Registration for Alumni 

Impact Smeal provides alumni with the opportunity to connect with the college through a number of activities such as interacting with current students, networking with other alumni, gaining professional insights, and hearing about college initiatives. The day is designed so that you can sign up for the sessions that work for your schedule. In-person and Zoom (virtual) options are available. Current University guidelines require masks to be worn inside all campus buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

Read details about the sessions below and then click on "Impact Smeal Registration" at the bottom of the page to sign up. 

Please note that Impact Smeal session formats vary and are indicated along with the description of each session:

- ZOOM = Attendees can join by Zoom only (online)

- IN-PERSON = Attendees can join in-person only (on campus)

- HYBRID = Attendees can join by Zoom or In-Person

Thursday, October 21st

Noon - 1:00 p.m. EST 

• Virtual Networking Students (ZOOM): Engage with Smeal students, including those who are enrolled in BA 297 (Career Planning & Strategies) to help them fine-tune their group networking skills in an online forum. You will be placed into a Zoom breakout room with other participants and will discuss topics like your background, your career path, and interests of the students who are in the breakout. The purpose is to help the students practice this skill in a no-pressure environment.
  
  
• Lunch (IN-PERSON): Join other alumni attendees for a casual boxed lunch. Lunch will be served in the tents on the Business Building Meadow and can be enjoyed in a location of your choice. If you are a Smeal Mentor, please feel free to use this as an opportunity to meet-up with your student Protégé. If you do plan to meet with your Protégé, please coordinate your meeting together, and encourage your Protégé to register for lunch through the separate form they will receive, so that we can properly account for the lunch order.

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. EST

• Career Roundtable Discussions (IN-PERSON): Alumni will have the opportunity to share their insights on various industries, job functions, roles, and workplace experiences at tables in the Atrium. The tables will be labeled with a variety of business topics, and during the course of the session, alumni and students can partake in multiple discussions and engage with each other.
  
  
• Agile Self-Marketing in Disruptive Times hosted by Smeal Alumni Career Services (ZOOM): At present, a tight U.S. labor market has experienced surges in opportunity and competition, making for an especially dynamic, fast-paced environment, but also creating some unease. Unexpected delays in office returns call for adaptability on all sides. To navigate this effectively, it helps to have a plan to mitigate risk and optimize the probability for success. Join Dr. Jennifer Nicholas, Assistant Director of Smeal's Alumni Career Services office for self-marketing tips on topics such as applicant tracking systems and visibility across multiple platforms. After the presentation, participants will have time to share comments, questions, and stories from their own vantage points.

3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST

• Nittany Lion Consulting Group (HYBRID): Nittany Lion Consulting Group (NLCG) is an experiential learning program that allows Smeal students to work with real clients to solve a vast array of prevalent business issues. In this session, alumni will hear from leaders of NLCG about their latest projects, including a project they completed last spring with the Smeal Alumni Society Board & Alumni Relations team. Alumnus Randy Iles, who served as the volunteer client will also share his experience of interacting with these student consultants. Alumni who join via Zoom will be able to use the chat feature or "Raise Hand" feature in Zoom to interact.

4:15 - 4:45 p.m. EST

• Business Building Tour (IN-PERSON): A member of the Smeal Ambassadors student organization will give a tour of the Business Building. They will also be able to talk about their experience as a Smeal student. 

6:00 - 7:00 p.m./7:30 p.m. EST

• Virtual Networking with BA 297 Students (ZOOM): Engage with Smeal students, including those who are enrolled in BA 297 (Career Planning & Strategies) to help them fine-tune their group networking skills in an online forum. You will be placed into a Zoom breakout room with other participants and will discuss topics like your background, your career path, and interests of the students who are in the breakout. The purpose is to help the students practice this skill in a no-pressure environment. This event is from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. EST.
  
  
• Alumni Networking Reception hosted by Smeal Club Happy Valley (IN-PERSON): Join Smeal Club Happy Valley and other Smeal alumni & friends at Champs Downtown (139 S. Allen Street) from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. EST. Complimentary appetizers and a cash bar will be available. 

Friday, October 22nd

10:10-11:00 AM EST

• Looking Ahead: Honor & Integrity at Smeal (HYBRID): The Smeal Honor Code, an initiative created by Smeal MBA students, celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2021. During a session led by Dr. Michelle Darnell and graduate students from the Smeal MBA Consulting Organization, alumni will hear about how Smeal is taking the idea of the Honor Code to new heights. The team will share their innovative ideas and exciting progress on efforts to develop a professional badging program on ethics. Alumni attendees will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions from the student leaders. Alumni who join via Zoom will be able to use the chat feature or "Raise Hand" feature in Zoom to interact.
  
  
• Jump Start your Smeal Experience: Skills & Characteristics That Companies Are Seeking (HYBRID): During this session, alumni will provide students with tips for getting ahead of the career prep curve by sharing their own insights, experiences, and resources during a moderated group discussion. Alumni who join via Zoom will be able to use the chat feature or "Raise Hand" feature in Zoom to interact.

11:15-12:05 AM EST

• Executive Insights (HYBRID): Executive Insights is Smeal's signature speaker series, which brings high-profile business leaders to the college to connect with the Smeal community. On October 22, Dean Chuck Whiteman will interview Becky Savikas '99 Marketing. Becky is the Senior Vice President, Talent Strategy, HR Business Partner & Enterprise Change for Highmark Health. 
  
  
• Lunch (IN-PERSON): Join other alumni attendees for a casual boxed lunch. Lunch will be served in the tents on the Business Building Meadow and can be enjoyed in a location of your choice. If you are a Smeal Mentor, please feel free to use this as an opportunity to meet-up with your student Protégé. If you do plan to meet with your Protégé, please coordinate your meeting together, and encourage your Protégé to register for lunch through the separate form they will receive, so that we can properly account for the lunch order.
  
  
• Business Building Tour (IN-PERSON): A member of the Smeal Ambassadors student organization will give a tour of the Business Building. They will also be able to talk about their experience as a Smeal student.
  

12:20 - 1:10 p.m. EST

• Career Roundtable Discussions (IN-PERSON): Alumni will have the opportunity to share their insights on various industries, job functions, roles, and workplace experiences at tables in the Atrium. The tables will be labeled with a variety of business topics, and during the course of the session, alumni and students can partake in multiple discussions and engage with each other.
  
  
• Penn State Smeal Alumni Book Club (ZOOM): Connect with Smeal alumni and engage in conversation around a pre-selected book. The book featured on October 22 is "Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson. Alumnus Tom Perkowski will facilitate the discussion centered around key takeaways and real-world applications. Alumni can interact and learn from each other. Attendees are highly encouraged to read the selected book in advance.
  
  
• Lunch (IN-PERSON): Join other alumni attendees for a casual boxed lunch. Lunch will be served in the tents on the Business Building Meadow and can be enjoyed in a location of your choice. If you are a Smeal Mentor, please feel free to use this as an opportunity to meet-up with your student Protégé. If you do plan to meet with your Protégé, please coordinate your meeting together, and encourage your Protégé to register for lunch through the separate form they will receive, so that we can properly account for the lunch order.
  

1:25 - 2:15 p.m. EST

• A Seat at the Table: How Penn State is Combatting Climate Change (ZOOM): Erik Foley, Director, Center for the Business of Sustainability, was recently named to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Task Force, formed by President Barron. Hear from Erik and other members of the task force about their goals to keep Penn State at the forefront of efforts to dramatically cut carbon emissions and avoid the most catastrophic effects of human-caused climate change. 
  
  
• Sapphire Academic Leadership Program (HYBRID): The Sapphire Leadership Academic Program is designed for high-achieving students who have been accepted to the Smeal College of Business and would like to enhance their business school experience. By providing unique academic content, leadership and professional development opportunities, and real-world application of knowledge gained inside the classroom, the Sapphire Leadership Academic Program empowers student leaders to make an impact on business and society. During this interactive session, alumni will get to meet some of Sapphire's Student Executive Team and hear about their recent projects, successes, and challenges. Alumni who join via Zoom will be able to use the chat feature or "Raise Hand" feature in Zoom to interact.
  
  
• Management 320: Establishing Workforce Diversity & Inclusion (IN-PERSON): This class, taught by Jamie Campbell, Smeal's Assistant Dean for Diversity Enhancement Programs provides students with an understanding of the relevance and importance of diversity within corporate America including topics like global trends, employment practices, biases, leadership in a multicultural environment, and federal mandates. Students examine marketing, management, and finance topics within the context of issues pertaining to persons of different orientations, gender and ethnic backgrounds. Due to space limitations, this session will be limited to 5 alumni visitors, who will get the chance to listen to class and contribute perspectives from their experiences.

2:30 - 3:00 p.m. EST

• Smeal Brand Update (HYBRID): Over the past year, Smeal has taken significant steps toward refreshing its brand. During this session, Rick Ayers, Smeal's Chief Marketing Officer and Assistant Dean for Strategic Communications will share outcomes and themes of this work that is meant to elevate Smeal's brand and engaging with a wide-variety of stakeholders. Alumni who join via Zoom will be able to use the chat feature or "Raise Hand" feature in Zoom to interact.

3:00 - 3:30 p.m. EST

• Business Building Tour (IN-PERSON): A member of the Smeal Ambassadors student organization will give a tour of the Business Building. They will also be able to talk about their experience as a Smeal student.

3:30 - 4:00 p.m. EST

• Special Smeal Announcement (IN-PERSON): Celebrate an exciting announcement in the Atrium of the Business Building. Alumni who are not able to attend in-person will get the opportunity to read about the announcement in a news release, which will be published after the live event.