Dickinson to Host Panel on Global Economy
Students in all majors encouraged to attend
The global economy is always evolving, and it has tightly interconnected components: Shifts in energy systems reshape job markets, breakthroughs in artificial intelligence transform investing, and new trade policies ripple through global supply chains. In a landscape this dynamic, it helps to understand how these systems work and how they shape current and future success.
On Thursday, Feb. 5, Dickinson will bring four visionary leaders to campus to help students in any major to understand the forces shaping their world. The free event, "The State of the Global Economy," will shed light on emerging trends across several key sectors and what leaders in those sectors expect to see in the year ahead.
“Students will walk away with a practical perspective on how to connect what they're learning in the classroom to real-world economic forces,” says Steve Riccio, executive director of Dickinson’s Burgess Institute for the Global Economy, which hosts the event. “They will also see how their liberal-arts skills—ethical reasoning, communication and adaptability—remain essential in a rapidly changing global economy.”
Insights from across four sectors
The evening begins with introductory remarks by Shamma Alam, associate professor of economics, followed by a keynote address by Mark Burgess ’81. Burgess is CEO of Mauser Packaging Solutions and co-founder, with wife Lisa Burgess, of the Burgess Institute.
The panel discussion features this powerhouse lineup of leaders who are responding to trends, advancing innovation and shaping the future:
- International trade: Peter Eavis P’27, a reporter at The New York Times with expertise in the economy, financial markets and global logistics, will discuss how tariffs are affecting U.S. and global markets.
- Finance & AI: Melissa Novak ’97, regional senior investment officer at Northern Trust, will address stock market trends and opportunities driven by AI.
- Technology: Susan Miller ’81, president and CEO of ATIS and a Burgess Institute executive in residence, will explore next-generation telecommunications and their economic implications.
- Energy: David Giordano ’91, chief investment and risk officer at GE Vernova, will share his perspective on the future of renewable energy investment amid shifting political priorities.
Student connections
The discussion will be moderated by Nathan Caldwell ’26 (quantitative economics, mathematics), Aidan MacIntosh ’27 (quantitative economics, mathematics, data analytics) and Yelyzaveta Buriak ’27 (quantitative economics, international business & management).
Faculty members in economics, international business & management, international studies, environmental studies and other departments are encouraging their students to attend to see how their areas of study fit into the global-economy puzzle and how they may contribute and lead as part of that system.
“We hope students will see how individuals from every background play a key role in the world," says Alam. "Whether you are in the arts, the sciences or business, the global economy is not something that just happens to you. It’s something you actively participate in.”
"The State of the Global Economy" will be held in the Anita Schlechter Auditorium from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. A reception will immediately follow the panel discussion. All are welcome to attend.
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Published February 4, 2026