News
Center for newcomer onboarding hosted "best practices in new faculty onboarding" virtual event
July 24, 2020
West Chester University’s Center for Newcomer Onboarding hosted a Zoom event on Thursday,
July 23, 2020, for leaders in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE),
titled Best Practices in New Faculty Onboarding (NFO). The event had participation
from 10 of the 14 state universities, and each university gave a brief presentation
of a best practice, followed by Q&A. The event was very interactive, providing each
school with the opportunity to highlight one strength of their NFO, and for all participants
to interact and learn from one another.
The Center for Newcomer Onboarding is devoted to facilitating newcomer onboarding
experiences through teaching, research, and practice. West Chester University’s Johnna
Capitano, Julie Ferris, and Diane D'Archangelo organized and moderated the event.
To learn more about the Center for Newcomer Onboarding, please visit the center’s website.
LONG PRESENTED WITH MARSHALL AWARD
June 30, 2020
West Chester University graduate student Gabrielle Long was awarded the Lewis H. Marshall Award which is presented annually by the Chester County Association of Township Officials (CCATO) to a West Chester University student demonstrating academic excellence with a career intent to work in local government in Chester County.
Long, who earned a B.S. in Integrative Biology in 2018 and GIS Certification in 2019, recently completed her M.S. in Geography in 2020. She has served as a GIS Analyst and Parks & Recreation Ambassador for East Goshen Township.
The Marshall Award dates back to in or around 1972 and honors Lewis Marshall. Marshall served as the Secretary/Treasurer of West Goshen Township, CCATO, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.
ANDERSON EARNS CREW PHILADELPHIA SCHOLARSHIP
June 12, 2020
West Chester University graduate Melanie Anderson ’20 was recently announced as one of six recipients of a Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Philadelphia Scholarship. Anderson graduated this spring with her M.S. in Geography.
CREW Philadelphia awards annual scholarships to deserving local college and university women who are pursuing a career in or related to commercial real estate. The women chosen for the scholarships receive a monetary award, as well as benefits including membership in CREW Philadelphia and opportunities to attend Chapter and CREW Network events.
“Throughout my academic experience, I have completed many courses and projects that focused on sustainability,” Anderson said. “My passions are in sustainable economic development that prioritizes the best interest of the people and our natural environment.
“As an Urban and Environmental planning major, I have learned about the importance of community engagement, planning history and ethics, population geography, and land use planning. As a graduate student, I have gained more experience in GIS and data analytics. I hope for a career in commercial real estate where I can apply all these skills to assist in creating a place that will be representative of all values of sustainability.”
CREW Philadelphia is the commercial real estate industry’s premier business network dedicated to supporting the achievements of women in commercial real estate. They have more than 180 local members who are engaged in all facets of commercial real estate. CREW Philadelphia is one of 75 local chapters of CREW Network. More than 11,000 CREW Network members represent nearly every discipline within the industry and are located in over 70 major markets across the globe.
OLEJARSKI COMPLETES FIRST YEAR AS MANAGING EDITOR OF PUBLIC INTEGRITY
June 9, 2020
Dr. Amanda Olejarksi, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, is finishing up her first year as Managing Editor of Public Integrity. Public Integrity is the flagship scholarly journal for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) addressing ethical issues affecting society.
“Working with my co-editor, Mike Potter, our editorial members, and the publisher at Public Integrity has been one of the most rewarding and fun jobs in my academic career,” Olejarksi said. “For so many people to join together in support of ethics in public service is inspirational.”
Olejarksi was selected to a three-year editorial term by the ASPA, and began her service on July 1, 2019. Part of her responsibilities, along with editor in chief Mike Potter, include onboarding manuscripts, communication with authors and reviewers, and recruiting editorial members.
COTTRELL CENTER'S BUSINESS IDEA PITCH GOES VIRTUAL
May 19, 2020
Read more about the Business Idea Competition Finalists
Outstanding Student Award Winner Recognized
May 1, 2020
West Chester University of Pennsylvania’s College of Business and Public Management is proud to announce our outstanding student award winners for the 2019-2020 academic year. These students were recognized during a virtual awards ceremony held on April 30.
The Outstanding Student Awards recognize outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in each College of Business and Public Management program. Each department nominates and selects their award winners based on criteria individual to that department.
Congratulations to the following students:
Outstanding Undergraduate Students
Department of Accounting
Carly
Caitlin Kelly
Alexa Laskowski
Department of Criminal Justice
Megan Clancey
Dean Haralambidis
Department of Economics and Finance
Keith Hazen
Kyle Sukley
Jacob Zeitz
Department of Geography & Planning
Hadjer Ahner
Ryan Gehman
Department of Management
Kevin Crumbling
Makinzie Kennedy
Department of Marketing
Lauren Kirkpatrick
Cameron Leofsky
Kaylee Richard
Outstanding WCU Philadelphia Campus Student
Sofiane Moulla
Outstanding Delaware County Community College Student
Kristen Lillie
Outstanding Graduate Students
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Sarah Franzone
Master of Science in Geography
Corey Shamy
Master of Business Administration
Rachel Brutosky
Matthew Mannino
Master of Public Administration
Derek Davis
Damesha Wells
Doctor of Public Administration
Emily Devereux
Master of Science in Human Resource Management
Joann Puccino
WCU EARNS TREE CAMPUS USA RECOGNITION FOR EIGhTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
April 21, 2020
Read more about Tree Campus USA
EVAN LEACH NAMED DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
April 20, 2020
Following a national search, Evan Leach has been named dean of the College of Business and Public Management at West Chester University (WCU). His appointment is effective immediately.
A faculty member in the WCU Management Department for 25 years, Leach most recently served as the interim dean of the College of Business and Public Management (CBPM) for the past 20 months, overseeing more than 150 faculty members across seven academic departments. He has held a variety of administrative positions at the University including associate provost, vice chair (chair, elect) of West Chester University’s Council of Chairs, chair of the Management Department, and chair of the CBPM Curriculum Committee.
Published in numerous refereed journals, Leach’s research focuses on cognition in employee selection decisions and performance measurement in nonprofit organizations. In addition, Leach conducts research on management pedagogy, specifically in the area of team effectiveness. His research has been published most recently in the Journal of Employment Counseling and Internet Research.
“Dr. Leach’s expertise and experience will continue to advance WCU’s College of Business and Public Management and his leadership is a tremendous asset to our students,” said Laurie Bernotsky, executive vice president and provost. “His leadership will enhance the strategic path that the University is taking to prepare our students to work in a variety of demanding fields and expand their opportunities for rewarding careers in jobs not yet identified.”
Leach received both his doctorate and his master’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Yale University, as well as a master of arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from West Chester University and a bachelor of arts in Psychology from Penn State.
The College of Business and Public Management offers nine undergraduate degrees, 12 undergraduate minors, and seven graduate programs. The CBPM School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the global accrediting body for schools of business, and the Master of Public Administration is accredited by NASPAA. The college is also committed to incorporating social responsibility into its curriculum and is a signatory school of Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
WCU Online MBA Is in the Top 20 on the East Coast
April 6, 2020
Read more about the MBA program rating
WCU Students Finish Runner-up at 2020 Regional CFA Institute Research Challenge
February 19, 2020
A team of West Chester University students from the College of Business and Public Management finished as runner-up at this year’s Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge for the Philadelphia region. This marks the first time that West Chester University has been represented in the regional finals.
Sultan Ali, Clay Corcimiglia, Eric Parker, and Jacob Zeitz comprised the WCU team that was among the four finalists in the Philadelphia region this year. Other area finalists were teams from the University of Delaware, Rowan University and La Salle University. The finalists were chosen following the first round which began in October 2019, which required the team to research and analyze a publically traded company and create a detailed report, along with a recommendation to buy, sell or hold stock from that company.
West Chester returned on February 18 for the second round of the challenge where the four finalists all presented their research report to a panel of industry experts, and WCU was named the regional runner-up.
The WCU student team were advised and mentored by professors Dr. Dazhi Zheng and Dr. Euikyu Choi, and industry mentor, Jean M Rosenbaum, CFA, Portfolio Manager, Hotaling Investment Management, LLC, during the challenge process. The CFA Institute Research Challenge is a worldwide investment competition with over 1,000 universities competing in a challenge that tests the critical analysis, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills of university students. Teams from over 20 universities in the Philadelphia region participated in the 2020 CFA Institute Research Challenge.
Online MBA Program Ranked in the Top 50 Nationwide, Top 30 for Veterans
January 14, 2020
Read more here
College of Business and Public Management Joins Principles for Responsible Management Education
October 25, 2019
West Chester University’s College of Business and Public Management became a signatory of the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative in the summer of 2019.
PRME is a global effort aimed at incorporating the values of sustainability into business and management education, research and thought leadership, while promoting awareness of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). West Chester joins over 650 leading business and management schools from more than 85 countries dedicated to advancing values such as sustainability, responsibility, and ethics.
The College of Business and Public Management had its official launch of its PRME membership on October 23, 2019 with an educational event. Faculty, staff and students were invited to learn more about the PRME initiative, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which courses offered at WCU have a sustainability focus, and get feedback on how to better equip students with educational opportunities focused on sustainability.
Another highlight of the event was the ribbon cutting of the College of Business and Public Management’s new composter, located outside the second floor entrance of the Business and Public Management Center.
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.