In his job as a quality manager, Pavlo Mrdjenovic specializes in making improvements, from reducing aerosol can production costs to optimizing his skills by continuing his education. As a Penn State graduate student, for his engineering management capstone project, he analyzed production data to create an optimized model for manufacturing aerosol can components. Mrdjenovic said the model provided a useful tool to factor in changes to material costs and determine the most favorable outcomes.
At Penn State Great Valley’s Industry Engagement Day, leaders from industry and academia explored how they combine their expertise with artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle challenges across diverse sectors. The campus is seeking new collaborations with industry partners who want to consult with expert faculty and students to improve their operations and solve complex business problems.
Penn State Great Valley’s master’s in engineering and IT programs have again earned high rankings in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Online Programs" for 2026, based on factors such as faculty credentials and training, student engagement, services and more.
Engineering management faculty member Ashkan Negahban shared his research on simulations to enhance learning and system performance. He explained why he enjoys research, the impact of his work and how he has seen students grow from conducting their own research projects.
Three new faculty members, each with extensive research experience, have joined Penn State Great Valley this fall: Thao Minh Le, assistant professor of artificial intelligence (AI); Thien Dong, assistant professor of management and organization; and Oguz Toragay, assistant professor of engineering management.
On May 9, Penn State Great Valley held a commencement ceremony honoring 474 students who have completed their graduate degrees this past academic year. MBA alumna Rina Desai, principal/owner of Eigen X, a professional services firm focused on data and technology, gave the keynote address.
Six Penn State Great Valley students presented four research projects at the 2025 Graduate Exhibition, hosted by the Fox Graduate School. This event offered the students a professional development experience with opportunities to network and practice their communication skills as they explained their projects, the methods they used and the impact of their work in areas ranging from geographically targeted opioid interventions to affordable cybersecurity practices for nonprofit organizations.
During a job interview for a continuous improvement manager role, Parth Trivedi was asked to suggest improvements to a plant’s operations. His graduate studies and Six Sigma certification helped him give a detailed answer and land the job, where he now works to optimize operations and drive major savings for his company.
Penn State Great Valley has again earned national recognition for academic excellence, securing top rankings in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report "Best Online Programs" list for engineering management, software and systems engineering and IT programs.
Two Penn State Great Valley graduate students are collaborating with faculty — who received a University Presidential Public Impact Research Award — to conduct a research project that will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze demographic data to help predict and prevent opioid deaths.
