Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Academic Symposium
The Tepper School of Business commemorated its 75th anniversary with an Academic Symposium on March 21-22, 2025. This event celebrated the school's rich history, highlighted groundbreaking research, and explored the future of business education.
“This symposium was a true celebration of our shared history and our forward-looking ambitions for the Tepper School,” said Tepper School of Business Dean Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou. “The research presentations, insightful discussions, and the celebration of Thomas Sargent's legacy served as a powerful reminder of our enduring commitment to shaping the future of business education.”
Dean Bajeux-Besnainou was joined by Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian to unveil a new portrait in its prestigious Nobel Laureate gallery, honoring Dr. Thomas J. Sargent, a pivotal figure in modern macroeconomics.
The event celebrated Sargent's profound impact on economic science, recognizing his distinguished career and contributions, including his tenure as a former Tepper School research affiliate and his 2011 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Dr. Sargent also delivered a keynote address to attendees, further highlighting his connection to the Tepper School and his lasting influence on the field.
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"I am humbled to be recognized by the Tepper School and be part of a storied legacy of other respected researchers who have won the Nobel Prize in Economics,” Sargent said. “The year I spent at Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) changed my life in so many ways.”
A pivotal component of the symposium was a session that explored the Tepper School's historical significance, featuring Linda Argote, Thomas Lord Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory; John Hooker, T. Jerome Holleran Professor of Business Ethics and Social Responsibility and University Professor of Operations Research Emeritus; and Holger Seig (MSIA 1994, Ph.D. 1996) Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. This session underscored the school's role in pioneering artificial intelligence, detailing Herb Simon's development of the “Thinking Machine” and the early AI work of Simon, Allen Newell, and Cliff Shaw.
Carnegie Mellon Provost James H. Garrett Jr. hosted a distinguished panel discussion on the evolving landscape of business education and the challenges facing future leaders. Moderated by Andrew Jack, Global Education Editor for the Financial Times, the panel featured prominent deans from leading institutions, including Bajeux-Besnainou, Madhav Rajan (Booth School of Business, University of Chicago), Srikant Datar (Harvard Business School), and Francisco Veloso (INSEAD), providing attendees with invaluable insights into the future of business education.
Across the various plenary and breakout sessions, symposium attendees gained insights into how business research and AI are reshaping industries vital to our future, with sessions addressing urban growth, public health, global markets, AI innovation, and disaster response. Breakout sessions showcased the newest research coming out of top business schools, presented by current and former Tepper School faculty and Ph.D. alumni, including 2013 Nobel Laureate Lars Peter Hansen.
As the Tepper School looks ahead to its next chapter, the Anniversary Symposium served as a powerful testament to its legacy of innovation, research excellence, and commitment to shaping the future of business education.