Students in the inaugural cohort of the International M.B.A. program in Singapore, local M.B.A. students and alumni, prospective M.B.A. students and members of Arcadia University faculty and staff gathered at the Grey Towers Castle on May 18 for a reception given by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Office of Enrollment Management and the business department.

The reception allowed more than 40 students and alumni from various M.B.A. cohorts to meet, network and share their experiences with each other. Dr. Tony Muscia, Executive Director of the M.B.A. program, introduced Dr. Steve Michael, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, to guests. Michael welcomed students in the International M.B.A. program, congratulated M.B.A. graduates and proudly announced the development of the Arcadia University business department to a School of Business as of July 1, 2011.

Nathan Hayward, President of the Business Alumni Association, and Marda Saturno, Vice President of the Alumni Association’s new Singapore Chapter, spoke on behalf of their executive boards and expressed their commitment to student and alumni engagement.

The reception “was truly a momentous occasion for the coalescence of our global M.B.A. community,” said Hayward. “I was delighted to meet all of the alumni in attendance from both the U.S. and Singapore and M.B.A. programs. I look forward to the future development and growth of our alumni relationships.”

Dana Davies, Vice President for Enrollment Management, also welcomed guests, and students had the opportunity to meet with business faculty members Dr. Wayne Morra, Associate Professor of Economics, and Dr. Annette Halpin, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, as well as Dr. Erik Nelson, Dean, School of Continuing Studies.

On behalf of the Arcadia University Alumni Association, Georgene Pilling, Director for Alumni Relations, presented university gavels to the executive board members of both chapters of the Business Alumni Association. “Chapters and affinity groups are designed to reconnect alumni with shared Arcadia experiences so they may network and socialize together and stay engaged with their alma mater,” said Pilling. “We are delighted that the M.B.A. cohorts formed such an association in 2008 and are proud to announce our first international chapter: the M.B.A. Alumni Association, Singapore Chapter.”