Online Master's of Supply Chain Management Ambassadors

Alumni Ambassador: Joshua Cook

Location: Rockford, IL
Employment: Procurement Specialist Subcontracts, Collins Aerospace
Undergraduate degree: Business Administration, Bellevue University
Hobbies: Working out, traveling, family time and trying new restaurants
Program: Master of Supply Chain Management
Status in program: Graduated Summer 2025

Favorite graduate course: SCM 846: Emerging Topics in Supply Chain Management

Why I chose Penn State: I wanted a supply chain specific graduate degree that was all online based.

What makes this program valuable to you: This program will allow me to continue and further my career in a supply chain specific field.

What advice would you offer to prospective or new students? Don’t let a graduate program scare you away. This program has been eye opening and has allowed me to expand my on the job skillset.

Alumni Ambassador: Angela Acuna

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Employment: Inter IKEA Supply Operations Development Manager
Hobbies: Rowing
Undergraduate degree: International Business, St. Joseph’s University
Program: Master of Supply Chain Management
Status in program: Graduated Spring 2026

Favorite graduate course: SCM 800: Supply Chain Management

Why I chose Penn State: I chose Penn State because of the reputation in the industry of being a very respected supply chain program. Additionally, the flexibility that is offered to make the courses work with my schedule.

What makes this program valuable to you: This program has already been invaluable in providing food for thought in how I can improve my own organization, as well as preparing me for the future!

What advice would you offer to new or prospective students? Don’t be afraid to jump back into school, no matter how long it has been! You know more than you think you do by working in the industry, this program helps to put things into perspective.

Alumni Ambassador: Sheldon Stephens

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Employment: LRX LLC
Undergraduate degree: Management, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Hobbies: Traveling
Program: Master of Supply Chain Management, graduate certificates in Supply Chain Management and Management Consulting
Status in program: Graduated Spring 2025

Favorite graduate course: SCM 800: Supply Chain Management

What makes this program valuable to you: Connection and networking

Alumni Ambassador: Matthew A. Price

U.S. Military Affiliated Student

Location: South Jordan, UT
Employment: Logistics Officer, DoD – Active Duty
Undergraduate degree: History, University of Central Florida
Hobbies: Podcasts, reading, ultramarathons, tennis, chess, board games, traveling, beekeeping
Program: Master of Supply Chain Management
Status in program: Graduated in August 2024

Favorite graduate course: MGMT 885: Management Consulting Methods and Practice

Why I chose Penn State: I chose Penn State because of three things: its reputation, its culture, and the wealth of experience within its faculty.

What makes this program valuable to you: I made some good friends and grew as a person as a direct result of this program. Furthermore, this program provided me with a sharper intellectual framework to address nuanced challenges and holistically plan for both day to day operations and long-range ones.

What advice would you offer to new or prospective students? Two things: first, accept that for most people, there is never going to be a perfect time to pursue an advanced degree, because life just happens. But if you both plan strategically and have a strong personal “why” behind your pursuit of this degree, then you find things to be a lot more manageable than you would otherwise expect. Second, embrace the challenge in whatever manner it comes, while staying cognizant in the moment of the mindset/fact that I’m getting refined in real time. And whenever you have hard concepts to understand for school, it really helps to try and recontextualize them for a scenario that’s more relevant for you.

Alumni Ambassador: Geoffrey Davis

Location: Phoenix, AZ
Employment: Senior Financial Planning Analyst, Avnet
Undergraduate degree: Supply Chain Management, Grand Valley State University
Hobbies: In my limited free time, I regularly work out and listen to audiobooks. Outside of that, I spend most of my time with family, my wife and our two children.
Programs: Supply Chain Management graduate certificate (2022), Master of Supply Chain Management (2023), Master of Business Administration
Status in program: Expected Graduation, 2027 (MBA)

Favorite graduate course: BAN 830: Descriptive Analytics for Business

Why I chose Penn State: Attending a Big Ten university was always a personal aspiration of mine and Penn State’s strong brand recognition was especially appealing. Additionally, when exploring graduate programs, I noticed Gartner ranked Penn State’s Smeal College of Business as the #1 Supply Chain Management program nationwide, significantly influencing my decision. Accessibility was also important. Living in Arizona, Penn State’s World Campus provided the ideal opportunity to pursue my Master of Supply Chain Management remotely. The flexibility to complete my degree at my own pace allowed me to maintain my professional career, purchase a home, and build my family, all while advancing my education.

What makes this program valuable to you: The MSCM program has been extremely valuable to my professional development, providing me with the skills and insights needed to drive impactful change in my roles. The coursework directly enhanced my ability to manage complex financial analyses, improve operational efficiency, and develop effective reporting and analytics tools, such as implementing Power BI dashboards and SAP enhancements. Applying these skills in real-time allowed me to proactively identify risks, optimize business processes, and improve team productivity. Building on this foundation, I’m currently pursuing my MBA at Penn State to deepen my strategic thinking, strengthen my leadership skills, and further enhance my capability to deliver value in increasingly senior roles.

What advice would you offer to new or prospective students? Your experience at Penn State will reflect the approach you choose. You can rush through the program and complete your classes quickly, but carefully consider the value of pacing yourself. For me, the master’s degree was a strategic investment for my future, not an immediate requirement. By taking just one class per semester, I maximized my company’s tuition assistance and truly absorbed the material. This allowed me to directly apply new insights to my professional role, significantly enhancing my performance. Taking this measured approach enabled me to secure two promotions during my MSCM journey. Remember: the greatest value comes not just from completing the degree, but from how you leverage your education in your career.

Alumni Ambassador: Emily Gartland

Location: New Jersey
Employment: Supplier Quality Engineer, Northrop Grumman Corp. Marine Systems
Undergraduate degree: Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University
Hobbies: Philadelphia sports, hiking, travel, gardening, cooking
Programs: Master of Supply Chain Management and MBA
Status in program: Graduated with MBA in Spring 2026; graduating with Master of Supply Chain Management in Spring 2027

Favorite graduate course: SCM 822: Supply Management

Why I chose Penn State: Alumni networking, recognition worldwide, online SCM program ranking

What makes this program valuable to you: Quality of curriculum

What advice would you offer to new or prospective students? You will be blown away by the professionals you meet in this program! Start now and you’ll achieve the degree faster than expected.

Alumni Ambassador: Nathaniel Perrotte

U.S. Military Affiliated Student

Location: Burlington, Vermont
Employment: Semiconductor manufacturing
Undergraduate degree: BS Business Technology and Management, Vermont State University
Hobbies: Outside of work, I enjoy distance running, hiking, playing guitar, and making memories with my family.
Program: Master of Supply Chain Management
Status in program: Graduated Spring 2026

Favorite graduate course: SCM 844: Global Manufacturing and Service Operations

Why I chose Penn State: I chose Penn State because its alumni network doesn’t just open doors — it pushes you to rise higher, achieve more, and give back with the same spirit of excellence.

What makes this program valuable to you: It bridges advanced analytics with real-world strategy. It’s helping me deepen my understanding of global operations, risk management, and data-driven decision-making — skills I directly apply in my work every day to improve efficiency and resilience across the supply chain.

What advice would you offer to new or prospective students? Balance and consistency are key. This program is designed for driven professionals, so plan your time carefully and stay disciplined. Use every assignment as a chance to apply what you’re learning to your own workplace — it makes the concepts real and helps you grow faster. And remember, you’re not doing this alone — Penn State’s network and faculty are incredibly supportive, so lean on them when you need to.