In This Newsletter:
- What's New with the PSCM Major?
- Faculty Spotlight
- Alumni Spotlights
- Student Spotlights
- PSCM Highlights & Club News
What's New with the PSCM Major?
Department Chair, Marketing and Project and Supply Chain Management programs, Professor of Management, Project and Supply Chain Management and MPM programs
Welcome to our Spring 2025 newsletter. This semester has been an exciting one for the Project and Supply Chain Management (PSCM) program. As the field continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for our students and faculty.
This newsletter features several highlights. First, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Zoe Schumm, assistant professor of project and supply chain management, to the Black School of Business. Second, our alumni are working in a variety of positions across the United States and have highly successful careers. We are pleased to showcase alumni Timothy Keen ’24 of Amazon PHL4 and Grace Blackford Lizun '21 of Erie Insurance. This newsletter also spotlights two of our students, Andy Jones and Anna Smith.
The PSCM Club continues to be very active. In March, the club held a meet-and-greet event planned for PSCM faculty and students, along with PSCM Day. Also, PSCM faculty and students recently went on a professional networking trip to Pittsburgh, competed in SCM competitions, and attended the 2024 Annual Conference of Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) in Phoenix, Arizona.
Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Ying Cao, and Dr. BC Kim for their dedication and guidance to our PSCM club and efforts in publishing this newsletter.
—Dr. Ray Venkataraman, Professor of Management, Department Chair, Marketing and Project and Supply Chain Management programs
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Zoe Schumm, assistant professor of project and supply chain management
Dr. Zoe Schumm, Assistant Professor of PSCM
Dr. Schumm joined Behrend in Fall 2024. She teaches SCM 460 Purchasing and Materials Management and brings industry experience in product development and sourcing to her engaging purchasing course.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your field of expertise?
I came back to academia after being in industry for over a decade. What brought me back were my experiences with international social enterprises. At that time, I was the founder and owner of an international social enterprise working with small cooperatives around the world—with the mission of poverty alleviation. I saw that the issues my small business faced were also experienced by others. This led me to return to academia to get a Ph.D. to study social enterprises that source from marginalized suppliers in developing economies. And I am so glad I did! As a professor, I get a lot of joy from blending my industry experience and research in the classroom.
What specific research or projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on several research projects, all focused on either social or environmental sustainability. One project I am really excited about is focused on understanding how social enterprises use—or really adapt—information and financial flows to create well-being outcomes for marginalized suppliers.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
I was, and am hoping to be again, a long-distance runner and a sprint triathlete. I thoroughly enjoy endurance sports and have run more than ten half-marathons.
Alumni Spotlights
Grace Blackford Lizun, '21 PSCM and Management Information Systems; '22 MBA
Grace Blackford Lizun, '21 PSCM and MIS, '22 MBA
Grace Blackford Lizun is an IT Project Manager at Erie Insurance. As a scrum master, she coaches her team to operate effectively and deliver the highest value of work to customers as quickly as possible.
Can you describe your current job and what your day-to-day responsibilities entail?
As a scrum master for an IT Delivery Team, I manage the development of webpages for customers, agents, and employees. My role involves facilitating scrum events, removing impediments, coaching on best practices, and guiding the team through change. I also communicate status updates to leadership and cross-functional teams, managing risks, issues, and priorities. Each day presents new challenges, and I focus on helping the team learn, adapt, and improve. I see myself as a coach, fostering open communication and collaboration to drive optimal results.
How do you think your college education has contributed to your career success?
Reflecting on my college experience, involvement in student clubs and organizations had the greatest impact on my transition to a professional career. It helped me develop time management, networking, planning, and leadership skills. Project and Supply Chain Management principles are transferable across industries and all aspects of life, so any opportunities to hone these skills are a win in my book! Building connections with your professors is invaluable, as they can become strong advocates and help facilitate opportunities within your chosen field. A special thanks to Dr. Richard Peng for being such an inspiring and passionate educator!
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates pursuing a similar career path?
I highly recommend pursuing at least one internship to gain practical experience in a field you’re considering. It’s an excellent way to discover what excites you and what doesn’t, helping you make more informed decisions before transitioning to a full-time role after graduation. Additionally, take the opportunity to shadow different teams within the organization to better understand their operations and project focus. Internships offer a unique chance to “test the waters” to get a clearer sense of your future career path.
Tim Keen '24
Tim Keen, 2024 PSCM Graduate
Tim Keen is an area manager at Amazon PHL4 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The most important part of his role is ensuring the company fulfills and dispatches orders efficiently so customers get their items on time. As an area manager, he makes sure his area, Pack Singles and Pack Multis, runs smoothly to meet customer demand. He leads a team that helps keep operations safe, efficient, and high-quality while taking on several projects to drive productivity.
What were some of your most memorable experiences or activities during your time at Penn State Behrend?
Playing in the Intramural Basketball leagues, going to Bruno's and Dobbins with friends and roommates, being part of the Ultimate Frisbee Club, and, of course, winning prizes at Midnight Bingo. I also look back fondly on the smaller campus and class sizes, which allowed me to create closer connections with friends and professors.
What advice would you give to current students or recent graduates pursuing a similar career path?
Start exploring internship opportunities as early as possible. Internships, co-op programs, or even volunteer opportunities give you a chance to see how operations run in real life and apply what you are learning in class. I was a part of the Amazon area manager intern program in the summer between my junior and senior year at Behrend. Applying to that internship and gaining experience over the three months I was there gave me the job I have today, and I got to understand topics early that I would be learning in future classes.
Student Spotlights
Andy Jones '27
Andy Jones, PSCM Major, Class of 2027
Andy Jones is a sophomore majoring in PSCM. He is also on the Men’s Soccer Team at Behrend and enjoys playing disc golf in his free time.
What inspired you to attend Penn State Behrend, and how did you choose your major?
I chose Behrend because of its location close to my home, the strong PSCM Program, and the opportunity to play soccer as a recruited athlete. I chose the PSCM major because of my previous experience in the supply chain field, and because I found it genuinely interesting.
Have you had the opportunity to participate in any internships or hands-on learning experiences related to your major?
During my summers, I work for an industrial supply company located in the Erie area. I was able to get off-site experience in Michigan in July, which gave me a potential goal for a position in vendor relations. I plan to continue working in this role this summer and seek an internship in spring 2026.
Anna Smith '25
Anna Smith '25, PSCM and IBE dual major
Anna Smith will be graduating in Spring 2025 with degrees in PSCM and Interdisciplinary Business with Engineering Studies, along with an SAP certificate. She is also a part of the Women's Soccer Team and Chi Alpha Sigma at Behrend.
What inspired you to attend Penn State Behrend, and how did you choose your major?
I chose Penn State Behrend because of the unique opportunity it offered to balance both my athletic and academic aspirations. Behrend allowed me to continue playing on a high-level sports team while focusing on my studies. The chance to earn a Penn State degree in an environment that supports my athletic and academic goals was incredibly appealing. Choosing a major in PSCM was driven by my interest in global logistics and operations. The comprehensive curriculum, combined with practical experiences and industry connections, made Behrend the perfect place for me to pursue this field.
Have you had the opportunity to participate in any internships or hands-on learning experiences related to your major?
I interned in the transportation area at Shearer's Snacks during the summer of 2023, and in the commercial supply chain area at Goodyear Tire & Rubber in the summer of 2024. I have a return offer from Goodyear to join their Supply Chain Rotational Program at their global headquarters.
What are your aspirations or goals after graduation?
After graduation, I aim to grow professionally in the supply chain industry, develop my leadership skills, continuously learn, and stay updated with industry trends, while building a strong professional network.
PSCM Highlights and Club News
PSCM Day
Students take part in PSCM Day on March 20, 2025 to learn more about the PSCM degree and career opportunities.
PSCM Day, held on March 20, was a huge success, with over 50 students joining both in person and virtually. The event featured a variety of engaging topics, including:
- The Evolving Project Management Landscape
- Information on the PSCM Major and PSCM Club
- Behind the Scenes of Supply Chain: Insights from the Pros
- Navigating Success: Leadership & Career Growth
- From Campus to Career: Alumni Stories
A big thank you to the eleven professionals who participated in this event and helped make it such a success.
PSCM Students Won the 1st Place in SCM Poster Competition in Pittsburgh
From left: Dr. Ying Cao, Jiaqiang Wu, Ritvik Komma
On March 21, 2025, PSCM students Jiaqiang Wu and Ritvik Komma won first place in the undergraduate division of the SCM Poster Competition at the 2025 Pitt Ohio SCM Symposium in Pittsburgh. Their project explores “Think Local, Act Global: Reducing Starbucks Plastic at Universities.”
Professional Networking Trip to Pittsburgh
PSCM & IBE students attend professional networking trip to Pittsburgh.
In January 2025, the Black School of Business hosted a PSCM/IBE professional networking trip to Pittsburgh for students to explore career paths and connect with alumni and company representatives. The photo was taken in front of Matthews International.
SCM Case Competition
From left: Benjamin Tandlmayer, Stephanie Helman, Alexia Brown, Aaron Kovatch
In October, PSCM students participated in the annual “Race to the Case SCM Competition” hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.
2024 Annual Conference of Decision Sciences Institute (DSI)
Business Faculty Attend 2024 DSI Conference. From left: Dr. Richard Peng, Dr. Zoe Schumm, Professor Gary Smith, Dr. Ozgun Demirag, Dr. Ray Venkataraman
PSCM faculty attended the 2024 Annual Conference of Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) in Phoenix, Arizona.
PSCM Club
Join the PSCM Club.
The PSCM Club is dedicated to building a community for PSCM majors, minors, and anyone interested in Project Management or Supply Chain Management. Members can connect, network with industry professionals, participate in insightful discussions, and enjoy activities on campus and in collaboration with professional societies. We welcome ALL students to join us!
PSCM Club Meeting
The PSCM Club hosted a “Pizza & Connections” meet-and-greet event on March 6, 2025, to connect with members, introduce opportunities, and discuss plans for the upcoming semester. Dr. Ozgun Demirag, the director of the Black School of Business, also joined the meeting and shared her vision for the program and insights into career opportunities for PSCM students.
PSCM Club Officers
Thank you to these students who served as PSCM club officers for this academic year.
