UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Donna Palumbo-Miele has been named the new executive director of the Center for Supply Chain Research (CSCR) at the Penn State Smeal College of Business.
Palumbo-Miele was selected following a national search and will succeed Steve Tracey, who will continue as a professor of practice within the Supply Chain and Information Systems (SCIS) Department. Palumbo-Miele will begin her tenure Aug. 26.
“We are thrilled to welcome Donna Palumbo-Miele back to her alma mater as the new executive director of CSCR,” said Corey Phelps, the John and Karen Arnold Dean of the Smeal College of Business. “She brings a rare and incredibly valuable combination of extensive experience as a supply chain executive with marquee companies and as an accomplished supply chain consultant, educator, researcher and industry leader. We are fortunate to have her as a member of the leadership team of Smeal College and I look forward to working with her.”
As executive director of the Center for Supply Chain Research, Palumbo-Miele will be charged with managing all aspects of the center’s operations, building the reputation and presence of CSCR with corporate executives and expanding the Smeal College of Business teaching and research programs in the supply chain discipline. She will lead the development and implementation of an overall strategy for CSCR by closely working with the CSCR Advisory Board, composed of senior supply chain executive supporters, and the Dean’s Office.
Palumbo-Miele will collaborate to identify and strengthen relationships with CSCR support companies; lead student-focused career functions; direct professional development and networking events designed to connect and engage thought leaders, industry experts, and academic leaders across the value chain; facilitate innovative academic and industry research; and develop courses for CSCR professional training, executive education programs, and speaking engagements.
With more than 12 years’ experience as an adjunct professor, Palumbo-Miele will also assume an academic teaching role within the SCIS Department. Additionally, she will work to engage Smeal faculty and students, particularly those in the SCIS Department, in the activities of the center.
“I am delighted to return to Penn State and build on the achievements that Steve Tracey has helped foster in the Center for Supply Chain Research,” Palumbo-Miele said. “Smeal is experiencing a tremendous period of growth and opportunity. As I step into the executive director role, I am excited to engage and partner with internal stakeholders as well as our corporate supporters to ensure the center continues to serve the supply chain community and pioneer innovative solutions for tomorrow.”
Palumbo-Miele brings deep expertise from across the supply chain, as founder of Concordia Supply Chain Group, and with leadership roles at notable companies including EY, The Walt Disney Company, Johnson & Johnson and Bloomberg L.P. Throughout her career, she has led transformative global supply chain multi-discipline initiatives, provided guidance to senior-level executives and has been an instrumental business partner across industries and sectors.
As a respected thought leader, Palumbo-Miele serves the supply chain community by providing her leadership as vice chair of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) board of directors and will be the 2025 CSCMP board chair. Additionally, she is the former chair of the Sustainable Supply Chain Committee wherein she spearheaded research and recognition initiatives. She also serves on the board and finance committee for the Women’s Forum of New York. Palumbo-Miele is a member of AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management, and Education), former advisory board member of the University of Tampa’s Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, and is a former chair of the CSCR Advisory Board.
She has been published in the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management and recognized for her impact as a "Top 10 Woman in Supply Chain" by Warner Communications. Palumbo-Miele is a two-time recipient of Supply & Demand Chain Executive Pros to Know Award, three-time recipient of the Supply & Demand Chain Executive Women in Supply Chain Award, recipient of the 2024 University of Tampa Alumni Achievement Award, and a featured alumna by the Smeal College CSCR’s Women in Supply Chain platform.
Palumbo-Miele holds a bachelor’s in logistics from Penn State, an MBA from the University of Tampa and a doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She also earned a supply chain and logistics institute certification from Georgia Institute of Technology.