Commencement SPRING SEMESTER 2020 SMEAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS May 9, 2020 National Anthem Alma Mater by Francis Scott Key by Fred Lewis Pattee O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, For the glory of old State, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming; For her founders, strong and great, Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, For the future that we wait, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? Raise the song, raise the song, And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. Sing our love and loyalty, O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave Sing our hopes that, bright and free, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Rest, O Mother dear, with thee. All with thee, all with thee. When we stood at childhood’s gate, Shapeless in the hands of fate, Thou didst mold us, dear old State, Dear old State, dear old State. May no act of ours bring shame To one heart that loves thy name, May our lives but swell thy fame, Dear old State, dear old State! Charles H. Whiteman, Dean Smeal College of Business The Pennsylvania State University smeal.psu.edu Dear family and friends, The Penn State Smeal College of Business welcomes you to its spring 2020 commencement ceremony. We virtually gather to celebrate the class of 2020. Over the past several years, a host of people at Smeal and Penn State have helped guide these students on their journey toward academic achievement, personal discovery and growth. Indeed, we are proud of their many accomplishments, especially during this final, challenging semester. For these graduates, today marks the close of undergraduate education at Penn State and Smeal. It also presents the opportunity to apply the expertise they have gained to assure a promising future. When these students turn their tassels, they will officially become college graduates. Smeal’s commencement speaker for 2020 is Brian Olsavsky, a Penn State graduate who helps lead one of the world’s most dynamic companies, Amazon. He offers some poignant observations during this historic time in our University’s and nation’s history. National Anthem Alma Mater by Francis Scott Key by Fred Lewis Pattee We know that with the guidance, love, and support of all of you who will be watching today, our graduates will transition to their post-graduate careers with honor and integrity while O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, For the glory of old State, upholding our Penn State values. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming; For her founders, strong and great, Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, For the future that we wait, As their professional careers unfold, our graduates should know that Penn State Smeal O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? Raise the song, raise the song, And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air remains committed to their future success and is prepared to support their journey toward Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. Sing our love and loyalty, lifelong learning and professional development. O say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave Sing our hopes that, bright and free, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Rest, O Mother dear, with thee. On behalf of Penn State and the Smeal College of Business, thank you for the role each one All with thee, all with thee. of you has played in the lives of these new Penn State alumni. When we stood at childhood’s gate, Congratulations to the class of 2020! Shapeless in the hands of fate, Thou didst mold us, dear old State, Dear old State, dear old State. Best regards, May no act of ours bring shame To one heart that loves thy name, May our lives but swell thy fame, Charles H. Whiteman Dear old State, dear old State! Dean, Smeal College of Business Spring 2020 About Our Commencement Commencement Speaker National Anthem Brian Olsavsky Amina Faye ’20, Musical Theatre, Senior Vice President College of Arts and Architecture and Chief Financial Officer, Amazon Presiding Eric J. Barron, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Brian Olsavsky is Amazon’s President of The Pennsylvania State University senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). He Special Remarks oversees the company’s overall President Barron financial activities, including controllership, tax, treasury, analysis, investor Remarks and Introductions relations, internal audit, and financial operations. Nicholas P. Jones, B.E., M.S., Ph.D. Olsavsky started at Amazon in 2002 as vice Executive Vice President and president of finance for worldwide operations Provost of the University and assumed his current role in 2015. Prior to becoming senior vice president and CFO in Authorization to Confer Degrees June 2015, he served as vice president of finance Mark H. Dambly, B.S. and CFO for the global consumer business. Chair, Board of Trustees In that role Olsavsky had oversight and responsibility for the finance team supporting Recognition of Meritorious Amazon websites, merchant services, and Achievement fulfillment operations and subsidiaries. Penn State Students From 2007 to 2010, he was vice president of finance for Amazon’s North America retail business Conferral of Degrees unit and acquisitions, and from 2002 to 2007 Presiding: Provost Jones Olsavsky led the finance departments for Amazon’s Conferring: President Barron worldwide operations organization. Prior to joining Amazon, he spent seven years Induction into Alumni Association at Fisher Scientific, where he held a variety of Randolph B. Houston, Jr., B.A., J.D. financial and business management roles, and President, Penn State Alumni Association a total of eight years at BF Goodrich and Union Carbide, where he held a variety of financial and Special Thanks operational roles. Penn State Students Olsavsky is an advocate and active ally for diversity Penn State Alma Mater and inclusion. The Women in Finance Initiative (WiFi), one of Amazon’s affinity groups designed Penn State Students to build community and provide opportunities Penn State Blue Band for leadership development, started under his leadership. WiFi fosters an inclusive and supportive community of women and allies; builds effective lines of communication with leadership and partner organizations; and focuses on training, career #PSUgrad development, and community engagement for women in finance and global business services. Olsavsky holds a bachelor’s in mechanical #Smealgrad engineering from Penn State and an MBA in finance from Carnegie Mellon University. Student Marshals Student Marshals are selected for outstanding academic achievement in their respective academic units. College Marshal Marketing Faith Hatchard, York, PA Ziqi Yin, Nanchong, Management major; Sapphire Sichuan, China Leadership Academic Program Marketing major; Digital Media (2018 Logistics Overall); Presidential Trends and Analytics minor; AUIA Leadership Academy; Evan Pugh Summer School Ambassador, Penn Scholar Award; President Sparks State Harrisburg; Penn State Chapter Award; President’s Freshman Award; American Marketing Association (2018 Management & Organization Well Rounded Member); Volunteer Department Arnold Scholarship; Society Nepal Chinese Teacher; Lion Ambassador; Penn State Dance MaraTHON (2019 Chengdu RanEr Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. intern. Development Captain of Donor and Alumni Relations); Teach for America Accelerate Fellowship. FACULTY MARSHAL: Matthew Checchio, B.S., M.S. Instructor of Marketing FACULTY MARSHAL: David Lenze, B.A., M.B.A. Assistant Teaching Professor of Management and Organization Risk Management Grace McStravock, Ambler, PA Accounting Actuarial Science major; Mathematics Cecelia Minnick, Millersville, PA minor; Statistics minor; Schreyer Scholar; Evan Pugh Scholar Award; Accounting major, Information Systems President Sparks Award; Sapphire Management minor; Legal Environment Leadership Academic Program (2019 of Business minor; Schreyer Scholar; Logistics Overall); Actuarial Science PICPA Merit Scholarship; Durbin Club (2019 President); Penn State Club Honors Scholarship; Smeal Student Cross Country Runner; Cigna intern. Mentor; Apollo THON Family Relations Chair; Undergraduate Teaching FACULTY MARSHAL: Steven L. Putterman, B.S., F.S.A., Assistant; Baker Tilly intern. M.A.A.A., C.L.U. Professor of Practice, Risk Management FACULTY MARSHAL: Suzanne Wright, B.S., M.B.A. Associate Teaching Professor of Accounting Supply Chain and Information Systems Rachel Hooker, Media, PA Finance Supply Chain and Information Systems Siena Salvaggio, Orefield, PA major; Schreyer Scholar; Robert “Bear” Koehler Award; Terry L. Priest Finance major; Economics minor; Scholarship; Evan Pugh Scholar Schreyer Scholar; Evan Pugh Scholar Award; President’s Freshman Award; Award; President Sparks Award; Alpha Kappa Psi; Penn State Prime; Penn State Varsity Swimming and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant; Diving Team; Big Ten Distinguished Johnson & Johnson co-op; 2020 MIT Scholar; Penn State Dance MaraTHON Supply Chain Excellence Award. Finance Committee Student-Athlete Advisory Board; KPMG intern. FACULTY MARSHAL: Robert Novack, B.S., M.B.A, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management FACULTY MARSHAL: Brian Davis, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Associate Clinical Professor of Finance ROTC Student Marshal Management & Organization Kevin Sheridan, Congers, NY Robert Griggs, Port Matilda, PA Management major; Legal Environment of Business minor; U.S. Management major; Political Science