McKenna Message
A NOTE FROM THE DEAN
The Rule of Saint Benedict encourages us to be humble, so I hope that the contents of this issue show humility even while celebrating the recent individual and group successes of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government.
This past semester, we were honored to be visited by numerous experts, including Pennsylvania State Auditor General Timothy DeFoor and an outstanding panel from Federated Investors. Our students excel in competitions, internships, athletics, and groundbreaking research. Our academic programs are highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report and College Raptor. This issue features details about these stories and more.
As dean, it is difficult not to brag about the achievements of our McKenna School students and alumni. Yet, their successes keep me humble because I believe our students will go on to do remarkable things. Alumni and friends, we always want to hear about your accomplishments. Drop me an email at michael. urick@stvincent. edu) or stop in when you’re near campus. We at the McKenna School are eager to hear from you!
MICHAEL J. URICK, C’04, PH.D., MBA, M.S., SSGB, SHRM-CP
Dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government; Professor of Management and Operational Excellence
michael.urick @stvincent.edu
AUDITOR GENERAL TIMOTHY DEFOOR MAKES RECRUITING PITCH TO STUDENTS DURING SAINT VINCENT COLLEGE VISIT
Modified from an article produced by Public Relations | May 2, 2024
On May 1, Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor toured the Saint Vincent College campus. During a question-and-answer session with accounting and finance students at the Fred M. Rogers Center, DeFoor touted job opportunities with the Department of Auditor General, including the intern-tohire program.
“It’s important to find that next generation of auditors,” DeFoor said. “This is a commonsense approach for the Commonwealth to bolster our bench.”
The Department of Auditor General has about 370 fulltime employees who conduct 4,000 audits per year. “We audit anything where tax dollars are being utilized,” DeFoor said. “Because we do so much, we don’t necessarily have the staff to do everything we could be doing.”
The Department can make roughly 100 hires this year. The intern-to-hire program is geared toward college juniors who would automatically qualify for a full-time position after working 900 hours. Although the department is based in Harrisburg, all the positions can be worked remotely.
“I’d love to see some of you work for our department,” DeFoor told the group of about two dozen students.
Sean Callahan, C’24, of Hagerstown, MD, is an accounting graduate who
recently accepted a job offer from an accounting firm. However, he is intrigued by the possibility of someday working for the Auditor General.
“I liked what I was hearing today [from DeFoor],” Callahan said. “I would consider it if, down the line, I get tired of tax work and public accounting work. What appeals to me is that once I have a couple of years of experience in the industry, I wouldn’t have to start at the very bottom of the ladder with the [Department of the] Auditor General. It’s nice to know they can be flexible, in addition to all the benefits they provide.”
DeFoor was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 50th auditor general on Jan. 19, 2021. A native of Harrisburg, DeFoor is former chair of the Harrisburg Area Community College Foundation Board of Directors, State YMCA of Pennsylvania Board of Directors, and the Chris “Handles” Franklin Foundation Board of Directors. He is a member of the Greater Harrisburg Area NAACP and the Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #78.
“I was really excited to welcome Mr. DeFoor to campus,” said Dr. Michael Urick, dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government. “It’s always great when Saint Vincent students interact with leaders in the fields in which they study. Having Mr. DeFoor talk directly with students gave them insights into the life of what the Auditor General does.” ♦
SVC STUDENTS WIN FOR BEST STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AT DATAFEST COMPETITION
Modified from an article produced by Madison Kozera, C’24, of Abingdon, MD | May 9, 2024
Saint Vincent College’s Data Science Team, consisting of Victoria Barone, C 26; Sean Talbot, C 25; and Antonia Sunseri, C’24, won best statistical analysis at the fourth annual American Statistical Association DataFest competition, April 12-14 at Robert Morris University.
“We encouraged students to participate in DataFest because it’s a great learning experience for those interested in data science and business data analytics,” said Dr. Mary Regina Boland, who has a joint appointment as assistant professor of business data analytics in the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government and assistant professor of
data science in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing.
In the competition, teams of students worked over a weekend to uncover and share meaning in a large, rich and complex dataset. The Saint Vincent College students were guided by Dr. Boland and Dr. Justin Petrovich, associate professor of business data analytics and chair of the Marketing, Analytics and Global Commerce Department.
“I wanted to get a feel for what presenting in front a large crowd of people was like, as well as gain experience [with] coding,” Talbot said. “This competition is definitely something I can put on my resume.”
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RANKS SVC’S MS IN MANAGEMENT: OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
For the seventh year in a row, Saint Vincent College’s Master of Science in Management: Operational Excellence (MSMOE) program is rated among the best online master’s in business (non-MBA) programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The MSMOE is housed in the Alex. G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government.
The MSMOE program is ranked among the top half of eligible programs nationwide and No. 8 in Pennsylvania.When broken out by discipline, the MSMOE is ranked No. 13 nationally, No. 1 in Pennsylvania and No. 2 in the tri-state area (Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia) in production and operations management. The MSMOE is ranked No. 3 in Pennsylvania and No. 4 in the tri-state area in general management.
“It is an honor for our program to be ranked nationally as a top online master’s in business program for seven consecutive years,” said Dr. Terrance Smith, graduate director for the MSMOE program and assistant professor of management. “I am thankful for the support from the institution, the faculty and most importantly, the students. The faculty is comprised of industry experts that link their unique experiences with course concepts and theories in captivating ways. I believe this is a key factor in the success of the program. We will continue to strive for excellence in the MSMOE program.”
CONTINUED ON P.4
MSMOE RANKED
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The U.S. News & World Report rankings assess master’s-level business degree programs that are not MBA programs. Examples of non-MBA graduate business programs include degrees in accounting, finance, insurance, marketing, and management. Highly ranked programs have strong traditional academic foundations based on the excellence of entering students, graduation rates and instructor credentials.
Schools are ranked using five categories: engagement (which accounts for 30% of the score), expert opinion/school reputation (25%), faculty credentials and training (15%), student excellence (15%), and student services and technology (15%).
For more information about Saint Vincent’s MSMOE program, visit www.stvincent.edu/msmoe.
BUSINESS PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED AS PROGRAMS OF DISTINCTION
Saint Vincent has been named a College of Distinction for the 2023-2024 academic year, marking its commitment to providing a high-quality undergraduate education that focuses on hands-on learning, strong student-teacher relationships, a vibrant campus life and successful outcomes.
Saint Vincent earned College of Distinction status both overall and in several subcategories, including business programs and career development
Colleges of Distinction is a handpicked selection of top schools that are well-equipped to provide a personalized education geared toward students’ interests. Its selection process involves thorough research and interviews with school officials. Accepted schools have proven their excellence in four overarching distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes.
“We are appreciative of our recognition as a College of Distinction,” said Fr. Paul Taylor, O.S.B., C’87, S’91, president of Saint Vincent. “It is a testament to the achievements of our students and alumni and to the hard work of our dedicated
faculty and staff. Through our rigorous curriculum and emphasis on the importance of community, we prepare our students for careers as leaders and meaningful lives.”
The Colleges of Distinction evaluation process differs from those of popular college rankings publications, whose formulas often grade institutions based on things such as faculty salaries, endowment size and peer opinion.
“We don’t rank our schools,” said Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer at Colleges of Distinction. “Every student has individual needs and flourishes in a specific environment. We prefer to focus on the innovative ways that colleges around the country provide an enriching undergraduate experience. We are inspired by how Saint Vincent immerses students in their academic pursuits and provides unwavering support throughout their college years and beyond.”
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has honored schools with a dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides college profiles and customized resources for students, parents and high school counselors. ♦
SVC PANEL DISCUSSION WITH FEDERATED HERMES EMPHASIZES DATA SCIENCE’S ROLE IN ASSET MANAGEMENT
Modified from an article produced by Public Relations | February 26, 2024
On Feb. 15, four executives from Federated Hermes, a global asset management firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, discussed the importance of data science in the investment and asset management industry.
“Data is information that leads to knowledge,” Zachary Bono, vice president and director of business services at Federated, told a full-house audience of SVC students and instructors.
This is the third straight year the McKenna School has sponsored an event focusing on data science and analytics. This year’s panel of Federated Hermes execs consisted of three SVC alumni—Bono, C’11; Patrick O’Reilly, C’15, manager of business support; and Jordan Sabol, C’23, analyst, advanced analytics—and John Murray, associate director of market intelligence and business support.
“When you and I are investing our money, we don’t have the time to use super-complicated analytics,” said Dr. Justin Petrovich, C’14, chair of Marketing, Analytics and Global Commerce. “That’s why you rely on people like them to invest their time and closely follow the data. That has changed a lot and it’s still following that trajectory. I don’t think we’ve peaked yet, in terms of the use of data.”
The panelists talked for one hour about how Federated Hermes utilizes data to inform its business support, market intelligence, and fund
management strategy. They discussed the most pressing needs and skills for data scientists and data analysts in business, finance, economics, and marketing.
“The materials that [Federated Hermes] conveys to investors like you or me are backed by data—market data, global events, investor trends and things like that,” Dr. Petrovich said. “The business support team and business services provide that data to bolster the argument for why their funds will outperform their competitors.”
One student remarked she liked how the panelists “kept reiterating the idea of data being used to tell a story.” Dr. Zachary Davis, associate professor of economics at SVC, was appreciative of the emphasis on clarity and brevity in communicating data and results, skills that he emphasizes in his classes.
“These kinds of events really strengthen Saint Vincent’s relationship with alumni and with local companies,” Dr. Petrovich said. “It’s good for our students, it’s good for faculty, it’s good for creating a pipeline with businesses where our alumni work.”
Last year, Bono, O’Reilly, and Murray helped with a capstone project for two groups of Saint Vincent students who are majoring in business data analytics. “It went really well,” Dr. Petrovich said. “Them coming out for this panel is a continuation of that kind of partnership we have with them.”
Saint Vincent launched its business data analytics major and minor in 2020. For info on the business data analytics programs, contact Dr. Petrovich (justin.petrovich@stvincent.edu) ♦
SPOTLIGHTS
Modified from articles produced by Public Relations (including Madison Kozera, C’24, of Abingdon, MD) | February 21, 2024; February 27, 2024; March 11, 2024; March 26, 2024; April 5, 2024
The Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government is blessed to have many exceptional students. This article highlights five exceptional current students and recent graduates: J’Shawn Taylor, Alissa Minerd, Maci Rogers, Julie Zhu, and Austin Slye.
J’Shawn Taylor
J’Shawn Taylor was caught off guard one day during the fall 2023 semester when his instructor, Dr. Bruce Antkowiak, J.D., C’74, professor of law and legal counsel at Saint Vincent College, challenged him to a debate in a constitutional litigation class.
“There was a legal case we were talking about, and he kind of threw it at me to go against him and think on the fly,” said Taylor, grinning. “I guess he thought I did well enough to give me an opportunity.”
Antkowiak put Taylor, a May 2024 graduate who minored in criminology, in touch with Wayne McGrew, the chief public defender in Westmoreland County, about an internship in the public defender’s office. Following that, Taylor worked three days a week at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg throughout the spring semester.
“Great lawyers are not just those who demonstrate intellect but who clearly show what may best be called a ‘heart’ for the law,” said Dr. Antkowiak, past chair of the Criminology Department. “They understand the impact of the law on human beings and know their dedication to the law can leave people feeling justice is possible. When I taught J’Shawn, he almost immediately gave me the sense that he will bring that dedication and passion to the practice of law. I have every confidence in him.”
Gaining an able assistant like Taylor is a boon for the public defender’s office. “I was thrown into the fire right away with a pretrial hearing for a homicide case in Ligonier,” Taylor said. “I’ve helped select a jury and I’ve written a lot of motions that help the people we’re defending.”
The internship also is helping shape Taylor’s decisions about what path he might take after graduating from Saint Vincent this spring. He plans to apply to law schools.
“A judge asked me, ‘What year of law school are you in?’ and I had to tell him I’m still an undergrad,” Taylor said. “Some attorneys have told me that being in the courtroom was only a theoretical thing to them when they were in law school. I’m lucky to be in the courtroom right now, working with judges and attorneys for both sides.”
Taylor juggled a busy schedule. He was also a tutor, a mentor to younger classmates, and an outfielder on the Bearcats baseball team. According to Taylor, “School is a demanding thing, and it’s all about sacrifice. With my schedule now I sacrifice a lot of free time, but that’s all right.”
Remembering a law class he particularly enjoyed in high school, Taylor enrolled in some criminology courses at Saint Vincent and added it as his minor. For his senior thesis, Taylor studied accuracy and police lineups.
“Accuracy isn’t only about identifying the culprit,” Taylor said. “If the culprit isn’t [in the lineup], accuracy can be about not identifying anybody at all.”
For his thesis, Taylor created a mock crime video in which the culprit robs items from a gym locker. After watching the video, the witnesses were asked about peripheral details—such as what color was the room or was there a fire extinguisher on the wall—as well as central detail questions about the crime. The test subjects then looked at either a lineup of all the possible culprits simultaneously or a lineup of sequential photos. Only half of the lineups included the actual culprit.
Taylor found that if the culprit was in the lineup, accuracy was higher. Simultaneous lineups also tended to be more accurate. He was surprised to find that in lineups without the culprit, witnesses usually chose to not pick anyone instead of falsely identifying a similar-looking suspect (an “innocent other” selection). “That was shocking to me,” Taylor said.
Alissa Minerd
Alissa Minerd, C 25, is a first-generation college student, a double-major (accounting and marketing), a Fred Rogers Scholar, a prefect and a career assistant at the Career and Professional Development Center. Minerd recently begun an internship that she hopes will lead to a full-time job.
“I would say I’m a very disciplined person,” Minerd said. “That’s especially true with my job as a prefect. There are a lot of unexpected occurrences, and I’ve learned to go with the flow and do things to the best of my ability. It’s taught me about priorities and how to be a leader in a way that’s best for everyone.”
It helps that Minerd had superb time-management skills before she arrived at Saint Vincent. She’s also been influenced along the way by some timely decisions, solid planning, and a little bit of serendipity.
Coming out of Bethlehem-Center High School, Minerd wanted to be an accountant. At Saint Vincent, she enrolled in the SAP Business One program, an enterprise resource planning software platform that helps small businesses thrive. “I went into [the program] like, ‘Oh, this is just going to be a resume-builder,’” Minerd said. “Then I started to learn I can make a career out of it. It was a turning point for me.”
Maci Rogers
Choosing a college and a major can be difficult, but that was not the case for Maci Rogers, a May 2024 graduate with majors in finance and marketing. She arrived at Saint Vincent College four years ago ready to take charge of her future.
“I chose Saint Vincent because I wanted to go to a smaller school with a tight-knit community,” she explained. “Saint Vincent also has a great business school, which was something that was very enticing to me.”
Rogers is adept at thinking analytically and creatively, so her selection of finance and marketing was an easy choice. SVC’s McKenna School supplies the necessary resources to work in both fields.Over the years, Rogers has been involved in numerous clubs and activities, especially those related to her future career. She is a member of the Operational Excellence Club and has been the fundraising director of the Women in Business Club. She is most proud of holding a work study for Dr. Michael Urick, dean of the McKenna School, and serving as acting president of the Finance and Accounting Club.
Minerd soon added a second major in marketing. “Yes, it’s more work, but I knew I could handle it because I’ve been handling everything else up to this point,” she said. “Why not tack on something else? It’s rewarding because I get to be creative and stay in the world of business.”
Minerd began her SAP Business One classes last year. She will put her expertise with the platform to use this summer as an intern with Stellar One Consulting, which specializes in working with small and midsized businesses.
“Alissa is one of the star juniors in my SAP Business One program,” said business administration instructor Robert Markley.
Minerd pushes herself so hard in part because she is a first-generation collegian. “It sets a standard,” she said. “You have to work hard for what you get. That’s super important. My [younger] brother sees everything that I do. He’s like, ‘You’re crazy—but I want to do the same thing. I see that you love what you do and you’re getting a lot out of it.’”
Rogers held an internship with Matthews International as a financial analyst, a career she continued full-time after her graduation in 2024.
“During my internship thus far, I have been putting together a variety of reports and have been working on various other projects within the company,” she said. “One of the coolest parts about my job is that I get to communicate and work with people all over the world.”
Despite her busy lifestyle, Rogers always knows when to pull back and have fun, giving herself a chance to relax after all the work she’s accomplished. When she’s not spending time in Sebastian’s Garden or the second floor of Aurelius Hall, Rogers enjoys listening to alternative and classic rock music. She also adores going to concerts, drinking a good iced matcha latte or boba tea, thrifting, going to record stores, horseback riding and finding new places to explore.
Julie Zhu
Over the past four years, it was hard to walk from one end of campus to another without bumping into business economics and international business student Julie Zhu. She was frequently spotted taking notes in a classroom, studying in the stacks, attending a meeting of the Women in Business cub, running a tutoring session, doing a work-study shift in the dean’s office, or proctoring a handful of younger students in Gerard Hall.
“Julie is everywhere,” said Dr. Michael Urick, dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government. “Her visibility is impressive, especially given how much she likes to travel.”
Zhu, C’24, has gone on McKenna Schoolsponsored trips to New York City and Germany. But it wasn’t until fall 2023, when she participated in the Semester at Sea program, that Zhu changed the way she thinks about traveling.
“It definitely opened my eyes,” Zhu said. “I used to think traveling [meant] going to different places just to see new things. After this trip, I realize traveling is more about meeting people and seeing where they live, how they live their everyday lives and why they do it.”
Zhu was among a group of 473 students and 65 faculty from several universities who spent 105 days (about 3 and a half months) traveling on the World Odyssey, a cruise ship that was launched in 1998 as the MS Deutschland. The journey from Belgium to Thailand included stops—sometimes for only a day or two, sometimes for a week—in Spain, Gibraltar, Greece, the Canary Islands, South Africa, Malaysia and Vietnam.
An earthquake and political tensions forced stops to be canceled in Morocco, Jordan, Dubai, and India, and new stops were added. In each port of call, students were responsible for finding places to stay and transportation outside the ship. That became especially challenging when there were last-minute changes to the itinerary. “I learned you have to be
flexible,” Zhu said. “It helped me grow as a person because it taught me to be able to go with the flow, adapt and be okay with things changing sometimes.”
When asked about her favorite location, Zhu said, “I really liked Barcelona and Vietnam … oh, and especially Greece.” In Barcelona, Spain, she met up for a couple of days with a recent Saint Vincent graduate who also had done a study abroad program. “It was a little reunion for us, which was great,” she said. “I liked Vietnam because everyone was so welcoming. And I’ve wanted to go to Greece forever. When I finally got there, it did not disappoint.”
Classes were conducted only while the ship was at sea. Much of the students’ daily classwork involved writing and reflecting about what they learned— diverse cultures, languages, peoples, and ways of life—at the different stops on the voyage.
“It’s definitely not like a regular semester of study,” said Zhu, who took business courses in international marketing and ethics and an English elective course. Every student on the ship was required to take a global study course that dove into the history, climate, politics, culture and economies of each country on the journey.
Working with Jody Marsh, director of SVC’s office of global and community engagement, Zhu was able to transfer nine credits of her Semester at Sea courses to Saint Vincent.Traveling the world for three months was exciting, but also stressful sometimes due to the new surroundings and schedule changes. Zhu was glad to be back in Latrobe for her final semester before graduation.
“I’m happy to be back in my comfort zone,” Zhu said. “I came back able to [better] appreciate what I do here. When I was on the ship, I really did miss Saint Vincent—the community, the people I see every day and just saying hi when I walk by. I’m a little sad to be graduating and leaving Saint Vincent so soon. But another thing [Semester at Sea] taught me is you should always look forward to new and better things. Even if things don’t turn out exactly the way you like, you still learn something from it. Eventually, you’ll look back and appreciate that those things happened.”
Austin Slye
On his first day at Saint Vincent College, Austin Slye, C’24, was a bit anxious because he did not see any familiar faces. “Growing up, I was very shy, very introverted,” Slye said. “I was stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit by coming to Saint Vincent, but you have to spread your wings to grow as a person.”
Slye grew up in Odenton, MD, a bedroom community wedged halfway between Baltimore and Washington, DC. A standout quarterback at Arundel High School, Slye was recruited to play football here by former offensive coordinator Phil Hamilton.
Four years later, what began as strange, new place now feels much different. “It’s very homey here,” Slye said. “Very friendly people. It’s a nice place to be from.”
A business economics major, Slye tutored other McKenna School students. He made the dean’s list four times and was a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon national economics honor society. In the spring of 2023, he took part in a McKenna School-sponsored trip to Germany.
“At first, I was like, ‘Aw, man, economics is tough,’ because it’s a lot of math, graphs and stuff,” Slye said. “But I was able to learn and adapt, and now I love economics.”
After the 2023 football season, Slye was named to the College Sports Communicators academic all-district team. The award honors studentathletes who display athletic excellence while maintaining at least a 3.50 grade-point average.
Starting out on the junior varsity team, Slye did not get much playing time over his first three years at Saint Vincent. “A lot of the JV games were canceled because we didn’t have enough bodies due to injuries, so I didn’t get a lot of reps,” he explained. As the backup quarterback during his sophomore and junior seasons, he appeared in seven games and attempted only 33 passes.
“I never thought about [quitting],” Slye said. “The way I was raised, when you start something, you finish it. I would have been doing a disservice to my teammates if I had left the team.”
This past season, Slye finally earned the starting quarterback job. He had a 56 percent completion rate and threw for 1,933 yards and five touchdowns.
Slye aims to get a post-graduate degree and has enrolled in the Public Policy Management program at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. With his graduation complete, Slye smiled wistfully as he reflected on his time at Saint Vincent.
“It feels weird,” Slye said. “It’s like the end of an era—a really good era. I wish I could have those years back, just to live with all my friends again. But, at the same time, it’s a new opportunity to grow and I’m excited for that.”
TRIP TO PORTUGAL PROVIDED SVC STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WITH GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Modified from an article produced by Public Relations | May 28, 2024
A group of Saint Vincent College students, alumni and faculty toured Portugal last March on a spring break trip organized by the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government. Thanks to the generous gifts from several donors who support student travel opportunities, the cost for students was kept as low as possible to encourage participation.
“It is so important for students to see the world,” said Dr. Michael Urick, C’04, dean of the McKenna School. “It helps them to experience other cultures and gets them to step out of their comfort zones. Working with people from around the world and from other cultures is important for every discipline within the McKenna School.”
The trip was open to all SVC students and alumni. Over the first week of March, the group spent five days in Lisbon and two days in Fatima. Tour stops included St. Jerome’s Monastery, the historical Alfama district, Sintra Natural Park, the Pena National Palace and a winery in Lisbon.
“Fatima was really impactful,” Urick said. “The beach at Nazaré was beautiful. Climbing the castle wall of the medieval city of Obidos was exhilarating.”
It wasn’t all about sightseeing, as the trip also had a strong educational facet. The group toured the Lisbon office of SAP, a
German-based company that produces business operations software used and taught in the McKenna School. The group also met with faculty and students at Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, a globally recognized Catholic university that focuses on many of the same disciplines taught in the McKenna School.
The SVC group was led by Mr. Robert Markley Jr., instructor of business administration, and Urick. “Portugal was the ninth trip I’ve been on [with McKenna students],” Mr. Markley said.
Students and alumni who went on the trip were Diana Mosten, C 25, an international business major from Harrisburg; Erin Brody, C 25, a theology major from Homestead; Madalyn Smith, C 26, a business management major from Hollidaysburg; Margaret Edwards, C’24, a business management major from North Huntington; Evan Rega, C’24, a business management major from Finleyville; Taylor Hochard, C’24, a finance major from Latrobe; Aubrey Marquis, C’19, an adjunct instructor from Latrobe; Louis Tate, C’18, a business owner from Clymer; Cassidy Rega, C 27, a nursing major from Finleyville; Joe Valenty, C’24, an economics major from Carnegie; and Ethan Dunsey, C 25, a business major from Pittsburgh.
The McKenna School has sponsored a spring break trip for several years, but this was its first excursion to Portugal. McKenna’s 2021 outing was scheduled to go to Portugal, but the trip was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Two locations in Europe are being considered for the McKenna School’s 2025 spring break trip. The destination will be revealed this fall. ♦
SEVEN SVC STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MOCK SUPREME COURT ARGUMENTS
Modified from an article produced by Public Relations | May 8, 2024
Participating in a mock Supreme Court argument is a staple for every first-year law school student. Bruce Antkowiak, J.D., C’74, professor and legal counsel for Saint Vincent College, makes sure his students gain that experience while they are still undergrads.
In early May, seven students from Antkowiak’s constitutional litigation class wrapped up the spring semester by making oral arguments on a complex issue of constitutional law. The students— sophomore Anton Seifert; junior Caleb Banwar; and seniors Sophia Bringman, Cera Hissem, Jacob Mock, Rebekah Bollman and J’Shawn Taylor—stated their cases before a panel of three “judges” that consisted of two attorneys and a magisterial judge.
“We analyze constitutional issues, not from so much just the academic perspective, but how to structure arguments in a constitutional case,” said Antkowiak, who’s used the exercise in his class the past several years. “I come up with some bizarre hypothetical and let them write a brief and then present an oral argument about it.”
The students formed teams, taking the side of either the appellant or appellee. The course culminated with an oral argument before a panel of judges—a simple simulation of what one might face when presenting oral
arguments before the United States Supreme Court. The judges ask questions that test the students’ ability to present a case, pivot and respond on the fly. It’s like authoring a thesis and defending it.
“These [students] did better than most of the arguments that I have to sit through when I go down to Superior Court and listen to a case,” Antkowiak said.
The students were cross-examined by Eileen Flinn, Esq., C’90, assistant general counsel for Saint Vincent College and Archabbey; Adam Cogan, an attorney and adjunct professor at Saint Vincent College; and the Honorable Tamara Mahady, Westmoreland County magisterial judge.
“I went through this my senior year here at Saint Vincent,” Flinn said. “It was nerve wracking, but it absolutely prepared me for when I had to go through it during my first year of law school.”
This fall, a group of Saint Vincent students—including Mock, Banwar, Bollman and Seifer—will compete in the American Moot Court Association competition. ♦
STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF ON THE MOVE AND IN THE NEWS
According to most recent (2022-2023) data from a survey administered by Saint Vincent’s Career Services group, the McKenna School has a 100% placement rate one year out from graduation (employed in-field, military, or graduate school).
Congratulations to Dr. Kayla Jachimowski, director of the MS in Criminology program, and Dr. Justin Petrovich, C’14, chair of Marketing, Analytics, and Global Commerce, on receiving tenure and being promoted to associate professors. McKenna School students are fortunate to have such expert faculty as teachers and mentors.
Bob Markley, instructor of business, recently was featured on a podcast called “ERP Talks” hosted by Khaled Soliman. Markley talked about how SAP Business One is transforming business operations.
In March, Dr. Mike Urick, C’04, Dean of the McKenna School, presented on multigenerational leadership at the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce’s workforce development conference.
Dr. Jerome C. Foss, endowed professor of Catholic thought and culture and professor of politics, published a review of Andrew Willard Jones’s book “The Two Cities.”
Eleven students from the McKenna School secured SAP Business One internships this summer. Gina Aiello and Wiley Purry Jr., are at Fame Rental; Diana Mosten and Sean Fehrenbach are at Third Wave Business Systems; Alissa Minerd and Derek Hald are at Stellar One; Benjamin Tantalo is at VistaVu Solutions; Madalyn Smith is at Consensus International; Christine Pham is at Synesis International Inc.; Olivia Matha is at NTT; and Adam Liston is at Domain Technology Group, Inc.
Dr. Gary Quinlivan, professor of economics, and Dr. Rob DePasquale, C’75, professor of business administration, were named emeritus professors by Saint Vincent College.
Shayela Harmon graduated from Saint Vincent with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology, law & society in December 2021 and earned a Master of Science degree in criminology in December 2022. During her time at SVC, she received the Student Spotlight at the 2022 Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Educators Conference, worked as a graduate assistant in the Career and Professional Development Center, and was a clinical assessment intake caseworker at SPHS Behavioral Health. She is now a law student at the University of Akron.
Dr. Nicholas Racculia, C’00, professor of business administration, was honored with the Student Government Association Faculty Award at the 2024 Spring Honors Convocation.
At the invitation of Genna Mucci, C’17, Vice Chair of the Western PA chapter of Women in Manufacturing, accounting instructor Marti Fusco had the pleasure of sitting on a panel discussion with Sherri McCleary, executive director of Digital Foundry at New Kensington. They answered questions regarding women in leadership in manufacturing and shared insights related to recruiting women into the field of manufacturing, professional development, empowerment, and life balance.
Students in Dr. Jeff Godwin’s strategy class competed in a global Business Strategy Game simulation. Congratulations to the team of R.J. Kenna, C’24, and Evan Rega, C’24, for making the Global 100 list for two consecutive weeks, tying for 49th out of 5,028 teams worldwide. Kiarra Polke, C’24, and Jon Bouknight, C’24, also made the top global 100 teams list for two weeks. A.J. Bricker, C’24, and Jose Hurtado made the Global 100 list during the last two weeks of the semester and finished with the 17th best earnings per share, the 25th best stock price, and tied for 54th overall.
The next time you visit SVC, check out the new McKenna welcome mural on the second floor of Aurelius Hall. The mural highlights all our programs and explains who we are. Thanks to McKenna Advisory Council member Greg Fajt, C’77, for the generous donation to make this sign possible.
Wade Rashilla, C’22, passed the Level 3 chartered financial analyst (CFA) exam and is now a CFA charter holder in good standing. The pass rates for these challenging exams are typically very low, so this is quite an accomplishment.
OUT AND ABOUT
This summer, two SAP Business One interns will work remotely from our hyflex OE Lab classroom on the first floor of Aurelius Hall. Alissa Minerd is a senior accounting major working as a consulting and marketing intern. Derek Hald is a senior business administration major working as a consulting intern. Derek Hile, C’17, an alum of the program and a solutions expert at Stellar One, is back on campus to mentor them.
At the end of the semester, Dr. Michael Urick returned to Hempfield Area High School to speak to two classes about how leadership can relate to a variety of career fields.
During the spring semester, Dr. Kayla Jachimowski, assistant professor of criminology, law, and society and director of the master’s in criminology program, attended the Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Educators conference with students Emily Turner, C’24, and Cera Hissem, C’24. At the conference, Turner received the prestigious Bernie Meyer Graduate Award and Hissem presented impactful research on human trafficking.
Dr. Jeff Godwin, professor of business administration, co-authored an article for the Journal of Management Education entitled, “Effective Stress Management: A Model of Emotional Intelligence, Self-leadership, and Student Stress Coping” that received the 2023 Lasting Impact Award from the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society. The award recognizes articles that make significant impacts on management education. CONTINUED ON P.14
The George Washington Fellows attended the New England Political Science Association meeting in Newport, RI, with Dr. Jerome Foss, professor of political science, and CPET research assistant Kaitlin Repp, C’22. This year’s fellows are Sophie Bringman; Delaney Fox, C’24; and Nicholas Walters, C’24. They attended panels on international relations, American political thought, and political philosophy.
OUT AND ABOUT (CONTINUED FROM P.13)
Instructor Bob Markley attended the SAP Partner Summit for SME in Phoenix with SAP Business One students. They met up with Tyler Overmier, C’22; Lauren Flowers; and adjunct instructor Chase Linsenbigler. The students in attendance were Diana Mosten, C 25; Christine Pham; Julie Zhu, C’24; Maddie Smith; Evan Rega, C’24; Adam Liston; Ben Tantalo; and Sean Fehrenbach.
In April, accounting instructor Christina Gibson and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Anthony Kane spoke with high school students about careers in accounting. Gibson shared how our accounting program provides individualized attention and top job placement for each student. The event was part of the Accounting+ program sponsored by the Steelers to spark high school students’ interest in accounting. Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch helped lead the discussion.
The Women in Business Club is one of the campus’s largest student-led organizations. In February, the club went to New York City for its annual trip to explore various businesses and visit the city’s landmarks.
On March 18, accounting instructor Marti Fusco presented during STEM day at Greensburg Central Catholic High School. She discussed types of accounting roles, skills accountants need to succeed, and the job market. She also detailed the role of technology and data analytics within the accounting profession.
Seniors in the Benedictine Leadership Studies program enjoyed their spring break capstone trip to Rome, spending one week at Sant Anselmo Monastery. Their adventures included touring the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, all four major basilicas, the Vatican Museum, Montecasino, the Capitoline Museum, and the Pantheon. The trip was co-led by Dr. Jerome Foss, professor of political science. The adventure ended with a chance meeting with Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota) at the airport in Rome.
Instructors Mark Kachmar, Matt Miller, and Jim Arnold judged an airport design competition at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in March. Around 100 regional middle and high school students participated.
As a Fellow of Notre Dame and Brown universities’ Inklings Project, Dr. Urick in March went to Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, to meet other J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis scholars. Dr. Urick saw Lewis’ wardrobe and the desk at which Tolkien sat while writing “The Hobbit.” One of Dr. Urick’s books is in the library.
EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS
Congratulations to political science students Delaney Fox, C’24; Sophia Bringman; and Nicholas Walters, C’24, on their recent research papers and presentations. They were honored in May at the annual George Washington Fellows Dinner.
Students in instructor Mark Kachmar’s Green Belt class gave their final presentations, sat for their exams, and celebrated earning their certification with a dinner at DeNunzio’s restaurant at the end of the semester.
McKenna School alumni Ted Pettko, C’93, and Jennifer Doering, C’02, from Schneider Downs returned to campus to discuss “Life as a CPA” with the Finance and Accounting Club.
McKenna School faculty Dr. Jerome Foss (political science) Marti Fusco (accounting), Paige Parsley (criminology) and Dr. Mike Urick presented on careers on February 21 at Greater Latrobe High School.
At the end of the semester, alumni, faculty, staff, and McKenna School council members celebrated the graduating seniors and graduate students at our annual lobster dinner.
On April 30, Dr. Mike Urick presented on conflict management at the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber University program.
In May, the McKenna School inducted some of our top undergraduate and graduate students into several honors societies, including Delta Mu Delta business honors society, Pi Sigma Alpha political science honors society, Omicron Delta Epsilon economics honors society, and Aurelius Scholars.
In April, McKenna School programs were wellrepresented with impactful student presentations at Saint Vincent’s Academic Conference.
Barb Bobula, C’15, vice president of patient experience at Allegheny Health Network and a McKenna School advisory council member, gave an intriguing presentation in April on the importance of care and empathy in the age of artificial intelligence.
On April 2, the McKenna School provided an information session for its new Aviation Management – Professional Pilot program. For more information on the program, email michael. urick@stvincent.edu.
The Saint Vincent Opportunity Office collaborated with the Finance and Accounting Club to sponsor a presentation on financial literacy on March 26 with SVC alum Tristan Moyer, C’23, financial planner at Baird.
Abby Geisel, C’14, manager of video and email experience at FedEx; Taleesha Johnson, C’13, co-owner of Picturesque PGH; Victoria Piekut Bobak, CEO and cofounder of Wight Elephant Boutique; and Laurie Havrisko, C’04, assistant to the superintendent for student services of the Greater Latrobe School District, participated in an insightful Women in Business panel on March 26. The event, part of the College’s annual Women’s Month celebration, was moderated by Dr. Dana Winters, assistant vice president for student success and formation at Saint Vincent.
On Feb. 22, author Dr. Stephen Knott provided an outstanding presentation for the Center for Political and Economic Thought on the policies of President John F. Kennedy.
MAY 2024 GRADUATES
Criminology, Master of Science
Jordan Kenn
Jaime Arianna Bowman
Jacqueline Olivia Emery
Michael Robert Klingensmith
Emerson Theodore Long IV
Thomas Lyman McVicker II
Courtney Marie Rodick
Michael John Rossi
Mackenzie Snyder
Emily Lynn Turner
Management: Operational Excellence, Master of Science
Walter Lee Bonds
Nicholas Richard Chadwick
Isaac Andrew Little
Brian Niemiec
Rudy Dayton Oblak
Accounting, Bachelor of Science
Connor Martin Bannias
Nathan Alexander Bettwy
Sean Patrick Callahan
Sr. Donatha N. Gerard
Noah Daniel Goehring
Caleb Joshua Hawkins
Taylor Michele Hochard (second major)
Alex Stephen Jones
Taylor Rose Sheesley
Business administration, Bachelor of Science
Garrett Thomas Couch
Jacob S. Hanks
Corey Isiah Harden
Matthew Joseph Lockwich
Dalton Andrew Nicklow
Christopher Anthony Peccon
Joel Federico Quiroz
Mansilla
Lauren Michelle Turkovich (second major)
Alex Michael Vickers
Business economics, Bachelor of Science
Raymond Joseph Kenna, Jr.
Austin Blake Slye
Michael R. Waros Zichen (Julie) Zhu
Criminology, law, and society, Bachelor of Arts
Theresa Claire Fletcher
Tyler Anthony Fritz
Alexandra Helen Gronski
Miranda Rose Guthrie
Zachary Mason Herbinko
Cera Marie Hissem
Isaac Jeremy Kuhns
Timothy James Patterson
Allison Rose Sopko
Faith Omasanjuwa Taylor
Economics, Bachelor of Science
Joseph Michael Valenty
Economics/ mathematics, Bachelor of Science
Matías Bugallo
Finance, Bachelor of Science
Levi J. Allison
Connor Martin Bannias (second major)
Tyler Josef Becker
Adam E. Bricker Jr.
Daniel Timothy Chirdon
Bernard Farnan
Noah Daniel Goehring (second major)
Logan James Harshell
Taylor Michele Hochard
Jacob Charles Johnson
Rachel Elizabeth Miller
Maci N. Rogers
Laird Buchan Stover
Benjamin T. Wohlin
Management, Bachelor of Science
Jonathan William Bouknight
Dino Raphael Capozzoli
Margaret Elizabeth Edwards
Carter James Haid
Osyon Angelo Jones
Matthew Michael Klasnic
Joel Montgomery Loomis (second major)
Kiarra Tyree Polke
Evan Michael Rega
James Monroe Sword VI
Austin Joseph Tirpak
Taylor Rae Wahl
Tyler Michael Wood
Nicolena Maria Yanosick
International business, Bachelor of Science
José Daniel Hurtado Picolomini
Antonio Narciso Munoz
Zichen (Julie) Zhu (second major)
Marketing, Bachelor of Science
Nathan Alexander
Bettwy (second major)
Alexa Rae Brothers
Nathaniel James Davis
Elizabeth Grace
Fitzgerald
Brenda C. Flores
Zachary William Green
Molayo Irefin
Jessica Ashley LaPorte
Kyra Emily Lipetsky (second major)
Dustin James Logue
Christopher Frank Palmieri
Maci N. Rogers (second major)
Gary Joseph Staley
Rachel Alysse Thatcher
Politics, Bachelor of Arts
Brianna M. Saylor
Nicholas Jude Walters
Political science, Bachelor of Arts
Zachary Asa Barkman
Delaney Rae Fox
Joel Montgomery Loomis
Matthew Erik Minkin