Penn State Behrend - Sam and Irene Black School of Business

👏 Congratulations to our APICS Award recipient! This honor recognizes outstanding achievement in Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies at Penn State Behrend. Your dedication to bridging business and engineering sets you apart—well done!

The Panel on Erie’s Water Advantage, hosted by our School on May 20, was featured on Erie News Now. The panel brought together alumni, advisory board members, and professionals from local organizations to discuss the economic opportunities connected to Lake Erie and our region. Special thanks to Scott Stroupe for his outstanding work organizing and promoting the event, which helped expand our School’s visibility in downtown Erie and strengthen community engagement.

We recently held our annual Spring Banquet and Awards ceremony. We would like to recognize and celebrate this year's award winners. Join us in congratulating them!

The Engagement Award recognizes a faculty member whose work builds strong connections with our partners and communities and creates meaningful impact—supporting our programs, contributing to society, and advancing student and faculty success.

This year's Engagement Award goes to Ying Cao, Associate Professor of Project and Supply Chain Management. Dr. Cao exemplifies outstanding engagement through her work connecting our students, programs, and community with high-impact opportunities. She has consistently led student participation in prestigious case competitions at the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University.

Congrats Ying!

Today we recognize and celebrate the important role fathers and mentors play in shaping lives and strengthening communities. Happy Father’s Day!

Congratulations to Dr. Yohannes Haile on his recent promotion to Associate Teaching Professor!

Today we recognize Juneteenth and recommit to creating spaces where everyone feels valued and empowered.
Progress is a choice we make daily.

Larry Neizmik and his wife, Charlotte, have added $100,000 to the Larry D. Neizmik and Charlotte A. Neizmik Scholarship for Economics. The couple’s original gift has supported students in the economics program at the Black School of Business since 2021.

Larry Neizmik is a part-time lecturer in the Black School of Business. He retired in 2012 from Northwest Bank, where he served as corporate vice president of education and training for branch operations.

Charlotte Neizmik retired from Northwest in 2017. She was a corporate assistant vice president and call center manager.

Larry Neizmik studied at Behrend for two years before earning a degree in economics at Penn State. He earned an MBA at Behrend in 1994.

In the MBA program, he benefited from student-focused philanthropy: He twice received the B.J. and Barbara Walker Scholarship for Academic Excellence.

“What inspired us to add to our endowment was the input we received from the scholars who were selected to receive our scholarship,” Larry Neizmik said. “Seeing the impact it has made on these young people’s lives is tremendously rewarding.

“One student recently told us that before the scholarship, they had to work 30 hours per week in order to help pay for their education,” he said. “After receiving our award, they were able to reduce their work schedule to 20 hours a week, which allowed them more time for studies.”

Save the Date!

What does it take to build a stronger, more prosperous Erie region?

Join us on July 22, 2026, as Erie County Executive Christina Vogel, Erie Mayor Daria Devlin, and other regional leaders discuss how collaboration is shaping the future of economic development across our community.

Learn about successful regional initiatives, explore opportunities for greater collaboration, and be part of the conversation about Erie’s shared vision for growth.

This is a must-attend event for:
✔ Business owners and executives
✔ Community and nonprofit leaders
✔ Economic development professionals
✔ Engaged citizens interested in Erie’s future

More details and registration coming soon.

We recently held our annual Spring Banquet and Awards ceremony. We would like to recognize and celebrate this year's award winners. Join us in congratulating them!

Excellence in Teaching Award

The Excellence in Teaching Award honors a faculty member who creates exceptional learning experiences through innovative teaching methods and hands-on, experiential learning—both in and beyond the classroom.

This year's recipient is Zach Williams, Assistant Teaching Professor of Accounting.
Zach consistently receives positive and enthusiastic feedback from his students and is deeply committed to their success. He is highly accessible, and his impact extends across our programs.

Congrats Zach!

Did you know that the Behrend campus has a system of hiking trails through Wintergreen Gorge? Check out these videos produced by Black School of Business student Marcus Jacobs.
We hope you enjoy your "visit" through the gorge and hope you can visit in person soon.

Wintergreen Gorge Virtual Tour Virtual Tour