Business & Public Management
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Contact Business & Public ManagementBusiness & Public Management
Dean's Office
Address:
Business and Public Management Center
Third Floor
50 Sharpless Street
West Chester, PA 19383
Email:
CBPM@wcupa.edu
Phone:
610-436-2930
Name: Dr. Evan Leach
Position: Interim Dean
Email: ELeach@wcupa.edu
Name: Dr. Lisa M. Calvano
Position: Interim Associate Dean
Email: LCalvano@wcupa.edu
Name: Kathy Koval
Position: Assistant Dean, Director of Business and Public Management Programs
Email: KKoval@wcupa.edu
Name: Cindy Cheyney
Position: Assistant Dean
Email: CCheyney@wcupa.edu
Name: Danah Allen
Position: Communication and Digital Media Manager
Email: DAllen@wcupa.edu
Name: Laurie Christie
Position: Administrative Assistant to the Dean
Email: LChristie@wcupa.edu
Name: Julie Ferris
Position: Receptionist
Email: JFerris@wcupa.edu
News
Innovative Use of GIS Nets International Award for Geography and Planning
July 24, 2019
West Chester University’s Department of Geography and Planning was honored with a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award during the annual Esri User Conference, held in San Diego, CA, this summer. More than 19,000 professionals, educators, and students attended the conference.
WCU was one of only three institutions of higher education that received an award out of 178 institutions acknowledged this year in fields spanning local government, agriculture, environmental analysis, emergency response, retail, and water management. Esri’s annual SAG Awards recognize select organizations from around the world that are using geospatial technology to solve pressing challenges and those setting new precedents and innovation in the use of GIS.
Calling the award “a fantastic honor,” Gary Coutu, WCU professor of geography and planning, noted that the department received the award for its innovative use of GIS and 3D modeling for facilities mapping and management of campus. A WCU team created a virtual reality model of campus to allow a user to “walk around” campus as a tour and to envision new campus buildings, public space, and review tree growth, over time, across campus. A web-based scene of this application was produced to share these visualizations across the internet. Seven students who worked on specific aspects of the 3D project were Kevin Hazley, Morgan Sapia, Jason Karian, Kyle Erisman, Rich Simpson, Tyler LaMantia, and Eric Quinn.
Graduate assistant Sapia also assisted Coutu this summer with creation of a 3D image and map of the interior of the Business and Public Management Center, where the department and GIS lab are located. Working with Matthew Waychoff, building information architect at Philadelphia-based mobile capture and computational modeling company StartingPoints.xyz, they used a handheld LIDAR camera to capture imagery that is being integrated into their current 3D model of the building. It will be online later this semester.
Individual buildings are also being modeled for office and classroom management. This includes a QR code-enhanced building management application that allows facilities personnel to inventory a room and create a work order to request maintenance. The next application of the indoor models will be for emergency response and delivery management.
“West Chester University has a special relationship with Esri,” notes Coutu. “We use the entire suite of their software and it is part of our education, research, and management activities. Our in-depth knowledge of GIS software and geospatial software has given us the opportunity to work closely with Esri solutions engineers: We have served as beta-testers for some of their software. Students come to WCU to learn GIS because of our reputation and relationship with Esri. Eight of our alumni currently work at ESRI headquarters in Redlands [CA] and we have about 10 other alumni at ESRI Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Denver. It is exciting to be associated with a company that is so innovative and committed to action on local and global issues.”
Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, builds ArcGIS, the leading mapping and spatial analytics software for desktop, software as a service (SaaS), and enterprise applications.
WCU’s project deployed this tech: ArcGIS, ArcGIS Pro, AGOL, CityEngine, Collector, Survey123, Workforce, Business Analyst, Community Analyst, Geoplanner, ArcGIS 360 VR, and ArcGIS Indoors (beta).
West Chester Student Wins Eighth Annual Student Business Plan Competition
April 4, 2019
West Chester University of Pennsylvania student Salih Salaam, a junior accounting major, captured first place and the $10,000 top prize at Wednesday evening's eighth annual Student Business Plan Competition sponsored by Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education.
Salaam developed "Tutors 4 University Students," a plan for connecting college students with tutors "whenever" and "wherever" they need them. This service matches students with tutors in the subjects where they need help "at a price point affordable by the student and attractive to the qualified tutors."
The annual business plan competition is designed to provide students entrepreneurs an opportunity to share their original business plans and to win funds to assist in the start-up or expansion of their businesses. Students from all 14 State System universities were invited to participate in the competition.
The awards were presented during a ceremony held at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg. West Chester University also had two other students selected as finalists this year.
The other WCU students and the business plans submitted are:
William Todd: Nexus Integrated Security Solutions. Provides premium security services to commercial, industrial, and retail clients.
Matthew Heilman: Wish Respect. Offers a first-of-its-kind advance care documentation ecosystem that allows healthcare payers to store and share their members' wishes with loved ones and providers.
In addition to the business plan awards, the seven best poster displays from participants who did not make it to the finalist round were honored. WCU's Braedon Swindler exhibited his poster plan for Entourage Music, a web-based central repository for emerging musicians to raise funds, develop fan-focused communities, and network with other artists.
Judges for the finalist round were Sheri R. Collins, deputy secretary for the Office of Technology & Innovation in the state Department of Community and Economic Development; Michael Gildea, founder and CEO of Brain Gain, LLC; Chris Rhine, university development manager for the Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU); Laura Potthoff, director of business & workforce development for the Cumberland Area Economics Development Corporation; and Matthew Lancaster, president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Keiretsu Forum.
Marketing Students Earn Google Analytics Certification
December 17, 2018
West Chester University’s Department of Marketing offered 38 students enrolled in
the Special Topics in Marketing (Marketing Analytics) course during the fall semester
the opportunity to study basic and advanced Google Analytics, and all 38 students
have recently obtained their Google Analytics Individual Certification.
“Google Analytics is a very important skill for today’s marketers and it vital to
learn,” said Olivia Bortner ’19. “This course and others like it are crucial for the
advancement and success of marketing majors.”
Google Analytics Certification is the leading accreditation in the domain of digital
analytics. Students learned all the major metrics, traffic channels, e-commerce funnels,
and digital campaign decision making before they were certified by Google Analytics
Academy.
“Knowing Google Analytics and how it is used is crucial in today’s marketing landscape,”
said Tyler Hopkins ’18. “It’s a one-stop-shop for any information or reports that
a company would need in order to evaluate and strengthen their marketing strategies,
especially as it pertains to e-commerce.”
With Google Analytics Certification, students became initially qualified for digital
marketing jobs. There are currently over 16,000 marketing jobs in the United States
listed on Indeed.com that require analytical knowledge and skills based on Google
Analytics. Through earning this certification, WCU marketing students have better
positioned themselves in the job market with skills in digital analytics.
“I’m walking out of WCU certified in Google Analytics,” said Christina Valerio ’18.
“Having this certification was a talking point in an interview for my job after graduation,
and my future employer was very impressed that I would be able to qualify leads based
on my analytics experience.”
WCU’s Criminal Justice Student Association Racks Up Awards At Regionals
Members of the West Chester University Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) attended the American Criminal Justice Association (Lambda Alpha Epsilon) Regional Competition in King of Prussia, Pa., October 25-27, 2018. WCU students came away from the conference winning 28 individual and team awards, with 16 of those awards coming in the academic categories. West Chester also earned the 2018 ACJA Region IV Runner-up Award. West Chester University students who won awards at the regional competition are listed below:
Criminal Law (2nd place, Lower Division) – Grace Whitney
Criminal Law (3rd place, Upper Division) – Matt Ginieczki
Corrections (1st place, Lower) – Nicholas Ruggeri
Corrections (3rd place, Upper) – Jesse Clement
Corrections (2nd pace, Upper) – Amanda DeLuca
Corrections (1st pace, Upper) – Matt Ginieczki
Juvenile Justice (2nd place, Lower) – Grace Whitney
Juvenile Justice (1st place, Lower) – Danielle Stagliano
Juvenile Justice (2nd place, Upper) – Deja LaVango
Juvenile Justice (1st place, Upper) – Jordan Montalvo
Policing (1st place, Lower) – Jolanda Dzimira
Policing (3rd place, Upper) – Matt Ginieczki
Policing (2nd place, Upper) – Jordan Montalvo
Physical Fitness (3rd place, 25-35 yrs old) – Jose Tena
Physical Fitness (3rd pace, 36-up yrs old) – Dr. Chris Przemieniecki
Physical Fitness (2nd place, 18-24 yrs old) – Nyara Sparks
Firearms Individual (3rd place, Lower) – Riley Milligan
Firearms Individual (2nd place, Lower) – Nicholas Ruggeri
Firearms Individual (1st place, Lower) – Megan Johnson
Firearms Individual (3rd place, Upper) – Lorenzo Giannandrea
Firearms Individual (1st place, Upper) – Michael Peraino
Team Firearms (1st place, Lower) – Devon Hinton, Charlotte Bruecks
Team Firearms (2nd place, Upper) – Gabby Jones, Megan Johnson, Jane Areias
Team Firearms (1st place, Upper) – Nicholas Ruggeri, Lorenzo Giannandrea, Riley Milligan
Team Firearms (2nd place, Professional) – Dr. Przemieniecki, Michael Peraino, Jesse Clement
Crime Scene (3rd place, Lower) – Niccole Secchiari, Nyara Sparks, Sierra Snyder
Crime Scene (3nd place, Upper) – Tara Gilroy, Deja LaVango, Mary Jane Nelson
Crime Scene (2nd place, Upper) – Kaitlyn Buckley, Amanda DeLuca, Victoria Batten
Business Management Student Named Gold Leaf Scholarship Recipient
September 27, 2018
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Business Management student Cierra Johnson was selected as this year's Gold Leaf Scholarship recipient, and was honored at the 10th Annual Gold Leaf Celebration Luncheon on Thursday, September 27, 2018. The Gold Leaf Scholarship is presented by The Main Line Chamber of Commerce and West Chester University.
Following the tradition of The Main Line Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber's mission to enable members to succeed, promote economic growth in the region, develop an informed business community, and enhance the quality of life on the Main Line, the Chamber and West Chester University are providing a WCU female student with a one-time, $4,000 scholarship.
The Gold Leaf Scholarship is awarded to a female student at West Chester University who has:
- Overcome challenges to reach the current level of education
- A demonstrated financial need
- A distinguished character and is preparing to enter or re-enter the workforce
- Distinguished herself through service to the Main Line Community at large
- Demonstrated academic excellence
- Exemplified the Chamber's commitment to leadership
Dr. Peter Oehlers Recognized As Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding Faculty Advisor
August 11, 2018
Accounting Department Professor Dr. Peter Oehlers received the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award sponsored by RSM US LLP at the Beta Alpha Psi Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on August 9-11, 2018. Recipients of the award included: Ahmed Goma, Lambda Pi Chapter, Manhattan College, Atlantic Coast region, Peter Oehlers, Nu Zeta Chapter, West Chester University, Atlantic Coast region, Diana Franz, Gamma Epsilon Chapter, University of Toledo, Midwest region, Deb Cosgrove, Delta Omicron Chapter, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Missouri Valley region, and John Malloy, Gamma Chi Chapter, The University of Memphis, Southeast region.
The award recognizes faculty advisors who make substantial contributions to the professional growth and development of business financial information students. Faculty Advisors often work many additional hours to be present at various Beta Alpha Psi meetings, community service activities, firm receptions, member initiations, and to meet with chapter officers to plan for the months ahead. In addition to being recognized in front of their chapter and their peers, recipients also receive a plaque and a $5,000 cash award from RSM US in recognition of their achievements.
Criminal Justice Student Noor Butt Wins 2018 NEACJS Student Paper Competition
June 9, 2018
West Chester University Criminal Justice student and Nu Beta (Honor Society) member, Noor Butt, won the 2018 Northeastern Association of Criminal Justice Sciences (NEACJS) Undergraduate Student Paper Competition. Butt traveled to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, to accept her award and present her paper at the NEACJS 2018 Conference held June 7-9. Her paper was about the pros and cons of body-worn cameras for police. As the winner of the competition, she was awarded a certificate, a $500 check, a one-year membership to NEACJS, conference registration, and a one-night stay at the conference hotel.