{"id":7770,"date":"2022-11-19T11:57:21","date_gmt":"2022-11-19T11:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/?page_id=7770"},"modified":"2026-04-15T17:49:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T17:49:32","slug":"ancell-making-impact","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/ancell-making-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancell Making an Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tZach Fisher – Recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s Prestigious 2026 Pros to Know Award<\/span>\n\n\"\"New Milford resident and 2022 WCSU BBA graduate Zach Fisher has been named a recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0prestigious\u00a02026 Pros to Know Award<\/strong>,which recognizes outstanding supply chain practitioners whose achievements provide a roadmap for leaders seeking to leverage supply chain excellence for competitive advantage. Fisher was recognized in the\u00a0Rising Stars<\/strong> category, which honors early-career professionals who are already making a meaningful impact within the supply chain profession.\n\n\u201cIn just three short years, Zach has authored industry articles, participated in podcasts, completed a master\u2019s degree in supply chain management, earned four supply chain\u2013focused certifications, and received two promotions \u2014 most recently assuming responsibility for managing the end-to-end supply chain for our largest business unit,\u201d said Patrick Bower, Senior Director of Supply Chain for Actylis \u2014 a global specialty chemical manufacturer<\/span>. \u201cWith Zach\u2019s intellect, work ethic, and commitment to continuous improvement, he has no ceiling. He has earned the recognition of his peer community.\u201d\n

First-generation WestConn student Elisa Cardona has a lot to celebrate this holiday season<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nBrewster, New York, native Elisa Cardona will be getting something extra special for Christmas this year. Not only is the\u00a0Western Connecticut State University<\/a>\u00a0senior the first in her family to earn a college degree, but she\u2019ll be graduating a semester early. As if that\u2019s not enough, she already has a job waiting for her \u2014 thanks to an internship opportunity she received through the university\u2019s\u00a0Hancock Student Leadership Program<\/a>\u00a0(HSLP).\n\nCardona graduated from Brewster High School in 2022, and said that when she first started looking at colleges, \u201cI picked colleges that were relatively close to where I live. I chose schools close to me because leaving home was not something I thought about. In the end, I chose WCSU because of its proximity and its affordability. It offered a great tuition and education at a price I could pay.\u201d\n\nLike many incoming freshmen, Cardona at the time did not know what degree program she wanted to pursue. \u201cI went into my freshman year undecided in\u00a0Business Administration<\/a>; however, after my second semester, taking ACC 201, I decided it was time to switch,\u201d she explained. \u201cI genuinely enjoyed the accounting class and had a lot of fun learning about what the accounting world brings to students. Additionally, Professor Guy Rotondo was an amazing professor and helped me change my major. The career options and the amount of learning they\u00a0contain\u00a0interested\u00a0me the most. There is\u00a0so much an\u00a0Accounting<\/a>\u00a0major offers, and I think I\u2019ve been able to experience that firsthand with my Hancock Student Leadership Program internship and my previous two internships at Beers Hamerman Cohen & Burger in Fairfield and Linde PLC in Danbury. I\u2019ve seen the audit and tax side of accounting, and the work they provide for individuals and businesses.\u201d\n\nCardona said she found out about the Hancock Student Leadership Program through a campus announcement. The program provides eligible students the opportunity to participate in an applied leadership experience designed to enhance their leadership skills, improve their resume, build their professional network, and further develop their leadership potential.\n\nRead more about this story<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\n\nAlumna Natasha Valani leveraged her knowledge of marketing and curiosity about career options to become the Chief People Officer at Tubi<\/span><\/span>\n
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<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nLike a lot of graduating high school seniors, Natasha Valani knew she wanted to go to college, but wasn\u2019t entirely sure what she wanted to study. That uncertainty and a willingness to ask questions and reimagine what career opportunities a degree might offer, have propelled her to the role of Chief People Officer at the streaming service, Tubi.\n\n\u201cI had no idea what I wanted to do after high school. I dabbled in fashion, was drawn to marketing and advertising, but wasn\u2019t sure where I wanted to land,\u201d Valani said. \u201cStarting at a local community college gave me the space to explore my options while saving money. By my second year at Norwalk Community College, I found myself leaning toward marketing, and with the help of an amazing counselor, I discovered\u00a0Western Connecticut State University<\/a>\u00a0and its business and marketing programs.\u201d\n\nOnce she transferred to WCSU, Valani enrolled in the AACSB-accredited\u00a0Ancell School of Business<\/a>, where she majored in\u00a0Business Administration<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Marketing<\/a>, and explored what a future in marketing might look like.\n\n\u201cAutonomy and agency were important to me,\u201d Valani said. \u201cWCSU provided the flexibility to own my schedule and provided me with the tools to figure out how I could make learning work on my time. I\u2019m not sure I would have had that level of autonomy anywhere else. I paid my own way through college, and chose classes that fit around my work schedule so I could balance my job, classes, and study time.\u201d\n\nShe did make time for a few activities that supported her intended degree. \u201cI found an internship with Aflac on their sales team,\u201d Valani said. \u201cThat internship taught me how to style flex when it comes to your audience and how to navigate the corporate landscape early on.\u201d\n\n<\/div>\n\n

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MIS Professor Emilio Collar’s hobby inspires a new lab space, a new course, and a growing student club.<\/span><\/p>\n\"MIS\n\nWestern Connecticut State University<\/a> students Chloe Wong and Ismael Shaker have more in common than just their shared major: Cybersecurity<\/a>. Both have an interest in vintage computers and with the encouragement of Professor of Management Information Systems<\/a> Dr. Emilio Collar,<\/a> they are getting their hands dirty \u2014 literally \u2014 to explore and refurbish hardware that in many cases is decades older than they are.\n\nOutside of the classroom, Collar not only collects and restores old PCs, he\u2019s also a member of the\u00a0Vintage Computer Federation Mid-Atlantic Chapter<\/a>, whose members repair and restore vintage computers, servers, and mainframes at the Computer History Museum<\/a>, located at the InfoAge Science & History Museums<\/a>\u00a0in Wall, New Jersey.\n\nRead more about this story<\/a>\n\n

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Shelton High School graduate Connor Nolan chose Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) for its welcoming baseball program, diverse academic offerings, and campus environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially pursuing collegiate baseball, a shoulder injury ended his time on the mound, but Nolan redirected his focus toward business. He majored in Business Management and Entrepreneurship at WCSU\u2019s Ancell School of Business, inspired by early real estate experience and impactful professors.<\/p>\n

Nolan stayed active on campus, winning a Marketing Club pitch competition and later presenting at Stamford Innovation Center’s Startup Weekend, supported by a university grant. He also balanced multiple part-time jobs in real estate and security, gaining valuable experience outside the classroom.<\/p>\n

After graduating in 2014, he earned his real estate license and built a career in commercial property management and leasing. His roles have taken him from Manhattan to Boston, and he now oversees properties, including Blue Back Square, in his current role at Brand Street Properties in Greenwich.<\/p>\n

Looking back, Nolan credits WCSU with providing the tools, connections, and opportunities that helped launch his career.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Michele Ganon Honored with Educators of Excellence Awards<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"At the June 6, 2024, Recognition Reception, the Educators of Excellence award (the “Eddy”) was presented to Dr. Michele Ganon, the chair of the Accounting Department<\/a> at Ancell School of Business<\/a> and a full-time professor at the Accounting department<\/a>, dedicated over 30 years to teaching. Her commitment to education and her students is evident through her exceptional dedication, expertise, and passion for creating a dynamic learning environment. She is recognized for her innovative teaching methodologies, mentorship, and continuous support of student success. Dr. Ganon keeps her students informed about changes in the CPA exam, internship, and scholarship opportunities and actively supports the Accounting Society. Her ability to clearly and enthusiastically convey complex accounting principles, along with her advocacy for the CPA credential, has profoundly impacted her students and colleagues, making her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.\n\nRead more about this recognition<\/a>.\n\n

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Western Marketing Association Honored at AMA Conference<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"Western Connecticut State University\u2019s (WCSU) Western Marketing Association, mentored and funded by the Ancell School of Business, was recognized as the Platinum Circle Top Small Chapter in North America at the annual American Marketing Association (AMA) International Collegiate Conference. This prestigious honor highlights the chapter\u2019s excellence across six categories: Community and Social Impact, Professional Development, Fundraising, Membership, Internal\/External Communications, and Chapter Operations\/Budget. The team included 14 students from WCSU\u2019s American Marketing Association chapter, with notable participation from students majoring in Marketing, Management, and Communication and two faculty advisers, Donna Coelho and Dr. Ronald Drozdenko, from Ancell School of Business<\/a> Marketing<\/a> Department, who provided guidance. Key achievements of the WCSU team include: – Semi-finalist position in the 2024 Case Competition, sponsored by Sheth Foundation. – WMA Chapter President Shane Klesh earned an honorable mention in the Pitch Perfect Competition. – High placement in the Marketplace Simulation, with a team ranking 13th out of 60. – Outstanding Honorable Mention for the annual Marketing Week event on campus. These accolades underscore the strength and dedication of the Ancell School of Business and its Marketing Department, showcasing their commitment to professional development and excellence in marketing education. The students who made the team are Julie Hoff, Nicholas Varbaro, Shane Klesh, Emily Rodriguez, Brian Abkulut, Briana Beekman, Julia Meadows, Tiffany Leite, Dominic Cassarino, Katie McGrath, Mia Martovich, Reilly Schmidt, Julia Farah, and Molly Bell.\n\nRead more about the WMA story<\/a>.\n\n

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\"\"Business Alumnus finds recipe for business success at WCSU<\/span><\/p>\nJust down the road from\u00a0Western Connecticut State University\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0Midtown campus on White Street is a Danbury fixture known as the\u00a0Holiday Diner<\/a>… For the past dozen years, the diner has been run by George Psarofagis, an alumnus of Ancell School of Business<\/a>… Psarofagis enrolled as a Finance<\/a>\u00a0major in WCSU\u2019s\u00a0AACSB<\/a>-accredited\u00a0Ancell School of Business<\/a>. He graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance-Financial Investments and Markets<\/a>. \u201cAt WCSU, I learned about business management, supply chain economics, financial forecasting, and more,\u201d Psarofagis said. \u201cI\u2019ve also worked as a research analyst. Getting a proper education prepared me to take over the family business. Otherwise, I\u2019d be guessing.\u201d\n\nRead more about George’s story<\/a>.\n\n

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\"\"Master of Health Administration Student Honored\u00a0For Mental Health Advocacy<\/span><\/p>\nAncell School of Business<\/a> student in the Master of Health Administration program<\/a> Tracy Dolan<\/strong> was honored during Ability Beyond\u2019s annual Autumn Mental Health Breakfast last week. Dolan, the manager of crisis intervention and mobile outreach services for Nuvance, works with other dedicated staff to keep the greater Danbury community strong and responsive to the diverse needs of people with mental and physical challenges… Once she started the MHA program, Dolan pushed herself to finish in two years. \u201cAfter the first summer, I said, \u2018Remind me not to take another summer class,\u2019\u201d she laughed. \u201cAnd there I was the next summer, taking another summer class because I wanted to! The classes are so interesting, and it is a very rigorous program. Interim Dean of the Ancell School of Business and Professor of Healthcare and Operations Management Dr. Yaseen Hayajneh is a delight, and you get so much support.\u201d\n\nRead more about Tracy’s story from\u00a0the Naugatuck Patch<\/a>.\nRead more about Tracy’s story from Danbury’s HamletHUB<\/a>\n\n

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\"MohinderExtending Impact Globally: Ancell’s Professor’s Fulbright Journey in Bahrain<\/span><\/p>\nAncell’s Professor of Management<\/a>, Dr. Mohinder Dugal<\/strong>, is the most recent member of the university community to receive the prestigious Fulbright for Research and Teaching Award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Dugal, who directs Ancell’s Master of Health Administration Program<\/a> and teaches the capstone Strategic Management course to both undergraduate and MBA<\/a> students at Ancell School of Business<\/a>, recently spent ten months at the University of Bahrain to study Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) in the Gulf region.\n\nRead more about Professor Dugal’s Story<\/a>.\n\n

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Business Faculty Earns Board of Regents Award<\/span><\/p>\nProfessor Jean K. Robinson, a member of Ancell’s Finance<\/a> department faculty, received the system-wide BOR Adjunct Faculty Teaching Award…… Professor Robinson\u2019s work demonstrates the value of attracting as teachers those people who have been extremely successful in private enterprise and wish to bring their experience and knowledge to our students,\u201d said WCSU\u2019s Interim President, Dr. Paul B. Beran. Robinson, an adjunct faculty member since 2016, teaches Corporate Finance and Personal Finance at WCSU\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a>. She is also the Chair of the Finance Department Advisory Board. \u201cI am honored to have received this recognition from the Board of Regents,\u201d Robinson said, adding, \u201cTeaching at WCSU has given me the opportunity to share what I have learned over the course of my Finance career. Those \u2018light bulb moments\u2019 I see in students\u2019 eyes have been very gratifying, and I continue to learn from students as well.\u201d Robinson, a former corporate banker, has served as CFO, COO, and President at various companies during her 39-year career in finance and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.\n\nRead more about Professor Robinson’s Story<\/a>.\n\n

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\"DanielErnst & Young opportunity awaits Ancell graduate Daniel Vincent<\/span><\/p>\nDaniel Vincent is a man with a twinkle in his eye and a quick smile. Growing up in Ansonia, he had limited opportunities and guidance, so he spent his middle school and high school years at a military academy in Virginia. Now, as he prepares to graduate from the Ancell School of Business<\/a> with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems<\/a> \u2013 Information Security Management, the 25-year-old Dean\u2019s List student looks forward to a job that begins this summer in Technology Risk at Ernst & Young in Stamford where he\u2019ll oversee software security, account privileges and more.\n\nRead more about Vincent’s Story at Ancell School of Business<\/a>.\n\n

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\"Dr.Ancell Faculty Article on Silicon Valley Bank Selected for Columbia Law School Blog<\/span><\/p>\nAn article by our Finance<\/a> faculty member, Lai Von Vo<\/a>, titled “From Hero to Zero – The Case of Silicon Valley Bank,” has been chosen for submission to Columbia Law School’s esteemed blog on Finance and Economics. The selection of our faculty article for this prominent platform highlights the quality of work produced by the Ancell School of Business<\/a> faculty. The Columbia Law School blog is a widely renowned publication.\n\nRead more about Dr. Vo’s article<\/a>.\n\n

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Ancell\u2019s American Marketing Association chapter excels at annual conference; named Top Small Collegiate Ch\"Westernapter in North America<\/p>\n… Thirteen marketing students and two faculty advisers returned from the International Collegiate Conference of the American Marketing Association (AMA) held earlier this month in New Orleans with a multitude of accolades and awards, including being named the Top Small Collegiate Chapter in North America for 2022-23… The students were accompanied to New Orleans by faculty advisers Donna Coelho, AMA Collegiate Council Member, and Dr. Ronald Drozdenko<\/a>, WCSU Marketing<\/a> Department chair at\u00a0Ancell School of Business<\/a>.\n\nRead more about the Western Marketing Association’s conference wins<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotThe choice to pay it forward came easily to Finance alumnus Renan Max F. Hamoy<\/p>\n… Another of his interests was computing. Hamoy designed websites on his own from home. So, when a student employee position opened in the university\u2019s Information Technology & Innovation (ITI) office assisting the WCSU Webmaster, Hamoy applied and received the job. Two years as a student worker were followed by a year as a University Assistant, and after graduating in 2012 with a B.B.A. in Finance<\/a> from the Ancell School of Business<\/a>, Hamoy was offered a full-time position in ITI as a Web Content Specialist.\n\nRead more about Renan Max F. Hamoy<\/a>\n\n

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Ancell JLA Moot Court Team Advances to Nationals<\/p>\nFour Western Connecticut State University two-student teams participated in the American Moot Court Association Elm City Regional held at Yale University last weekend and performed so well that one team will advance to the nationals in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in January. It\u2019s a Cinderella story in the making. Moot Court Adviser and Associate Professor of Justice and Law Administration<\/a> Thomas A. Miller<\/strong> said, \u201cEight of our finest students went toe-to-toe with some of the most elite schools in the country at Yale this past weekend, and they were more than up to the challenge.\n\nRead more about the JLA Moot Court Team and the Nationals<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotAncell Professor Casey Jordan on the Today Show and TMZ<\/p>\nNBC’s TODAY Show … Ancell professor Casey Jordan shares her perspective on the murder of four University of Idaho students … NBC\u2019s Gadi Schwartz reports for TODAY and criminologist Casey Jordan<\/strong> shares insight into the investigation.\n\nRead More about Prof. Casey Jordan on TODAY<\/a> and TMZ<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoFrom Ancell to Chicago\u2019s Wacker Drive: Focus on Values Directs Alumna\u2019s Interactive Marketing<\/a> Career<\/p>\n\u201cAt WCSU, I felt like I had more of a one-on-one experience,\u201d Alycia Hamilton<\/strong>\u00a0said. \u201cPrior to WCSU, I was one student in a lecture hall with 250 other students. At WCSU\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a>, I had a specialized program that felt tailored to my interests. My degree \u2014 a B.B.A. in Direct\/Interactive Marketing<\/a> \u2014 is specifically what led me to the career I wanted. I also got to pursue my passion areas \u2014 I took a handful of photography classes in addition to my marketing classes, so I was able to stretch both sides of my brain.\u201d\n\nRead more about Alycia Hamilton’s interactive marketing career<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoScott Morrison uses Finance Studies to Fill Hearts and Stomachs by Setting a Place at the Table for Everyone<\/p>\nImagine taking finance classes and turning them into a thriving business that fills the stomachs, hearts and souls of its customers and staff. That\u2019s what former\u00a0Western Connecticut State University\u00a0Ancell School of Business<\/a> student Scott Morrison<\/strong> has accomplished, while enjoying three decades of exponential growth, legions of devoted customers and a very positive public presence in his community and beyond.\n\nRead more about Scott Morrison’s thriving business<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoDivergent paths lead to Juris Doctors for siblings Antonio and George Fernandes<\/p>\nThe Ancell School of Business<\/a> prepares students to attend law school, whether it be through the JLA<\/a> division or other degree programs offered. A case in point are the Fernandes brothers, who both graduated from WCSU and earned Juris Doctor degrees to become attorneys even though they had different majors at Ancell School of Business. Antonio \u201cTony\u201d Fernandes<\/strong>, who graduated cum laude a semester early in 2009, was a Business Administration major. His brother George<\/strong> graduated from the JLA legal studies program in 2012 and also went on to law school.\n\nRead more about Antonio and George Fernandes<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoRoutines, Self-reliance Led to Job at Goldman Sachs for Recent Management<\/a> Graduate<\/p>\nChriss Sari<\/strong> likes routines. As a student, the Danbury native would get up at 5 a.m., go to the gym, eat breakfast, go to work at Union Savings Bank, and then take evening classes as he worked toward his\u00a0Bachelor of Business Administration in Supervisory Management<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0Western Connecticut State University. \u201cI enjoyed the routine,\u201d Sari said. \u201cIt taught me discipline and kept me in check.\u201d… He saw the Goldman Sachs opportunity on Handshake<\/a> in the fall of his senior year and submitted applications for three positions: in New York, Madrid and Dubai. \u201cWhat was the worst that could happen? They could say \u2018no\u2019 and I would be in the same position I was in before. So, I went for it,\u201d Sari explained.\n\nRead more about Chriss Sari’s journey to Goldman Sachs<\/a>\n\n

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Campus \u2018neighbor\u2019 fulfills dream to attend WCSU<\/p>\n\"HeadshotAdamaris Loja<\/strong> went to Danbury High School, where she excelled at her studies with a 3.8 GPA and discovered her love of computers. When she graduated, she decided to fulfill her general education requirements at Naugatuck Valley Community College in order to continue to save money from her two part-time jobs to eventually transfer to WCSU… \u201cI had already applied to WCSU as a Management Information Systems<\/a> major and was going to try to make it work without the scholarship, but when they called me over the summer to tell me I had won, I was crying with excitement,\u201d Loja said. \u201cMost of the students at Danbury High School apply because so many are immigrants or first-generation students, so there was a lot of competition.\u201d\n\nRead more about Adamaris Loja<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotDr. Mohinder Dugal, Ancell’s Latest Fulbright Award Recipient, Heads to Bahrain<\/p>\nWestern Connecticut State University Professor of Management<\/a> Dr. Mohinder Dugal<\/strong> is the latest member of the university community to receive the prestigious Fulbright for Research and Teaching Award from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, for the 2022-23 academic year. Dugal, who teaches the capstone Strategic Management course to both undergraduate and MBA<\/a> students in the university\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a>, will spend nine months in Bahrain to study Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) in the Gulf region.\n\nRead more about Dr. Mohinder Dugal’s Fulbright Award<\/a>\n\n

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\"HowHow a WCSU alumnus ended up leading Google\u2019s Cloud Security sales team: \u2018Differentiate Yourself\u2019 and build a life beyond your dreams<\/p>\nThe knowledge and hands-on exposure to networking that he gained led DiStasio<\/strong> to switch his major from pre-med to MIS<\/a> – Cybersecurity<\/a>. \u201cProfessor of Management Information Systems<\/a> Dr. Marie Wright<\/strong> started WCSU\u2019s program in Information Security Management,\u201d DiStasio said. \u201cShe pioneered it when cybersecurity had just started to come into the conversation and brought in guest lecturers like Mike Jacobs, the deputy director of Information Systems Security for the National Security Agency.\u201d DiStasio\u2019s future was about to change course thanks to his new passion: cybersecurity<\/a>.\n\nRead more about Jeff DiStasio’s journey to Google’s Cloud Security sales team<\/a>\n\n

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\"ManagerialManagerial Accounting<\/a> Propels Redding Native Luke Holden to Achieve Business Success<\/p>\nHe enrolled as a Managerial Accounting major and settled into Litchfield Hall during his freshman year, eager to begin his WCSU journey. Once on campus, he became actively involved in \u201cthe full college experience,\u201d even joining the football team as a walk-on for two years… The challenge was mitigated by faculty members like Professor of Accounting Thomas Monks, Holden\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a> adviser. \u201cHe busted my chops a lot, but got me ready for the real world,\u201d Holden said. \u201cAnother thing that separated me from other job candidates upon graduation was my ability to adapt, because at the Ancell School I learned accounting, fraud, business development and marketing as part of my Managerial Accounting degree.\u201d\n\nRead more about Luken Holden’s managerial accounting career<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoManagement Alumnus Sets out to Sea to Raise Awareness of Veteran PTSD and Suicide<\/p>\n\u201cHonestly, it\u2019s a great metaphor for an anti-suicide campaign because you want people to keep pushing every day, no matter how hard it gets,\u201d Huppmann<\/strong> said. It also relates to his time in the Management program at WCSU. \u201cProfessor of Management Dr. Pauline Assenza<\/strong> in the Ancell School of Business was just an absolutely influential professional when I was there wrapping up,\u201d Huppmann said. \u201cShe still crosses my mind often because she was so inspirational about going forward on your journey in life and being willing and able to realize your own dream.\u201d\n\nRead more about A.M “Hupp” Huppmann’s work to raise awareness about veteran PTSD and Suicide<\/a>\n\n

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\"OscarAn International Exchange Business Student from \u2018Across the Pond,\u2019 Breaks Swimming Records at WCSU<\/p>\nOscar Oldbury-Swift<\/strong>, a 22-year-old international exchange student from Manchester, England, came to\u00a0Western Connecticut State University\u00a0through the\u00a0International Exchange Student Program<\/a> (ISEP) to study business \u2014 \u00a0and broke collegiate and personal best swimming records as a member of the WestConn Men\u2019s Swimming & Diving Team. He chose to undertake his international college experience at WCSU because of its proximity to New York City and because he could continue his business Management<\/a> studies at WCSU\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a>.\n\nRead more about Oscar Oldbury-Swift’s record breaking swims at WCSU<\/a>\n\n

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\"Headshot<\/a>A debt-free Double-major Leads Business Student Sheila Medina to her Dream Job at Deloitte<\/p>\nMy accounting professor told me about WCSU and that my NCC credits would transfer there … I spoke to Dr. Richard Montague<\/strong>, chair of WCSU\u2019s MIS department, who told me I wouldn\u2019t have to do a major and minor \u2014 I could do a double major in MIS and Accounting. Not only that, but everything was in one place in WCSU\u2019s Ancell School of Business. This changed my whole idea of what I could accomplish!\n\nRead more about Sheila Medina’s debt-free double major<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotAncell Professor Casey Jordan on CNN<\/p>\nCNN …\u00a0Experts say there is a term for this kind of attraction.\u00a0“Sometimes referred to in our culture as ‘Bad Boy Syndrome,’ hybristophilia is the attraction to and\/or sexual interest in those who commit crimes, particularly heinous and violent crimes such as rape and murder,” said Dr. Casey Jordan<\/strong>, Criminologist and Professor of Justice and Law Administration<\/a> at Western Connecticut State University. \u201cVicky White surely believes she\u2019s in love with Casey White, because he gives her a feeling of being alive after decades of feeling staid, safe and \u2018reliable,\u2019 \u201d Jordan added.\n\nRead more about Professor Casey Jordan on CNN<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotWalletHub Interviews Ancell Professor Pauline Assenza on Best & Worst Small Cities to Start a Business<\/p>\nWalletHub – Any new business needs to research the resources available in the local “entrepreneurial ecosystem”. Depending on the industry, access to support services may be critical and smaller cities may not have the breadth of support needed, i.e. power and transportation infrastructure, broadband access, adequate healthcare facilities. However, a smaller city has the advantage of a focused network of social support where the smaller “voices” may have more opportunities to be heard.\n\nRead more about Dr. Pauline Assenza’s WalletHub interviews<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotWhy healthcare costs are rising in the U.S. more than anywhere else<\/p>\nCNBC – … One of the causes of high spending is the fragmented nature of the U.S. system. Some Americans have comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage while others have little to no coverage. \u201cThe way the system is structured now, it is a cure-driven system, not a prevention-driven system,\u201d said Yaseen Hayajneh<\/strong>, associate professor of health administration<\/a> at Western Connecticut State University.\n\nRead more about why healthcare costs are rising in the U.S. according to Dr. Yaseen Hayajneh<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotHow Americans can save money when choosing a health insurance plan<\/p>\nCNBC –\u00a0Most Americans struggle to figure out which health insurance plan will save them money.\u00a0A study of almost 24,000 employees at a major Fortune 100 company found that 61% of them chose the wrong plan for their needs. The researchers at Carnegie Mellon University who conducted the study estimated that the average employee could have saved $372 per year by choosing a different plan.\n\nRead more about how Americans can save money on health insurance plans according to Dr. Yaseen Hayajneh<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotSupply Chain Lessons from the Pandemic<\/p>\nThis October, Gro Intelligence\u2019s SVP of Agribusiness James Heneghan was invited by Professor Dr. Cindy Chuang<\/strong> and Dean Dr. David Martin<\/strong> to speak at Western Connecticut State University\u2019s Ancell Dean\u2019s Speaker Series. Heneghan joined Odyssey Logistics & Technology’s Cosmo Alberico to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global agricultural supply chain.\n\nRead more Dr. Cindy Chuang’s Supply Chain Lessons from the Pandemic<\/a>\n\n

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\"Headshot\u2018It\u2019s been a nightmare\u2019: Local Restaurant Owner Struggles Through Pandemic with Labor Shortages, High Food Prices, and No Federal Aid<\/p>\nNewsTime – … Pauline Assenza<\/strong>, a Management<\/a> professor at the Ancell School of Business<\/a> at Western Connecticut State University, noticed the same trend. \u201cThere has not been an uptick but there hasn\u2019t been a downturn either,\u201d she said of new startups. Still, the impact is there. In March of 2020, the state was home to more than 8,000 restaurants that employed around 160,000 residents, according to the Connecticut Restaurant Relief Fund. After the shutdown, over 600 restaurants went out of business.\n\nRead more about Dr. Pauline Assenza’s take on effects of the pandemic on local restaurants<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotDoctor tired of \u2018Band-Aid\u2019 solutions opens Ridgefield health care facility to tailor treatments to individual patients<\/p>\nNewsTime – …Precision medicine is an \u201cemerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle,\u201d according to SpringerLink research.\u00a0Yaseen Hayajneh<\/strong> – Western Connecticut State University associate professor of Management<\/a> and coordinator of the college\u2019s master of health administration program<\/a> – said that precision medicine and traditional medicine are methods healthcare providers use to treat patients. The difference is that traditional medicine applies a \u201cstandardized, one-size-fits-all\u201d treatment plan while precision medicine employs \u201cpatient-specific information\u201d to tailor treatment to the individual\u2019s unique circumstances, Hayajneh explained.\n\nRead more about Dr. Yaseen Hayajneh’s views about precision medicine and traditional medicine<\/a>\n\n

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Ancell’s MBA program honored for excellence and admissions policy<\/p>\nThe Western Connecticut State University Master of Business Administration<\/a> program has received recognition in a recent survey citing M.B.A. programs across the nation that offer academic excellence and flexible admissions policies providing a balanced and holistic profile to predict student success.\n\nRead more about the Ancell MBA program’s honored admissions policies<\/a>\n\n

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Danbury\u2019s outdoor hospital could treat variety of patients<\/p>\nNewsTime – …\u00a0This includes treating patients with or without coronavirus or using it to triage patients elsewhere to the main hospital, he said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at the entire system,\u201d Cassavechia said. \u201cWe service such a large area. We\u2019re preparing for an assortment of a variety of patients that may present to our hospital.\u201d\u00a0Dr. Yaseen Hayajneh<\/strong>, a professor at Western Connecticut State University who has helped set up two regular hospitals in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, said figuring out how the facility will be used needs to be done first.\n\nRead more about Danbury Hospital’s outdoor hospital acc<\/a>\n\n

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\"West Conn-Taiwan university partnership grows<\/p>\nNewsTime – On Monday morning, a group of college students and professors from Taiwan got a first-hand look at an American business with a tour of Ethan Allen. … The partnership started about three years ago. Cindy Chuang<\/strong>, an associate professor of Management<\/a> at Western’s Ancell School of Business<\/a>, had been teaching at Soochow over the summer while visiting family. When she learned that Soochow was trying to connect with more sister schools in the states, she brought the idea to her dean.\n\nRead more about Western’s Taiwanese partnership<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotWCSU Management Students Explore International Business in Taiwan<\/p>\nPatch – Eight Management students and alumni of the Western Connecticut State University Ancell School of Business<\/a> gained an invaluable lesson in the international network of trade, commerce, supply chains, and logistics that holds the global economy together during a recent WCSU international program in Taiwan … Galli-Debicella<\/strong> observed Taiwan offered an especially attractive location for the WCSU students to gain a deeper understanding of global trade and investment relationships. \u201cTaiwan maintains extensive trading relationships with both China and the United States,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen the United States does something, it will have a positive or negative effect on Taiwan and the rest of the world. Intellectually, our students understood this, but now they understand how these actions have a ripple effect in daily practice.\u201d\n\nRead more about WCSU’s management trip to Taiwan with Dr. Alex Galli-Debicella<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotYoung entrepreneur: Chamber of Commerce announces 2018 scholarship finalist<\/p>\nThe Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) announced the winner of its Saunders Scholars local Investor Panel competition…Their five-minute presentations included extensive market research, financial analysis, sales projections and an investment request from the judging panel. The judging panel was comprised of the following local professionals: Management<\/a> Professor Pauline Assenza<\/strong> of Western Connecticut State University, Mary Kate Gobleck of Reliance Merchant Services, Scott Johnson of Mack Media and Heather Neumann Salaga of The Tutoring Club.\n\nRead more about the Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneur<\/a>\n\n

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\"Ancell School of Business receives AACSB accreditation<\/p>\nThe designation places Ancell School of Business<\/a> among the top 5 percent of business schools in the world. Ancell joins Connecticut business schools with the accreditation including Yale, the University of Connecticut, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, Quinnipiac University, University of New Haven, University of Hartford, the Coast Guard Academy, and Central Connecticut State University.\n\nRead more about the Ancell School of Business’ AACSB accreditation<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotAt Northwest firms with ESOPs, employees act like they own the place<\/p>\nThe Seattle Time – Employee stock-ownership plans can be complex to set up. But at local companies, an ESOP gives workers a financial and psychological stake in the enterprise\u2019s success. Some studies show that employees at ESOP companies tend to be more loyal, more collaborative and more hardworking, said Dan Weltmann<\/strong>, who was part of a team that examined hundreds of private companies to see whether ESOP conversions affect survival rates. The study found that those companies were much less likely to disappear than their non-ESOP counterparts. They also posted much higher job and revenue growth after making the switch.\n\nRead more about Dr. Dan Weltmann’s study of Employee Stock-Ownership Plan employees<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotAncell Graduate Announced as the New Chief Financial Officer of Lakeview Health<\/p>\nGeorge Merhi<\/strong> brings more than 25 years of finance leadership experience in both public and private corporations with revenues ranging from $5 million to $500 million. He has worked in a variety of industries and has been successful in building, strengthening and leading the corporate finance function for companies in various start-up, stable and growth situations. A graduate of the Western Connecticut State University\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a>, Merhi<\/strong> has held several key executive positions in the industries of healthcare, retail and franchise finance and contract food and beverage.\n\nRead more about George Merhi’s promotion to Chief Financial Officer at Lakeview Health<\/a>\n\n

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\"HeadshotMom & pop retailers endure and adapt amid industry upheaval<\/p>\nPauline Assenza<\/strong>, an associate professor of Management<\/a> and small-business entrepreneurship at Western Connecticut State University\u2019s Ancell School of Business<\/a>, said the continued presence of these smaller stores contradicted a long-held assumption that governed the retail industry. \u201cIt was a myth that when Walmart comes to town, the Main Street businesses will die,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s not necessarily true. The smaller retailers have been around long enough to understand the needs of people who walk by their stores.\u201d\n\nRead more about mom and pop retailers with Dr. Pauline Assenza<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoAncell Students earned the Best Oral Presentation Award for their pitch of Karp\u2019s product innovation<\/p>\nWestern Connecticut State University students Rachael Karp<\/strong> and Helen Christie Roberts<\/strong> earned the Best Oral Presentation Award for their pitch of Karp\u2019s product innovation, \u201cOn Board,\u201d at the Connecticut Business Plan Competition held on April 22, 2016, in New Haven. Dr. Pauline Assenza<\/strong>, associate professor of management and adviser to the Entrepreneurship, Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) student club at WCSU, served as faculty mentor to Karp and Roberts for the competition. Karp is the current president of ERIC, founded last year to seek out entrepreneurial and other creative opportunities for WCSU students and facilitate partnerships between students and local business mentors.\n\nRead more about Rachael Karp’s presentation award<\/a>\n\n

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\"PhotoNY-CONN head excels in a male-dominated industry<\/p>\n“I am very proud to be a part of the school that gave me an excellent education,” MaryJean Rebeiro<\/strong> said. “I obtained the stepping stones needed to navigate in the business world from my professors at the Ancell School of Business<\/a>. I often catch myself quoting one of my professors, and it is then that I realize what a strong foundation I was given and the impact my teachers had on me then and now.”\n\nRead more about WCSU grad MaryJean Rebeiro’s experience in a male-dominated industry<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Zach Fisher – Recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s Prestigious 2026 Pros to Know Award New Milford resident and 2022 WCSU BBA graduate Zach Fisher has been named a recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive\u2019s\u00a0prestigious\u00a02026 Pros to Know …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":317,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7770","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/317"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7770\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/asb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}