Category Archive: Uncategorized | Business and Economics

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Business and Economics Review – Summer 2025 Edition

By Beth Ryan September 2nd 2025

We’re proud to share the latest issue of the Business & Economics Review, highlighting student achievements, alumni impact, and faculty excellence.

Inside this issue:

Leadership & Law: Executive in Residence Karen Skarupski ’83 shares career insights
Innovation in Action: Students compete for $30,000 at the Zingale Big Idea Competition
Career Preparation: Internships that offer mentorship, culture, and compensation
Global Learning: Study away in Germany, economics research at the Cleveland Fed
Community Impact: VITA program prepares $158K in tax refunds for Meadville
Faculty Excellence: Peer-reviewed publications on food policy, credit flows & inequality
Student Honors & WiBE Relaunch: Celebrating academic excellence and inclusive leadership

Download the full Summer 2025 issue here:

Business & Economics Review (PDF)

Lauren Schuch ’26 Discovers Confidence, Culture, and Connections Abroad

By Beth Ryan August 26th 2025

This past summer, Lauren Schuch '26 spent a semester studying abroad in Germany—an experience that was both academically enriching and personally transformative. From advancing German language skills to taking courses ranging from AI in German business to Indigenous Studies, the opportunity expanded perspectives far beyond the classroom. — Lauren poses with her student cohort group in Germany

This summer, Lauren contintued her study away journey in Cologne, Germany. She is rejoining us on campus this fall and resuming her service as a CBE Fellow – we had to ask…

What was it like spending the summer in Germany?

Lauren: This past summer, I was overseas studying for a semester in Germany. It was a wonderful opportunity both academically and personally. Not only did I improve my German language skills, but I was also able to take a variety of courses in different disciplines. The experience allowed me to grow in an unfamiliar environment and meet new friends from around the world.

How did you discover this opportunity?

Lauren: Allegheny! I always knew I wanted to study abroad, and Allegheny provided that opportunity.The study abroad department was a great resource in making this experience happen.

What were your duties, or what did you study/learn/discover?

Lauren: As I mentioned, I took a variety of courses while abroad. These ranged from AI in German business to doing Indigenous Studies. I was also able to continue my studies in the German language, interacting with it firsthand with native speakers and those at my level. I also learned the culture and history of the city I lived in and the places I traveled to.

Would you recommend this opportunity to another Allegheny student?

Lauren: Definitely! It was not only a valuable academic endeavor but also a meaningful personal experience. I had to live on my own in a whole new culture, and I was able to grow because of it. It was very daunting at first, but I am so glad I took the chance and went. My advice is to do it if you are able to. It doesn’t matter where in the world you go, the experience and the people you meet are invaluable.

Lauren Schuch ’26 is an International Studies and Business double major. She serves as a CBE Fellow, Co-President of the Women in Business and Economic Club and an active member of the International Club.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

Turning Conferences into Careers: How Gabriel Saccoccio ‘27 Found His Internship Abroad

By Beth Ryan August 18th 2025

Gabriel Salvatore Xavier Saccoccio '27 — Gabriel Salvatore Xavier Saccoccio ’27

A chance meeting at a student conference opened the door to a summer at Latin America’s largest investment bank.

Gabriel Salvatore Xavier Saccoccio, a rising junior majoring in computer science and minoring in economics, spent his summer interning at BTG Pactual in Brazil after connecting with recruiters through the Brazilian Student Association’s annual conference. We asked Gabriel:

Where did you intern this summer?

This summer, I interned at BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America. I worked with the IT Legal team to help modernize systems that manage thousands of legal cases involving the bank.

How did you discover this opportunity?

I discovered the opportunity through BRASA, the Brazilian Student Association, during its annual conference at Columbia University in October 2024. The event included a career fair that connects Brazilian students studying abroad with top companies, and it was a great chance to speak directly with recruiters from BTG.

What were your duties and what did you study/learn/discover?

I supported the IT Legal team on projects focused on improving how the bank manages its legal cases. My work helped streamline internal processes, making it easier for teams to track case updates, deadlines, and financial information. I collaborated with different departments and contributed to tools that made the bank’s legal operations more efficient and accurate. This experience gave me valuable insight into how technology supports legal and compliance work in a major financial institution.

Would you recommend this opportunity to another Allegheny student?

While the internship is tailored for Brazilian students, BTG does have branches in New York and Miami. I strongly recommend attending conferences that resonate with your interests, as they’re a powerful way to connect with recruiters and professionals face-to-face, which can lead to opportunities you might not find otherwise.

Gabriel serves the department as a CBE Fellow, speaks four languages and is a first place winner in the Financial Literacy Challenge. He will study away during the fall 2025 semester in Madrid, Spain.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

New for Fall 2025: Microcredentials!

By Beth Ryan July 29th 2025

Starting this fall, the Business and Economics Department is offering a new series of microcredentials designed to help students stand out in today’s competitive job and graduate school markets.

These digital badges recognize verified skills and competencies earned through existing coursework and hands-on experiences. The first four microcredentials — Accounting, Finance, Investing, and Tax Fundamentals — offers students tangible proof of their expertise in high-demand areas, from financial analysis to real-world tax preparation. By earning these credentials, students can demonstrate their readiness to employers and admissions committees alike, boosting their visibility and credibility in application processes that increasingly rely on data-driven hiring tools.

Accounting

The accounting microcredential provides foundational knowledge of accounting processes and methodologies. Students develop an understanding of accounting principles such as recording transactions, presenting financial information, and analyzing costs.

Finance

Finance equips students with the tools and methodologies employed by finance professionals. Upon completing this microcredential, students will understand the role of financial markets in the economy, how interest rates are determined, how risk affects the price and expected return of a financial asset, and will be able to analyze investment decisions.

Investing

Investing equips students with the tools and methodologies employed to value assets. Upon completing this microcredential, students will understand how risk and interest rates influence the pricing of financial assets, and will be able to generate reports on firms, including equity recommendations employed to value assets. Upon completing this microcredential, students will understand how risk and interest rates influence the pricing of financial assets, and will be able to generate reports on firms, including equity recommendation

Tax Fundamentals

The tax fundamentals microcredential provides a working knowledge of accounting fundamentals, tax law, and tax preparation. Students receive training and hands-on preparation experience by preparing individual tax returns and reviewing those returns over two semesters of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Internship. The first time the students take the internship, they are certified as Preparers, and the second time they are certified as Preparers/Reviewers.

For more information on our full list of microcredentials and their course requirements, visit the Academic Bulletin for 2025/2026

CBE Fellow Nick Tysiachney Attains Specialized Knowledge of Supply Chain Management at Acutec Precision Aerospace

By Beth Ryan September 4th 2024

Nicholas Tysiachney ’25, an Economics major and Data Science minor at Allegheny College, is participating in an ongoing internship in the Supply Chain department at Acutec Precision Aerospace, an award-winning, family and employee-owned manufacturer of critical components and subassemblies for aerospace and defense applications.

We asked Nick…

How did you learn about this opportunity?

Nick: I connected with Acutec’s Human Resources Director and Allegheny alumnus Austin Rock ’14, through my advisor, Professor of Economics Russ Ormiston.

What are your duties?

Nick: I assist with purchasing consumables, basically anything that doesn’t end up inside of a part. Since I started in October 2023, I’ve purchased more than $2 million worth of goods. I also work on automating business processes to make them more efficient for everyone in the department. In that area of responsibility, I’ve developed more than 28 separate automations across 10 automation families.

Would you recommend this internship to another student?

Nick: Absolutely, if not this internship, then there are many others at Acutec. I feel that Acutec is good at giving people what they can handle in an internship. If you show promise, you can do more, if you are younger or less experienced, they will work with you. I will be happy to talk to anyone about internship opportunities.

Nicholas Tysiachney is scheduled to graduate in May 2025. A commuting student, he serves as a CBE Fellow and takes advantage of the Wise Center Athletics Center while on campus. Off-campus, he’s continues to work at Acutec in Meadville.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

CBE Fellow Graham Kralic ’25 Journeys to Pittsburgh for an Elite Internship in Banking and Finance

By Beth Ryan June 20th 2024

Graham Kralic ’25, an economics major and communications minor, journeyed to the corporate headquarters of PNC for his summer internship. PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States.

We asked Graham…

How did you find your summer internship?

Graham: I found this opportunity through CBE advertising, general knowledge of PNC Bank, and the desire to work here for many years. In obtaining my internship, I leveraged the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) services (Shoutout to Autumn Parker, Jim Fitch, and Brian Collingwood), alumni connections (Jennifer Daurora ’99), and my own personal connections who work at the bank.

What are your duties?

Graham: As a C&IB Treasury Management Intern, I support Treasury Management Officers on my team in the solutioning of treasury management products to corporate and institutional banking clients at PNC. Simply put, Treasury management is the process of extending the funds flow cycle within a company’s treasury department. This means helping companies receive A/R payments more quickly, managing liquidity, and delaying A/P payments for as long as possible.

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

Graham: I would highly recommend a PNC internship to anyone who will listen. There are so many different intern positions that they offer from corporate finance to HR services, there is a niche for everyone. The program has offered me countless opportunities to learn and take on additional responsibility within my business unit.

What other activities are you involved in on campus?

Graham: I am a CBE Fellow, economics major and communications minor, scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2025. I participates in Men’s Varsity Soccer, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and serve the department as a Macroeconomic Theory Teaching Assistant.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

Lucia Jueguen ’24 Shines during her New York City Summer Internship

By Beth Ryan September 6th 2023

Lucia Jueguen at her internship location in New York City

CBE Fellow Lucia Jueguen ‘24 is an International Studies and Business Double Major, Arabic Minor. This summer she served as an intern at BNP Paribas, in New York City.

We asked Lucia…

How did you find my summer internship?

An Allegheny Alum worked there and referred the opportunity to our Career Education team.

What were your duties?

I worked for the Group Financial Security team. Essentially, our team was tasked with US sanction compliance across all business lines/operating divisions of the BNPP Group. My main project for the summer was an internal auditing review.

Would you recommend the experience to other students?

YES! I would recommend working for BNP because of many reasons. It is the perfect way to get exposure to the finance industry, especially the location at their headquarters in NYC. They provide a good introduction and transition process for incoming interns, making us feel empowered doing actual work while getting support from HR, our managers, and other peers in our department. I had the opportunity to network and go on coffee chats with most of the people in my department! They also have a direct hire program for summer interns, including sponsoring visas for international students.

A Global Citizen Scholar, Lucia Jueguen is a Resident Advisor and CBE Fellow. She is a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon, International Honor Society in Economics, and Pi Sigma Alpha, The National Political Science Honor Society.

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

CBE Fellow Andrew Strobel Discovers Endless Opportunities in the World of Finance

By Beth Ryan August 1st 2023

Andrew Strobel ‘24 is an Economics Major / German Minor interning this summer (2023) at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Pittsburgh. — Andrew Strobel (far left) with the summer of 2023 Thermo Fisher Scientific Intern Group

Andrew Strobel ‘24 is an Economics Major / German Minor interning this summer at Thermo Fisher Scientific in Pittsburgh. We asked Andrew….

How did you find your summer internship?

I found my summer internship through a LinkedIn search in September. I was looking for finance internships in and around Pittsburgh. In fact, I would encourage students seeking internships to start early, it pays off! I am a FLDP (Financial Leadership Development Program) intern on the reporting and analytics commercial finance team.

What were your duties?

I was able to work on 2 projects this summer. The first project involved analyzing customer contracts for information regarding our customer incentive program. The commercial finance team typically tracks payments that we have to issue to customers during the course of the year manually, but our team is transitioning to a new application developed in-house in conjunction with IT. I helped input important contract information so that this process will be automated for over 90% of the payments that we make.

In a similar way, I helped the cash applications team by analyzing customer contracts for prompt payment discounts. Prompt payment discounts are given to customers who pay their invoices early (i.e. 1% 10 Net 30). This discount helps incentivize customers to pay, which in turn speeds the company’s cash flow.

The interns were required to participate in a volunteer opportunity together this summer with the caveat that we were to take responsibility for planning and choosing the opportunity. I led the interns in the planning and execution of the event– we volunteered at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in their new venture, The Market. “The Market, in partnership with Giant Eagle, offers a grocery store-style experience providing shelf-stable, meat, dairy, fresh produce and non-food grocery items as well as connections to additional resources for help.”

My day-to-day responsibilities involved daily/weekly reporting. The most important report I sent out to leadership was the daily sales performance of one of Thermo Fisher’s North American Business segments.

Would you recommend this experience to other students?

I would highly recommend this experience to any Allegheny student. This opportunity provided me with so much information on corporate finance, the opportunity to learn new softwares, networking opportunities, and work experience as a team and as an individual in a short amount of time. Thermo Fisher Scientific offers opportunities in many different locations around the US, so if you are geographically flexible, it is a great chance to work in a different city. It also provided me with some knowledge that finance isn’t just stocks and bond pricing; there are endless opportunities in the world of finance.

Andrew is a CBE Fellow, Vice President of Delta Tau Delta, a member of the Men’s Soccer Coaching Staff, and is in the process of trying to start a pickleball club!

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.

Allegheny Students Honored for Scholarship in Economics

By Beth Ryan March 26th 2023

Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) is the international honor society in the field of economics. The primary purpose of ODE is to recognize outstanding academic achievement in economics, especially at the undergraduate level.

How do students qualify?

Students are invited to join the society each Spring if they meet the academic criteria set by the international organization. The minimum requirements for admission are completion of 12 credit hours of economics courses, attainment of a GPA of 3.0 or better in economics courses, and an overall GPA of at least 3.0.

Newest members of the Allegheny College Omicron Delta Epsilon chapter

During our Spring 2023 event, we welcomed the newest members of the Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society:

Robert Amsdell	Patrick Hogan	Reece Smith
Bergas. Anargya	Dagney K. Javes	Margaret L. Todd
Tergel Buyanbat	Kenneth C. Johns	Patricia J. Todd
Jenna E. Halenda	Lucia Jueguen	Preston A. Turk
Carter J. Hassenplug	Kevin Lee	Isabelle R. Wakefield

Why study economics?

This year, Professor Emeritus John Golden provided the opening remarks sharing with students the history of economics, the benefits of the discipline and the many career trajectories made possible by the study of economics. He explains:

“Given the wide-ranging diversity of interests among economists, it is no surprise that this discipline provides undergraduates with many subsequent career options. Many find employment in the private sector, especially in banking. For those interested in working in this industry, consider taking a course in finance. Also, internships are helpful in exploring post-undergraduate careers. You may enjoy a subject intellectually, but perhaps would find a daily routine and/or colleagues not to your liking.

Better to find out sooner — via an internship — than later.

Another employment possibility is a non-profit organization devoted to a cause in which one truly values, such as green energy solutions or fighting poverty. An additional career option is to become an entrepreneur who creates his or her own business in either the private or non-profit sector.”

The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy. Learn more at allegheny.edu/cbe

CBE Summer Experiences with Ebrima Darboe ’23

By Beth Ryan September 26th 2022

Ebrima Darboe ’23 is continuing his summer internship as a Global Supply Chain Analyst at pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. The internship was originally hybrid with the New York office, and is currently continuing as a remote experience. We asked Ebrima:

How did you find your internship?

Ebrima: I first learned about Pfizer during the pandemic and discovered that the company positively impacts lives while being dedicated to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment for colleagues. I found this internship opportunity on the Allegheny College Handshake Platform.

What were you doing during this experience?

Ebrima: This summer I had the unique opportunity to gain knowledge in the global supply chain within Pfizer. As a Global Supply Chain Analyst my team and I collaborated on global supply chain business initiatives, with an emphasis on sustainability and risk management. I worked on various projects, strengthening my data analytics skills to understand waste and risk levels associated with different Pfizer products.

Additionally, this internship allowed me to strengthen my business acumen and expand my professional network. I valued being a part of one of Pfizer’s College Resource Groups, the Global Black Community. My participation in the GBC allowed me to connect with other GBC Pfizer interns and professionals, be paired with a mentor, and have access to professional development opportunities. This internship experience provided me with the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience, and now I can see a potential career in the industry.

Would you recommend this internship to other students?

Ebrima: I would highly recommend this internship to other students, so they can explore their potential career interests and gain experience to broaden their skills and network.

Ebrima is an Economics major and Community and Justice Studies minor scheduled to graduate in May 2023. He is the President of the Men of Color Advancement Association and a member of the African Student Association and Islamic Cultural Association. Additionally, he a member of the IDEAS center and participates in intramural basketball.

Studying economics at Allegheny College teaches students how people respond to incentives in making choices, and how those choices affect outcomes at both the micro and macro scale. A microeconomist might study how a firm or a family chooses to finance a new piece of equipment or a home purchase. A macroeconomist might study how a change in interest rates affects economic growth, unemployment, or the balance of trade. Community and Justice Studies (COMJ) investigates challenges facing communities, analyzes key methods of social action, develops ethical reasoning, and directly engages students in responsible engagement in our community. Community and Justice Studies offers students an intellectual framework for understanding social systems, structures, movements and how these shape society, especially in relationship to power and oppression.