bailey – Harrison and Star Philip P. Condron – Condron Media Kimberly Craven – Oxford University Press

Larry Lynch – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Tony D’Amato – Vintage Tub & Bath

Daniel P. Mahoney, Ph.D. – The University of Scranton

Natali Freeling – National Geographic Partners

David McCormack – IMA Global Board of Directors

David Guarino – S & P Global

Dennis McGonigle – SEI Investments, Inc.

Jim Hathaway – Bed Bath & Beyond

Linda McGowan – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Kathleen Horan – Ipsos

Tim McKenna – Seagis Property Group, LP

Mike MacLeod – Toluna

Stephanie (Tulaney) Mihal – McGrail, Merkel, Quinn & Associates P.C.

Joann Marsili – Fidelity Bank

Christopher O’Hara – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Jessica Palmeri – KeldairHR

Santo Pittsman – Trader Tools, Inc.

Bob Scaglione – Ziff Davis

Brian T. Regan – Regan, Levin, Bloss, Brown & Savchak, P.C.

Jennifer Szymanik – Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Mark Santarsiero – Marshall & Stevens, Inc. Russell J. Sapienza – Black Diamond Global Advisors LLC Jay Shepulski – Withum Edward J. Steinmetz – The University of Scranton Barry Szarvas – BlackRock Tom Valvano – Grant Thornton LLP

OPERATIONS & INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ADVISORY BOARD Michael Auriemma – VaxServe Tony Bartocci – Posture Interactive Tim Calpin – The Scranton Times-Tribune

Timothy Vecchiarelli – Deloitte

Nadia Dailey – JUJAMA, Inc.

Kristin L. Vrabel – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Craig Gallagher – Sanofi Pasteur

Joe Walsh – PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Brad Jones – Tobyhanna Army Depot (retired)

Harry W. Zike – Chinook Sciences, LLC

spring 2019

Joseph Vaszily – Goldman Sachs (retired)

KANIA SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD Heather M. Acker – Gentex Corp.

Jack J. Lynch III – Mainline Health Systems

Jane Alperin – Jane Leslie & Co.

Raheel Malik – Goldman Sachs

Richard Bishop, Esq. – Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn, P.C.

Paul S. Mansour – The Carlisle Group

John E. Brennan – Southern Union Co. (retired)

Martina A. Martin – United Way of Central Maryland

Al Brower – Entrepreneur

Linda M. McGowan – PricewaterhouseCoopers

Joseph W. Bruzzesi – BitGo, Inc.

Robert McKeage, Ph.D. – The University of Scranton

Austin Burke – Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce (retired)

Brian P. McKenna – Sanofi Pasteur Inc.

Christopher M. Condron – AXA Financial, Inc. (retired)

Robert W. Naismith, Ph.D. – JUJAMA, Inc.

Louis A. DeNaples – DeNaples Auto Parts

Todd O’Malley, Esq. – O’Malley and Langan Law Firm

Rita DiLeo – Deloitte Services, LP

James J. Peters Jr. – Consultant

Amy D. Downey – JP Morgan

Thomas M. Pierce – BDO Seidman, LLP

Francis J. Dubas Jr. – Deloitte & Touche (retired)

Carlon E. Preate – Parente Randolph, LLC (retired)

Frank M. Fetsko – Tompkins Financial Corporation

Tim Pryle – The University of Scranton

Frederick T. Fuchs – Morgan Stanley

Shirley M. Puccino – GeoBlue

Stephen L. Hudacek – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Michael H. Reilly – MetLife, Inc.

Christopher J. Kane – Kane is Able, Inc. Arthur J. Kania, Esq. – Kania, Lindner, Lasak & Feeney

Stephen E. Sandherr, Esq. – Associated General Contractors of America

James A. Kelly III – The Safety Tag

Richard A. Yarmey, Esq. – Investment Consultant

Brian Kilcullen – Kilcullen and Company Robert Knowles – Knowles Associates Judith A. Kosydar – US Bank Thomas S. Kucinski – Information Services Group Edward Leahy – Solsuus LLC

Kania magazine

William Lynett – The (Scranton) Times-Tribune

Several members of the Kania School Advisory Board gather at their Fall 2018 meeting. From left are: Raheel Malik; Robert Knowles; Frank Fetsko, chairman; Todd O’Malley; Jack Brennan; Judith Kosydar; Richard Yarmey; Linda McGowan; Dr. Murli Rajan, interim dean; and Dr. David Salerno, interim associate dean.

student success 2018 Student Award Winners UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS FOR EACH MAJOR

GRADUATE AWARDS FOR EACH MBA SPECIALIZATION

Accounting – Patrick Tuzzo

Accounting – Erin Fleschner

Business Administration – Brendon A. Feliciano

Enterprise Resource Planning – Jason DeStefano

Economics – Alexander N. Wolan

Finance – Syed Hurr Hamdani

Electronic Commerce – Sirui Li

General Business – Michael Newell

Entrepreneurship – Andre L. Camayd

Healthcare Management – Nicholas Bunts

Finance – Sean P. Lam

Human Resources – Christopher Cambria

International Business – Rachel DiBisceglie

International Business – Kaley Crebs

Management – Jessica M. Principi

Management Information Systems – Marco Richione, IV

Marketing – Lauren Kate Roberto

Marketing – Stephanie Lynn Tantum Conserette

Operations Management – Ryan Coonahan

Operations Management – Christopher Scott

Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award – Jessica Campbell and Michael Thiel

GRADUATE AWARD FOR MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY PROGRAM Hessa Salman Alghadeer

Marketing Society Hosts NASCAR Day on Campus Can you change a tire faster than a NASCAR pit crew can? A crowd of Scranton students showed up at the Commons one day last spring to answer that very question. Led by Mark Miller, ’19, the Marketing Society organized the University’s first-ever NASCAR Day in April 2018. It was a collaboration between the society and Pocono Raceway, which holds what it calls “College Tour” events on college campuses in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Pocono officials brought the racetrack’s pace car, a silverand-black Chevy Camaro, to Scranton, along with the equipment for a “pit stop tire challenge,” where students were timed to see how quickly they could change a NASCAR tire. Todd Gilliland, who drives a Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Series, spoke in the Communications Department’s “Social Media and Sports” class and also did a meet-and-greet with students.

spring 2019

800 Linden Street Scranton, PA 18510

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The University of Scranton is committed to providing a safe and nondiscriminatory employment and educational environment. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other status protected by law. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination and sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policies may be directed to Elizabeth M. Garcia, executive director, Office of Equity and Diversity, 570.941.6645.

The Kania Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irwin E. Alperin Financial Center is a state-ofthe-art finance lab and simulated stock trading room. It features Bloomberg terminals, an electronic ticker, specialized trading software and live data feeds, all of which help students obtain hands-on experience with stock and foreign currency markets.

Kania Magazine - Spring 2019

Articles inside

Passport Program Adds to Students' Skill Set

Human Resources Executive Finds Meaning Engaging with Students