The Lundy-Fetterman School of Business marked the 20th anniversary of its annual Business Week, centered on “The Cost of Doing Business.”
The week invited students, faculty and staff to engage with questions of applied ethics across business, education, economics, philosophy, and technology.
Business Week opened with a keynote address by Mark Whitacre, whose story offered both a cautionary tale and a message of redemption. Once involved in a high-profile price-fixing scandal, Whitacre later became a whistleblower in one of the largest antitrust cases in U.S. history.
Today, he serves as vice president of culture and care and executive director of the T-factor initiative at Coca-Cola Consolidated. Drawing from his personal and professional journey, Whitacre challenged students to anchor their decisions in faith and values, reminding them that ethical business practices are not only possible but ultimately rewarding.
Another highlight of the week was the AI Ethics Panel featuring Dr. Wesley Rich (College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences), Dr. Eric Dunnam (English), Scott Kelly (Entrepreneurship) and Jes Boone (Accounting). The panel fostered a dynamic, student-driven discussion on the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in education and the workplace. Students were encouraged to ask meaningful questions and thoughtfully engage with complex issues surrounding integrity, accountability, and what it means to be human.
This milestone year saw record-breaking participation, reflecting a shared commitment to meaningful discussion around the ethical challenges shaping today’s business landscape. Throughout the week, students considered these themes in a variety of settings, including trivia competitions, class challenges, a campus scavenger hunt, a gender roundtable discussion, and Leading with Purpose book signing.
These experiences created space not only for learning, but for reflection, conversation and community.