On June 14, 2020, The School of Business held its first remote commencement. The ceremony served to celebrate the outstanding achievements of over 200 students and to empower these new graduates to serve as leaders during this unmatched period of economic and social disruption.
Despite the innumerable obstacles, the Class of 2020 achieved tremendous success and continues to serve our business community:
- Members of the MRED program won the 2020 NAIOP Pacific Northwest Challenge for the second consecutive year.
- MT graduates are working with clients to help them navigate the tax measures that have been adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Two teams of MSF students placed second at the ACG Cup Northwest and Portland CFA Institute Research Challenge.
- MSGSCM students have been researching and developing optimal supply chain management configurations as the economy attempts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Students from PSU’s multiple MBA programs worked with 11 Portland companies seeking to become B-Corp certified.
- MBA students completed 18 capstone consulting projects, half of which were for public agencies or nonprofits.
- Certificate students are working with companies to help them redefine business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Graduate Student Speaker Kristen Currents encouraged her classmates to view the world through the lens of relationships, and looking and listening for solutions that benefit everyone involved.
Dean Cliff Allen expressed his optimism for the Class of 2020, referring to them as the “COVID class,” and imploring them “to be a part of the systemic change” that our society has increasingly demanded.
Melissa Appleyard, Associate Dean of Graduate Business Programs, echoed Allen. “Our graduate students,” she explained, “will help define a better future for not only our Pacific Northwest region but for the world.”
The Class of 2020 has defining challenges and opportunities ahead of them. All of us at The School of Business wish them the best in their endeavors!
Portland State University Graduate Business Blog 