Penn State Smeal Marketing Department

Through their dedication and service, Carole McCabe ’86 MKTG and Bobby McConnell ’11 MKTG have helped shape the Smeal experience for students and alumni alike. Their commitment to mentorship, education, and engagement has earned them the 2025 Service to Smeal Award! Carole has been a driving force behind the Smeal Alumni Society Board, leading initiatives that strengthened alumni connections and mentoring programs. Bobby has played a key role in bringing real-world marketing experiences to Smeal students, from guest lecturing to developing hands-on learning opportunities. Read more about their contributions: https://ow.ly/kL9r50Vbo7q #PennState #WeAre #SmealBusinessPartners

As recipients of the 2025 Smeal Outstanding Young Professional Award, Bailey Loggia ’17 MKTG and Jaspreet Singh ’16 MBA are being recognized for their career achievements and commitment to mentorship and innovation. Bailey has built a dynamic career in digital marketing, leading client experience and strategy for luxury brands at Assembly Global while continuing to mentor the next generation of marketers through Penn State Prime Marketing Organization. Jaspreet, a lead product manager at Apple, is driving innovation in the tech industry while mentoring aspiring professionals and advising startups. Read more here: https://ow.ly/ZfrN50VcRye #PennState #WeAre #SmealBusinessPartners

Hey look! I know that guy on the TV! This was a ton of fun and I had a great time taping a show at WPSU about #NIL & current issues in college sports. Shoutout to @Pat Baxter, Carolyn Donaldson, Caroline Jurevicius, and Jay Paterno for being a great team for the episode. The show airs March 20 at 8 on WPSU Watch on WPSU today at 8, or online at: pbs.org/livestream/ or watch it later at: https://lnkd.in/e4yGWhAN #WeAre #SmealSportsBusiness #SportsBiz Smeal Sports Business Programs Penn State Smeal College of Business Penn State Smeal Marketing Department

“While some conspiracy beliefs may seem relatively harmless, others — about vaccines, genetically modified organisms, and climate change, for example — pose risks to consumers and society." – Lisa Bolton, professor of marketing and the Jonas H. Anchel Professor of Business Administration A team led by #PennState researchers found that brief scientific literacy interventions, especially those focused on critical thinking, can help counter conspiracy beliefs before they take hold. Their findings suggest that even short educational efforts can make a meaningful impact on consumer decision-making. https://ow.ly/rzYE50VjmzQ #CriticalThinking #ConspiracyTheories #Research #WeAre

This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to New York City as a member of the Jacobs Fellowship. The fellowship was established in honor of Melvin Jacobs, a Penn State graduate and former CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue. In his honor, we visited a variety of retail and luxury-related companies, gaining firsthand insight into the product life cycle and branding strategies of leading businesses. Our journey began on Monday with a store tour of Le Labo Fragrances, where we explored their unique brand positioning. On Tuesday, we handpicked textiles at Mood Fabrics and used them to create our own bags at The Fashion Class , giving us a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship, time, and resources required to produce a single garment or accessory. That evening, we connected with past Jacobs Fellows over dinner—thank you Kelly O’Callaghan, Victoria Amato, and Cailie Shanks, for joining us and sharing your journeys! Wednesday took us to IWC Schaffhausen, where we learned about the importance of personalization and relationship-building in the luxury industry. We also toured the CELINE, Bottega Veneta, and Baccarat flagship stores to analyze their store layouts and branding strategies. On Thursday, we met with JON HARARI, CEO and co-founder of WindowsWear, who shared his extensive knowledge of fashion industry history. He then guided us to Arsenal New York, ISAIA, and Saks Fifth Avenue, where we met with executives and experts to explore their core business functions, customer engagement, and product offerings. Friday was a highlight as we visited Bluemercury where Tata Harper Skincare surprised us with facials—a thoughtful gift as we work on a consulting project for their brand. Finally, we wrapped up our week with a tour of Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store, gaining a deeper appreciation for the brand’s rich heritage and timeless influence. This week was truly inspiring, insightful, and eye-opening. A huge thank you to Johanna Slot who pours her heart and soul into the Jacobs Fellows program and put immense effort into planning this unforgettable experience. I’m also incredibly grateful to JON HARARI, Shay Bennaim, Robert Magliano, and Rashmi Sharma for making this week so special! https://lnkd.in/eusg-S6m