By Alonda Thomas
(Source: FAMU News)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Business and Industry (SBI) celebrates the grand opening of its revamped Investments and Analytics Lab, made possible through the support of corporate partners, PGIM and PwC. PGIM has provided a $1 million gift over the course of five years to support SBI’s preparation of the next generation of business school graduates. Additionally, PWC has provided $100,000 for the purchase of the computers in the Investments and Analytics Lab.
“The ability to conduct financial and data-driven analysis is a critical piece for the 21st century business school graduate. HBCU graduates are historically behind their counterparts from PWIs due to software constraints and exposure, but the Investments and Analytics Lab aims to level the playing field,” said Samique March-Dallas, Ph.D., associate professor of finance in the School of Business and Industry, who is spearheading the lab.
The SBI Investments and Analytics Lab, formerly known as the Bloomberg Lab, plays an integral role in preparing students for case competitions, class projects, internships and full-time roles. Business students are often tasked with completing quantitative analysis both in and out of class. The lab is equipped with software that students will encounter in industry and gives them exposure now. The Lab has 30 Bloomberg subscriptions that are available to students, making it one of the few HBCU labs with that many Bloomberg licenses.
“We are so thankful to PGIM for its investment in SBI and our students. PGIM’s investment and support will pay dividends for our current students and for generations of SBIans and FAMUans to come,” said Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D.,Sybil Collins Mobley endowed professor and executive director for Strategic Partnerships. Friday-Stroud was the dean of SBI when the strategic partnership with PGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc, was formed.
“Our partnership with FAMU’s School of Business and Industry highlights PGIM’s commitment to investing in the next generation of talent within asset management and, more broadly in finance,” said Sancia Dalley, managing director and head of PGIM’s DEI Investment Portfolio and HBCU Investment Strategy. “Given continued resource constraints that HBCUs face, PGIM is proud to support FAMU and SBI. The opening of the SBI Investments and Analytics Lab is one way that the power of potential is put into the hands of smart and curious students who are eager to learn about our industry by providing them with the tools and market intelligence they need to succeed. We are excited to see what they will learn and bring to bear within our industry in the years to come.”
PwC is a firm that provides professional services across Audit and Assurance, Advisory and Tax. Across their global network of nearly 328,000 professionals in 152 countries they are committed to advancing quality in everything they do. PwC’s purpose—to build trust in society and solve important problems—is at the core of everything that they do. PwC is committed to strengthening its partnership with SBI to foster the development of its students.
“PGIM’s and PWC’s continued commitment and support of SBI is truly appreciated by our students and faculty alike. The exposure that our students receive because of the dedication of our corporate partners allows them to set themselves apart from the competition as they prepare for success. The revamping of the SBI Investments and Analytics Lab comes at a pivotal time in SBI’s history when we are infusing data analytics across the entire SBI curriculum,” said Ira Bates, Ph.D., interim dean of SBI.
