The University of Scranton’s Henry George Lecture to be Delivered by Marc Melitz Marc Melitz, Ph.D., the David A. Wells Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University, will deliver The University of Scranton’s fall 2024 Henry George Lecture titled “Global Production and Innovation Networks: Consequences for Trade and Industrial Policy.” The lecture will take place Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center on campus. Dr. Melitz’s primary research interests are in international trade and investment. Theories which he introduced in 2003, now called the “Melitz model,” have been widely adapted by economists. Melitz’s theory holds that only the largest and strongest companies in an industry engage in international trade because of the significant resources required to conduct business in foreign markets. Dr. Melitz’s research has been published in several of the leading economics journals, including the American Economic Review, the Journal of International Economics, The Review of Economic Studies, the Journal of Political Economy, The Review of Economics and Statistics and the Journal of Economic Perspectives. He is a co-author, with Paul Krugman and Maury Obstfeld, of the textbook International Economics: Theory and Policy. A fellow of the Econometric Society, Dr. Melitz is affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. His research has been funded by the Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science in 2017. In 2008, the Economist magazine named him among the best of a new generation of economists. Dr. Melitz has been a professor in the Economics Department at Harvard University since 2009. Previously he was professor of economics and international affairs in the Department of Economics and the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University from 2007 to 2009. Dr. Melitz served as an associate editor of the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, from 2007 to 2010, the foreign editor of The Review of Economic Studies from 2007 to 2010, an associate editor of the Journal of International Economics from 2005 to 2011 and an associate editor of the Economic Journal from 2004 to 2008. Dr. Melitz received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College and a master’s degree from the Robert Smith School of Business of the University of Maryland. Considered the preeminent public lecture series on economics in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Henry George Lecture Series is presented by the University’s Department of Economics, Finance and International Business and the campus chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international honor society for economics. Among the distinguished list of speakers who have spoken at previous lectures are eleven winners of the Nobel Prize in Economics: David Card (2021) Paul Romer (2018), Robert Shiller (2013), Tom Sargent (2011), Peter Diamond (2010), Paul Krugman (2008), Joseph Stiglitz (2001), George Akerlof (2001), Amartya Sen (1998), Robert Lucas (1995) and Robert Solow (1987). The lecture series is named in honor of the 19th century American economist and social reformer and is supported financially by a grant from the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. The Henry George Lecture is presented free of charge and is open to the public. For more information, call 570-941-4048 or email janice.mecadon@scranton.edu.
Marywood Attends Global Business Week Five students from Marywood University’s School of Business and Global Innovation participated in the X-Culture Global Business Week in Lublin, Poland, during the summer, with two students earning awards. Dr. Chris Speicher, Executive Director of Marywood’s School of Business and Global Innovation, served as the students’ professor and trip ambassador. Marywood students were members of two of the four winning teams selected by company executives—tying the highest college-winning representation at the conference. X-Culture is an international business plan competition in which students compete on teams composed of other students from around the world on real-life projects, set up by companies seeking to enter international markets. Each year more than 10,000 students participate in X-culture from over 400 institutions around the world. The top 150 students are invited to participate in the X-culture international symposium annually. Marywood’s students were split up to work with one of four Lublin-based companies, in a challenge to advise these companies on market expansion and other unique challenges each faced. The students received first-hand exposure in international business practices, toured the companies’ facilities, and spoke with company representatives and leaders, to further their understanding of the European market. Each company was assigned six teams, with 25 teams in total, and the teams with the best strategy and five-year plan were selected as winners of the challenge, with the chance for their ideas to be implemented into the company’s annual operations. Marywood students participating included: Michael Romano, Maywood, N.J., a junior business management major, who was a member of a winning team; Daniel Gomez, Miami, Fla., a sophomore sports management major; Gabrielle Troch, Newfoundland, Pa., a junior financial planning in business management major, who was a member of a winning team; Joel DeCarli, Archbald, Pa., a junior business management major, and Madison Guelho, Stroudsburg, Pa., a junior business management/health services administration major. “It was a trip that gave us exclusive first-hand experience into the world of international business and provided us with skills that will be valuable to our professional development and make us Marywood students stand out in the job field,” said Michael Romano, one of the award winners.
Marywood Students to Participate in Global Business Plan Competition Five students from Marywood University’s School of Business and Global Innovation have been selected to participate in the X-Culture Global Business Week in Lublin, Poland, from July 12-19, 2023. X-Culture is an international business plan competition in which students compete on teams composed of other students from around the world on real-life projects, set up by companies seeking to enter international markets. Each year more than 10,000 students participate in X-culture from over 400 institutions around the world. The top 150 students are invited to participate in the X-culture international symposium annually. The following Marywood University students have been invited for participation: Michael Romano, Maywood, N.J., a junior business management major; Daniel Gomez, Miami, Fla., a sophomore sports management major; Gabrielle Trosh, Newfoundland, Pa., a junior financial planning in business management major; Joel DeCarli, Archbald, Pa., a junior business management major, and Madison Guelho, Stroudsburg, Pa., a junior business management/health services administration major. Dr. Chris Speicher, their professor on this project and the Executive Director of Marywood’s School of Business and Global Innovation, said, “These students are our rock stars! They stand out in any situation, and they will be wonderful ambassadors for Marywood while in Poland, participating in this symposium and business plan competition.” For more information about Marywood’s School of Business and Global and its programs, go to marywood.edu/academics/business.
Lackawanna College and Johnson College Sign Articulation Agreement Recently Lackawanna College and Johnson College signed an articulation agreement that gives Johnson College students the opportunity to transfer credits to Lackawanna College’s Bachelor of Science in Business program. “Johnson College students already built a strong foundation through their learning experiences and will now be able to easily transfer into Lackawanna College’s Bachelor’s program to complete their degree,” said Dr. Jill A. Murray, Lackawanna College President. “Our business bachelor’s program allows students to stay local and earn their degree in a flexible and challenging program that will prepare them for careers.” The bachelor’s degree in business at Lackawanna College prepares students for success in the business world with a diverse curriculum and a well-rounded education that produces career-ready graduates. Students can choose a marketing concentration or a lean entrepreneurship concentration to better hone their skills. “Establishing this articulation agreement with Lackawanna College creates an opportunity for our students to build on the hands-on education they’ve already received and stack their credentials even more with a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Katie Leonard, President & CEO of Johnson College. “This agreement strengthens the relationship between our two institutions and creates a more experienced workforce in our community.”
Lunchtime Roundtable with Black Women in Business In celebration of Black History Month, The University of Scranton SBDC and Community Relations Office and the Black Scranton Project are co-hosting A Lunchtime Roundtable with Black Women in Business on Monday, February 8 from noon-1 p.m. featuring: Glynis Johns, CEO and Founder, Black Scranton Project Asia Miller, Owner, Paradise Soulfood & Sweets LLC Koni Bennett, Owner & Stylist, Vanity Boutique Salon Juanita Harris, Owner, Grooming by Juanita Registration is available here: https://tinyurl.com/y4vyfmfc. The Facebook event page is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1035688556956807.
SBDC Reimagining Your Creative Business Series The SBDC is premiering a new series geared toward creative entrepreneurs. This unique entrepreneurship series is designed to provide creative entrepreneurs of all types with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to reimagine their for-profit small business in the wake of COVID-19. Topics covered will include: Current Opportunities & Challenges for CreativesFine-Tuning FinanceReimagining Your Marketing & BrandingPutting Your Reimagined Plan into Action with Social Media & eCommerce The series will take place on Wednesdays in February from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm, and businesses can attend one or more sessions. More information can be found at https://www.scrantonsbdc.com/reimagining-your-creative-business-series/.
