College of Business faculty serve well over 100 students at ‘Finals Feast’

Faculty in the College of Business at Alfred University served students a pre-finals exam dinner Thursday evening, Dec. 4, in the Olin Building.

"Finals Feast" is held in advance of final exams week, which begins on Monday, Dec. 8. The event, which was started about 12 years ago by Amy Rummell, retired professor of marketing, has continued to grow in popularity each year. The event is co-sponsored by the college and the student club Alfred Marketing Association.

Organizers had planned for 100 students to partake in this year's Finals Feast, but that mark was easily surpassed.

"We ran out of the 100 plates!" said Shelly Freyn, associate professor of marketing. "With extras, I'm estimating we served around 120," which would double the number that attended the 2024 Finals Feast.

The free meal, with dishes prepared and served by professors and College of Business staff, is offered to all students in the College of Business. Students enjoyed a meal consisting of American and international ethnic dishes, reflecting the diversity of the College of Business faculty. Fifteen faculty members, administrators, and staff from the college prepared main dishes, sides, and desserts and brought paper products and beverages.

Several faculty from the College of Business at Alfred University prepared food for the 2025 Finals Feast, held Thursday, Dec. 4, in Olin. Some of them are pictured above, from left: Brittany Thierman, assistant professor of marketing; Jason Morrison, assistant professor of finance; Diana Maguire, professor of management and leadership; Mo Perez, visiting professor of accounting; Kash LaPlante, assistant dean; Jean Ellefson, assistant professor of analytics; Mark Lewis, dean; Ayush Sengupta, assistant professor of analytics, Shelly Freyn, associate professor of marketing; Halil Zaim, associate professor of management; and Ali Coskun, associate professor of accounting.

Mark Lewis, dean of the College of Business and an avid hunter, made venison stew using meat from a deer he harvested last fall. He also offered a vegetarian option. As he does every year, Jason Morrison, assistant professor of finance, prepared an authentic Southern-style crawfish boil, while Diana Maguire, professor of management and leadership, served up her homemade macaroni and cheese.

Kash LaPlante, assistant dean, made pulled pork and chicken, and Ali Coskun, associate professor of accounting, made lamb and chicken sauté. Jean Ellefson, assistant professor of analytics, brought salt potatoes; Ayush Sengupta, assistant professor of analytics, brought rolls and bread for the main dishes; Sangjoon Lee, professor of economics, made corn salad, and Brittany Thierman, assistant professor of marketing, provided chips and dip, and tortillas and salsa.

Freyn and Rachel Lehman, administrative assistant to the dean, brought holiday cookies and brownies; Mo Perez, visiting professor of accounting, contributed a carrot cake. Halil Zaim, associate professor of management-who treated attendees by playing holiday music on a keyboard-brought an apple pie.