The Big Picture: Dickinson Students Get a Front-Row Seat to the Global Economy
Photo by Dan Loh.
Powerhouse panel of alumni and industry leaders bring real-world economic forces into focus for students across every major
by Tony Moore
Tariffs. Artificial intelligence. Renewable energy. Telecom infrastructure. These aren't abstract concepts for students at Dickinson—not after February 5, anyway.
That evening, the Burgess Institute for the Global Economy brought four industry leaders to campus for "The State of the Global Economy," a wide-ranging panel discussion designed to help students in any major understand the forces shaping markets, industries and career paths in 2025 and beyond.
Four Sectors, One Conversation
The evening opened with introductory remarks by Shamma Alam, associate professor of economics, followed by a keynote address from Mark Burgess '81, CEO of Mauser Packaging Solutions and lead donor, with wife Lisa Burgess, for the Burgess Institute.
From there, the conversation expanded across four critical sectors. Peter Eavis P'27, a reporter at The New York Times, unpacked how tariffs are affecting U.S. and global markets. Melissa Novak '97, regional senior investment officer at Northern Trust, addressed stock market trends and the opportunities being driven by artificial intelligence. Susan Miller '81, president and CEO of ATIS and a Burgess Institute executive in residence, explored next-generation telecommunications and their economic implications. And David Giordano '91, chief investment and risk officer at GE Vernova, shared his perspective on the future of renewable energy investment amid shifting political priorities.
The breadth of the panel underscored a reality that the Burgess Institute has championed: The global economy isn't a single subject—it's a web of tightly interconnected systems where shifts in energy reshape job markets, breakthroughs in AI transform investing and new trade policies ripple through supply chains worldwide.
Students in the Driver's Seat
In a move that reflected the Burgess Institute's commitment to putting students at the center of the conversation, the panel was moderated by three undergraduates: Nathan Caldwell '27 (quantitative economics, mathematics), Aidan MacIntosh '27 (quantitative economics, mathematics, data analytics) and Yelyzaveta Buriak '27 (quantitative economics, international business & management).
For MacIntosh, the experience delivered exactly the kind of big-picture perspective a multidisciplinary student craves.
"The event provided me with the opportunity to hear about some of the many components that currently shape the global economy," he says. "By gaining these insights, I was able to paint a more holistic picture of the current world that we live in."
From Classroom to Boardroom
Faculty members across economics, international business & management, international studies, environmental studies and other departments had encouraged their students to attend, and the turnout reflected that push. The event drew students from a wide range of majors—a testament to the Burgess Institute's philosophy that understanding the global economy isn't just for economics majors.
Burgess's keynote resonated particularly strongly. Having navigated real-time disruptions to his own business when new tariffs were announced during the first half of 2025, he offered the kind of concrete, first-person account that bridges the gap between theory and practice.
"I believe this was a fantastic event for students because it allowed them to hear firsthand accounts from experts and alumni who are navigating the complex challenges of a changing global economy," says Alam. "These specific examples are incredibly useful because they allow students to connect their classroom learning to real-world applications."
Alam also noted the inspirational dimension: Hearing these stories from Dickinson's own alumni reinforces the idea that students can pursue—and thrive in—significant leadership roles. And it wasn't wasted on student attendees.
"My favorite part of the event was being able to ask questions to the amazing alumni panelists," says MacIntosh. "By gaining observations from their specific backgrounds, I was able to learn more about particular things that piqued my interest."
A Liberal-Arts Advantage
If the evening had a through line, it was this: The global economy rewards exactly the kind of thinker Dickinson produces. Ethical reasoning, cross-disciplinary curiosity, adaptability, communication—these aren't soft skills in a world where AI is reshaping finance, tariffs are rewriting supply chains and energy policy is a moving target. They're essential ones.
Alam says that events like "The State of the Global Economy" ensure that Dickinson students don't just understand that in theory. They see it, firsthand, from people who are living it. As he puts it, "Hearing these stories from our own alumni will hopefully inspire students to pursue significant leadership roles and feel confident in their ability to manage similar challenges in their future careers."
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published March 10, 2026