Emily Buraczewski was awarded the first Earth Conservancy Community Scholarship. The Earth Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with local communities, agencies, and educational institutions to restore strong economic, environmental, and social value to areas negatively impacted by legacy coal mining. To support this mission, Earth Conservancy has established an additive scholarship (full value of $5K) for students to pursue educational paths that benefit their communities and align with Earth Conservancy’s goals. 

Dr. Abas Sabouni (PI), Dr. Ed Bednarz (Co-PI), Dr. Yong Zhu (Co-PI), and Dr. Asif Khan (Co-PI) received more than $800,000 in NSF funding for “Explorations: Experiential Learning for Autonomous Systems and AI-Driven Robotics in Northeast PA (EXPLOR-NEPA)”. The grant positions Wilkes University, through the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (MEE) Department, as the lead academic partner in collaboration with Production Systems Automation (PSA) and regional high schools. The grant development process was an intensive effort spanning nearly two years, from initial concept through submission, during which the project vision, structure, and implementation plan were refined. EXPLOR-NEPA will expand experiential learning in AI-driven robotics and autonomous systems by integrating robotics club activities, dual-enrollment coursework at Wilkes, industry mentorship, and a summer robotics lab and scholar program to strengthen students’ technical skills and career readiness. For Wilkes University, this award is a milestone achievement: it demonstrates our capacity to lead federally funded research initiatives and strengthens our position as a regional hub for technology education and innovation. The project also creates new opportunities for research collaborations, industry partnerships, and student engagement in high-impact learning, while offering a scalable model for STEM advancement in Northeast Pennsylvania. 

Dr. Sabouni has also received NASA grant funding (2025–2028) through Penn State University to support the development of a CubeSat system that is expected to be launched in the near future. This award will provide hands-on, high-impact research opportunities for Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) students to work with Dr. Sabouni and the project team on real-world spacecraft subsystems—such as power, communications, sensors, embedded systems, testing, and system integration—while strengthening students’ technical preparation for careers in aerospace, robotics, and advanced engineering

Wilkes University is taking a major step forward in innovation and career readiness through its partnership with Google’s AI for Education Accelerator. This national initiative is designed to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly AI-driven workforce. Through this partnership, Wilkes students gain free access to industry-recognized resources, including Google Career Certificates in areas such as data analytics, digital marketing, cybersecurity, project management, and UX design. In addition, students can engage with cutting-edge AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM while building essential skills in prompting and responsible AI use. 

Faculty are also integrating these tools into coursework and research, creating hands-on learning experiences that bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application. This approach ensures students graduate with both technical AI proficiency and critical thinking skills that employers are actively seeking. As part of a broader national effort involving more than 100 institutions, the program reflects Wilkes’ commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and workforce preparation. By embedding AI education across disciplines, Wilkes is positioning its students to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven global economy.

For the second time ever, Wilkes University's Sidhu School of Business and Leadership is proud to announce our inaugural class of Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS)  Scholars. BGS is an international honor society for business students, available only to AACSB-accredited business schools.  BGS inductees rank among the top 10% of all undergraduate business students and 20% of MBA students. Under Chapter Advisor Dr. Na Yoon Kim, this year's induction ceremony introduced 12 first-time Beta Gamma Sigma Scholars. Chair of the Dean's Executive Advisory Board, Karen Friar, delivered the keynote address at this ceremony, celebrating our esteemed new BGS members. We are so proud of these 12 students for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to truly being the best of the best! Congratulations to Dr. Na Yoon Kim and her inaugural Beta Gamma Sigma Scholars!!

Congratulations to Ayele Kouevi, Tahiya Tahsin, and Dr. HyeRyeon Lee on receiving the  TOSOK Best Paper Award at the 2026 THEREPS Conference, held in April in Los Angeles. Their presentation, “Extending the Experience: How K-pop Fan Motivation Influences Post-Concert Tourism Behavior within the United States,” was recognized for its originality and academic contribution.

Students in the Event Management class welcomed two guest speakers: Matt Franchetti, Group Sales Manager at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, and Jack Wasko, Clubhouse Manager at the Chicago Racquet Club. They shared insights into event management and operations across different organizational settings, highlighting how strategies vary. Students gained a valuable behind-the-scenes perspective on the event industry and developed a better understanding of the skills and experiences needed for career success. As alumni, both speakers also shared their career journeys, offering meaningful advice and inspiration as students prepare for their professional paths.

This academic year, the COBE Business Ethics Engagement Program demonstrated a strong commitment to developing ethically minded business leaders through hands-on learning and real-world application. The fall semester launched with an intensive Business Ethics Workshop Series, where dedicated students from programs including Business Administration, Data Science, Marketing, Criminology, and MBA studies explored complex, modern dilemmas from corporate controversies and product safety decisions to AI-driven pricing and algorithmic bias. Participants who completed the series earned a Certificate of Completion, showcasing their commitment to ethical leadership. 

Building on this foundation, Wilkes students gained national exposure at the prestigious Templeton Business Ethics Case Competition hosted by Stetson University. Competing against peers from 25 universities, the Wilkes team tackled a sustainability challenge focused on the future of aviation fuel, while also gaining valuable networking and professional experience. 

Closer to home, the 2026 Annual COBE Business Ethics Case Competition brought energy to campus, challenging undergraduate and graduate teams to analyze real-world corporate dilemmas involving Boeing and Klarna. The event fostered collaboration, public speaking, and critical thinking, while also expanding its reach through participation from Susquehanna University. 

Together, these initiatives reflect a growing culture of ethical awareness and engagement at Wilkes, one that prepares students to navigate the complex decisions they will face as future leaders.

Other outreach activities included Stem Discovery Day at Wilkes on March 20, where Dr. Frederick presented a lesson on soils to high school students; STEAM Day on April 9th at Chester Street School where Drs. Anaya, Karnae, and Frederick presented a variety of programs to elementary school students to encourage them to enter the STEAM fields. Students also participated in the MATHCOUNTS program for middle school mathletes as graders.

Wilkes University Civil and Environmental Engineering Department partnered with PennDOT to serve as a host for the PennDOT Contractor Summit at Wilkes University on February 4 and 5, 2026. As part of this meeting, professionals learned about advances in technology that can assist with the Digital Delivery Directive, which modernizes project delivery by incorporating 3D technology and digital data. Wilkes students had the opportunity to sit in on presentations and chat with vendors to learn how this technology will be a part of their developing careers. 

The Wilkes University Small Business Development Center welcomed Associate Administrator of the Small Business Association, Paul Fitzpatrick, to campus on April 23rd as part of the listening tour he was conducting in Pennsylvania. Over the span of three days, he stopped at six Small Business Development Centers in Eastern Pennsylvania to talk with the SBDC staff and their economic development partners to learn more about the economic development landscape in the region and how the economic development partners collaborate.  Administrator Fitzpatrick was surprised to learn that Northeastern Pennsylvania continues to rank as a top 10 region in the United States for economic development, securing its spot for the sixth consecutive year in 2025. The region, particularly the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area, has seen significant sustained growth, climbing to sixth place nationally for total projects among Tier 2 metropolitan areas.

The Family Business Alliance (FBA) had a productive semester focused on practical learning, collaboration, and real-world challenges faced by family and closely held businesses.

Key highlights include:

• HR roundtables covering topics like FLSA compliance and performance reviews, giving participants practical tools and a space to share experiences.

• Marketing sessions led by SBDC experts, helping businesses strengthen their brand voice and improve social media strategies.

• Educational programs on succession planning, trust, and emotional intelligence, supporting long-term success and effective leadership in family businesses.

• A major collaboration with Wilkes University’s Personal and Professional Development program for the AI Summit, where industry leaders shared real-world applications of AI in business.

• Continued growth of peer groups, providing confidential support networks for business owners to discuss challenges and exchange ideas.

Overall, the semester strengthened connections among regional family businesses while deepening ties with the Wilkes community, setting the stage for continued collaboration and learning.