Dr. Susan Purdum

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Susan Purdum is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Supply Chain Management Department at the Smeal College of Business. With over 20 years of experience in engineering management and manufacturing, she has a robust background in customer relations and has led teams in the manufacturing industry, including managing the closure and relocation of operations both domestically and overseas. Susan’s prior roles include serving at Penn State’s Center for Supply Chain Research, where she engaged in applied research in collaboration with corporate clients and focused on executive education. Her research interests include trading partner collaboration, risk assessment, and developing operational resilience within supply chains. She has worked with notable companies such as Avery Dennison Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, and Hershey Company. Her academic focus involves preparing students for careers in supply chain management through courses that cover strategic procurement, supply chain risk management, and resilience.

Research Interests

Courses

SCM 301 – Supply Chain Management SCM 406 – Strategic Procurement SCM 822 – Supply Management SCM 863 – Managing Supply Chain Risk & Resiliency SCM 860 – Supply Chain Transformation SCM 494H – Research Project SCM 800 – Essentials of Supply Chain Management

Requirements for Pennsylvania State University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:23
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7
GRE General
Prerequisites
Master's degree in related field for PhD Baccalaureate degree from accredited institution
Application Checklist
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample
  • Official Transcripts
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

GRE scores are highly recommended but not strictly required for Applied Linguistics.