Simulation Competition

Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
Time: 12 - 3 p.m.
Location: D2430B

Honors Reception

Date: Monday, April 21, 2025
Time: 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: D1490

Pitch Party

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Time: 1 - 5 p.m.
Location: Engbretson Hall
Prize: $3,000 for the winning team to implement their idea on campus (sponsored by The Friends of the GovState Library Fund)
Keynote Speaker: Mr. Daniel Porcaro, Co-Founder of Porcaro Stolarek Mete Partners LLC
Theme: "From Concept to Campus: Innovating Student Engagement through Entrepreneurial Thinking"

Overview
GovState is thrilled to host its inaugural Pitch Party Competition, providing students with the opportunity to present innovative ideas aimed at enhancing student engagement on campus. This event is part of COB Business Week, showcasing the College of Business’s dedication to student innovation and engagement. Participants will pitch creative solutions to increase student engagement, helping shape a more dynamic and interactive university experience. The event is a collaboration between the College of Business and the University Library.

Eligibility

• • Open to all current GovState students (undergraduate & graduate)
• • Participate individually or in teams (max 4 members)

Pitch Format

• • Each team will deliver a 10-minute pitch, followed by a 5-minute Q&A with judges.
• • Presentations may include print-outs, slides, prototypes, or other visuals.
• • Each team must propose a new initiative to enhance student engagement and be ready to implement it if selected as the winner.
• • Pitches must clearly outline:
• ‣ The idea
• ‣ Implementation strategy
• ‣ Expected impact on student engagement

Registration Process

• • Complete the registration form by April 18, 2025.
• • Register individually or as a team (max 4 members).

Judging Criteria

• • Innovation – Is the idea creative and original?
• • Feasibility – Can the idea be realistically implemented at GovState?
• • Impact – How will this initiative enhance student engagement?
• • Presentation – Is the pitch clear, compelling, and well-structured?

Expectations for the Winning Team

• • The winning team will receive $3,000 in funding to implement their idea on campus and will work with university leadership to bring their proposal to life.
• • Prize money will be administered through the Academic College of the students’ declared major. If team members are from different colleges, the funds will be split accordingly.
• • Funds must be used specifically for the development and execution of the proposal.

Mentorship

• • Participants are encouraged to seek faculty mentors to guide them. While we cannot guarantee a mentor for each team, we will try to align one upon request.
• • Contact Jan Figa (jfiga@govst.edu) by April 18 if you would like assistance in finding a mentor. Not having a mentor should not discourage you from participating!

Recommended Resources:

• • Ohio State University’s Best of Student Startups (BOSS) Finale | Nov 17, 2022
• • Owen Center for Entrepreneurship at Vanderbilt, 2022
• • Common Pitch Deck Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Why Participate?

• • Gain valuable feedback from experienced judges
• • Develop pitching and presentation skills
• • Make a real impact on campus

Research and Teaching Seminar

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Hall of Honors

Overview
Join us on April 23, 2025, for an exciting series of events hosted by the College of Business at Governors State University. This is your opportunity to explore global business trends, cutting-edge research, and innovative teaching methods—all designed to inspire students, faculty, and staff.

• • Discover the Impact of Climate Change on Global Stability– Gain insights into how climate shifts affect economies and societies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• • Stay Ahead in the Global Business Landscape – Learn about the latest trends shaping international markets and what they mean for future careers.
• • Unlock the Power of AI in Research & Teaching – A hands-on workshop to help you integrate artificial intelligence into your work and studies.
• • Engage in a Dynamic Panel on Experiential Learning – Hear from experts on how interdisciplinary, project-based learning drives student and business success.

This event is for students looking to expand their perspectives, faculty members exploring innovative teaching strategies, or staff members eager to engage with business thought leaders.

Don't miss out—be part of the conversation and make the most of Business Week at GovState!

Event Schedule

• • Climate Change, Seasonality and Civil Conflict
• ‣ Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• ‣ Presented By: Dr. Sebastian Mary
• ‣ Event Description: Despite the large body of literature, there is no consensus on the effect of climate shocks on civil conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. We identify three issues in the literature that may have resulted in spurious results and contributed to the conflicting evidence base: (1) conflict outcomes used in the literature may not be stationary; (2) using yearly climate averages may hide intra-year heterogeneous responses of civil conflict to climate shocks; (3) existing studies have used restrictive time dependence assumptions. Controlling for these sources of bias, this paper assesses the impact of intra-year season-specific precipitation and temperature shocks on conflict intensity in sub-Saharan Africa between 1990 and 2022. We find that climate shocks affect conflict intensity heterogeneously throughout the year, depending on when these shocks occur. Specifically, higher temperatures increase conflict intensity during the growing and harvesting seasons but reduce it in the off-season. We then combine our baseline civil conflict intensity results with an additional set of results linking intra-year season-specific climate shocks to maize production and find that the main mechanism through which climate shocks affect conflict intensity changes throughout the year. Food scarcity seems to be driving the link climate-conflict during the growing and harvesting seasons, while there is some evidence that food abundance is behind the link climate-conflict in the off-season. Last, robustness analyses suggest the extreme sensitivity of our empirical findings to the choice of the conflict outcome, explaining the wide range of estimates found in the literature.

• • Current Trends in the Globalization of Business
• ‣ Time: 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
• ‣ Presented By: Dr. Dwight Floyd
• ‣ Event Description: The presentation will examine current trends in the globalization of business, with a particular focus on global supply chains and geopolitical shifts. We will discuss how recent disruptions—such as COVID-19, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and other regional conflicts-have significantly impacted supply chains, exposing vulnerabilities and prompting trade realignments. Additionally, we will look at how the evolving political landscape has influenced trade agreements and international business relationships.

• • Workshop on How to Leverage/Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research and Teaching
• ‣ Time: 1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
• ‣ Presented By: Dr. Carlos Ferran
• ‣ Event Description: Join us for an interactive demonstration/workshop on how to ethically integrate AI into your teaching and research practices. We will explore the strengths of AI, focusing on how to use it efficiently and effectively, yet ethically. Through practical examples, you will learn to develop valuable prompts to achieve high-quality results. While this session will not cover specific teaching content or turn you into an AI expert in 90 minutes, it will significantly enhance your proficiency in generative AI tools.
  
  Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops, but they must create an account with ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude before the session starts.

• • Panel on Interdisciplinary Experiential Project-Based Learning for Business and Learner Success
• ‣ Time: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• ‣ Presented By: Dr. Robert Garcia
• ‣ Event Description: Practical experience is among the most important criteria businesses use to evaluate potential employees but can be a challenge to gain for learners new to a field. Through an interdisciplinary course design, we engage learners from management and business analytics courses in a startup like setting where they complete projects for various internal and external university clients. The panel will include a selection of learners and clients discussing their project work and experiences in this novel learning environment.

Marketing Yourself for Success: A Comprehensive Workshop

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Location: D1496

Overview
Join us for an engaging and informative workshop hosted by the College of Business. Scheduled for Thursday, April 24th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., this event will focus on empowering College of Business (COB) students to market themselves effectively and navigate the job market with confidence. The workshop will feature a dedicated session on tailoring resumes and cover letters for specific job applications, led by our Career Services Office experts. Additionally, we'll explore the importance of dressing for success and provide professional headshots to help build your personal brand. You'll also gain valuable insights into job search strategies, networking, and interview techniques to help you stand out to employers. Whether you're a soon-to-be graduate or looking to refine your job application materials, this workshop will equip you with the tools needed for success. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your career preparation to the next level!

The Drones are Coming

Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Overview
Step into a world where technology reshapes industries, saves lives, and builds stronger communities. Join industry pioneers, policy leaders, and tech visionaries for a dynamic, hands-on exploration of the latest breakthroughs in smart logistics and electrification.

• • Drones Uplifting Communities – Witness AI-powered drones revolutionizing medical deliveries, food security, disaster response, and public safety in real-time.
• • Quantum Computing in Logistics – See how cutting-edge quantum algorithms are transforming electric truck dispatching and drone routing for smarter, more efficient transport.
• • The Future of Energy Storage – Explore advanced battery technologies powering hospitals, data centers, and the electric grid, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future.

Are you ready to experience the future? This is your chance to engage with innovators, see groundbreaking technology in action, and uncover how these advancements are reshaping industries.

Speakers have been announced and registration is now open.