In May 2021, Smeal College of Business and all other units at Penn State watched as another academic year marked by the pandemic came to a close.
Some things were starkly different from May 2020— this year there were graduations, photos, and in-person gatherings on Old Main Lawn. There were vaccinated students, vaccinated professors, and a hope for future in-person activities in the fall.
Steve Tracey, CSCR executive director
“It’s a good time to reflect on the pact 17 months of COVID-related change,” said Steve Tracey, CSCR® executive director. “I recall my last business trip, in February of 2020 to Washington DC: at the time, people were skeptical about whether what was happening in China was going to affect us – let alone the entire globe. Now looking back, its alternately thinking about what stood still (like traditional commerce and travel) and what accelerated (like ecommerce and working remotely).”
Tracey recollects when all that was talked about was the “new normal.”
“There’s a lot that’s new but I can’t really say any of it is normal, yet,” he explained. “It’s just different.”
In this time of change, CSCR has continued its life-long legacy of evolution in content, growth, and supply chain expertise. The center has not only hired new staff, won awards, and further developed research and web resources the past academic year, but also has delved into featuring stories of female leaders in supply chain.
CSCR’s new web-based initiative, Women in Supply Chain, features women who represent the faces of our corporate sponsors, our respected faculty, and accomplished students. This collective of stories provides a platform for women in the industry to share their advice and offer a pathway for future female leaders.
As the center continues to grow its programs and resources, the strength of its partnerships has followed suite. CSCR has welcomed many new corporate sponsors in the past spring semester including NTT Data Services, Colas USA, Infosys Consulting, JWF Industries, NASPO, and Sysco Foods.
“I am proud to say that the CSCR team really stepped up in the time of crisis and we were able to pivot to an exclusively digital presence – which in many ways are providing better services to our key stakeholders; sponsors, students, faculty and all,” Tracey said, passionately.
With a new academic term right around the corner, CSCR embraces lessons learned from its virtual challenges and looks toward a future bright with innovative strategies and ideas.
“While we do look forward to the day when we are ‘back in person’ for career fairs or leader’s forums or some other key event, much of what we have adopted digitally will be here to stay,” Tracey said. “And in that way 2020-2021 was a blessing, giving us the urgency to change and adapt for the better.”