Faculty members in the School of Global Business traveled to Logan, Utah, to take part in ABSEL 2026, the Association for Business Simulation & Experiential Learning’s conference. The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah Valley University hosted this year’s event.

Dr. Annette Halpin, Dr. Raghu Kurthakoti, Prof. Jennifer Fritch, and Prof. Y. Rosie Madison represented Arcadia at the 53rd annual event. For Fritch, this was her first time attending.

“ABSEL offers an amazing opportunity to exchange ideas and network with an international group of academics who are equally passionate about simulation-based learning,” she said. “I’m honored to have my paper published in ‘Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning,’ alongside experts in the field, and even more excited that the inspiration for the paper was work I did with my students last semester in my BA340 Principles of Marketing class.”

An Assistant Professor of Marketing, Fritch presented her research, “Experiential Learning through AI, ARS and Marketing Simulation Integration: Advancing Marketing Strategy Competency,” at the conference.

Halpin, an assistant professor of Business Administration, shared research, as well as an abstract (submissions of approximately 1,000 words). The research paper is entitled, “Do Total Enterprise Simulations (TESs) Address the Learning Outcomes for the Business Strategy Course?”, co-authored with Dr. Rebecca Schmeller of Ashland University. The abstract is entitled, “Assignments to build AI literacy and competency among students in undergraduate business programs,” co-authored with Arcadia colleagues Kurthakoti, an associate professor of Marketing, and Madison, an adjunct professor of Marketing. Halpin also led a session at the pre-conference workshop about developing experiential learning activities.

Kurthakoti also co-authored research with Nolan, assistant professor of Business Administration, entitled, “Vicarious Learning as Experiential Learning: The Case of Movies as Pedagogy.

“[Having an Arcadia contingent at ABSEL] reinforces the expertise that the School of Global Business faculty brings to the discipline of simulation-based learning in business education,” Fritch said. “This pedagogical approach is fundamental to our business curriculum, and we will had representation from across disciplines. Our large contingent was a source of pride.”

Arcadia’s connection to ABSEL runs deep. Halpin, Nolan, and Kurthakoti currently serve on the ABSEL board of directors, with Halpin set to move into the role of president in 2027. Kurthakoti is an ABSEL Fellow, as well as a past president of the organization. He currently serves as the director of internal relations and marketing. Nolan serves as an associate editor of the conference proceedings as well as Simulation Track chair.