Penn State Behrend - Sam and Irene Black School of Business

10/08/2026

We would like to recognize and celebrate this year's award winners from our Spring Banquet and Awards ceremony. Join us in congratulating them!

The Advisory Board Spotlight Award recognizes outstanding board members who have contributed significantly to advancing the mission of the Black School of Business.

Our first Spotlight Award goes to Craig Palmer, CEO of Erie Water Works and a Behrend MBA alumnus. Since joining our Advisory Board in 2025, Craig has been a consistent and engaged contributor, bringing his professional expertise to advance the impact our School is making in the community

Our second Spotlight Award goes to Willem Buiter, an independent economic advisor and commentator whose career has spanned major global finance institutions, including Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He has also advised the IMF, the World Bank, and numerous governments and central banks, and held academic appointments at Princeton, LSE, Yale, and Cambridge.

Willem has served on our Advisory Board since 2015 and remains an active and consistently engaged member. Over that time, he has brought a global perspective that has strengthened our understanding of the broader economic forces shaping our region. His connection to our School is also personal, with his son a graduate of the Black School of Business.

Congrats Craig and Willem!

08/08/2026

07/08/2026

Before the school year officially begins, our newest students are already building connections, finding their way around campus, and discovering the support available to them through New Student Orientation.

Seeing freshmen arrive with questions and leave with confidence is one of the most rewarding parts of student engagement. We're helping students feel welcomed, supported, and ready to thrive from day one.

07/08/2026

💻 Congratulations to our Outstanding MIS Student! Your innovation and technical expertise are driving the future of business solutions.

06/08/2026

🚚📦 Celebrating excellence in operations! Congratulations to our Outstanding Project & Supply Chain Management Student—your impact is far-reaching.

06/08/2026

🎓👏 We’re proud to honor our Outstanding MBA Student (Erie)! Your leadership, dedication, and academic excellence truly stand out.

05/08/2026

"I chose Penn State Behrend for its strong reputation in the business community. The program's close-knit community and accessible faculty also felt like the right fit for my learning style. Being a non Penn State undergrad means that I am able to access the prestigious alumni network as a graduate student now, which will be invaluable to my future career aspirations of leading and managing effective teams in the business world." - Matthew Hilliard, Occupational Therapist, Hand & Upper Body Rehabilitation Center. Learn more about obtaining your Penn State MBA today! behrend.psu.edu/graduate-programs.

05/08/2026

Wednesday Faculty Research Spotlight 🥳

We’re excited to celebrate another outstanding publication achievement!

Congratulations to William H.A. Johnson, alongside co-authors Longzhu D**g, Ming Li (Lily), and Vas Taras, on their publication in the Journal of International Management.

Paper Title: Transcending Conflict in Global Virtual Teams: Multi-level Effects of Cultural Intelligence and Perceptions of Conflict on Subjective and Objective Outcomes

This study explores how cultural intelligence (CQ) shapes conflict dynamics and performance in global virtual teams. The findings show that:
• Higher levels of cultural intelligence reduce team conflict and improve overall outcomes
• Cultural intelligence enhances both objective performance (e.g., quality and creativity) and subjective outcomes (e.g., satisfaction and enjoyment)
• Different types of conflict have distinct effects—task conflict can improve performance, while relationship and process conflicts hinder it

The research highlights the importance of developing cultural intelligence to better manage conflict, foster collaboration, and improve performance in globally distributed teams.

Read the full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1075425324001005

Interested in learning more or collaborating? Feel free to connect with the authors!

04/08/2026

🎓 Congratulations to our Outstanding MBA Student (Cranberry)! Your commitment to growth and leadership is commendable.

04/08/2026

Do you know that we have students who do not attend graduation because they can't afford a cap and gown? If you are a recent grad, pay it forward by donating your cap and gown - keep the tassel - to another student. Visit behrend.psu.edu/gowns to learn how to give your gown another chance to walk across the stage.