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Dustin Luca
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SALEM, MASS. – Salem State University was represented on a national financial stage in March, as spring break saw the Bertolon School of Business bring a group of students to the Nasdaq Stock Market in Times Square.
Salem State students and faculty had an opportunity to view the closing bell and stand atop the famed Nasdaq tower at the close of business Friday, March 21. The trip was coordinated through New York City-based investment management firm Global X ETFs and the company’s head of product research and development, Pedro Palandrani ’18G.
“Many companies on Wall Street, through alumni, host students so they can learn more about what a company does. They also often schedule other trips around that experience,” said Wendy Davison, assistant director of annual giving at Salem State. “Through the support of Pedro Palandrani, our students got to come to the closing bell – which was truly exciting because not only are they getting to go for the first time, but many of us were seeing the closing bell for the first time as well.”
More than just an opportunity to visit Nasdaq, Global X ETFs hosted and took the students through the world of exchange-traded funds, or ETFs. The trip fully explored the differences between ETFs and other investment vehicles, giving those on the trip a taste of what a career as an ETF issuer could be like.
The trip, an experiential learning opportunity aligned with Salem State’s Meet the Moment® campaign, was made possible by the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. (AAF), allowing students to attend without the burden of cost.
“Support like this is critical in providing students with opportunities that enrich their learning and personal growth,” said Annalisa Di Palma, chair of the Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation, Inc. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Salem State can help eliminate financial barriers, ensuring students have access to life-changing experiences that shape their futures.”
Trips like the visit to Nasdaq are specifically that – invaluable experiential opportunities for the students who embark upon them.
“For a lot of our students, whether they’re international or of a lower socioeconomic status, trips like this aren’t possible,” said Felicia Hayden ‘16, donor relations coordinator at Salem State. “Opportunities like this help prepare students with the right skillsets to go into these environments. I’m unsure how else you would get that experience.”
Reflecting upon the visit he helped arrange, Palandrani said he is driven to give back to Salem State and support its students through experiences like the visit to New York City after the transformative experience he had as a graduate student.
"Salem State University opened doors for me as an international student and launched my career in finance through the internship at Cabot Wealth Management,” Palandrani said. “Welcoming SSU students to Global X ETFs and Nasdaq is simply honoring the cycle of opportunity. You give not because you have; you have because you give. Supporting the next generation of finance professionals from my alma mater isn't just a responsibility—it's recognition of the path that made my own journey possible."
A cadre of Salem State leadership joined the group for the experience, including President John Keenan and Bertolon School of Business Dean Raminder Luther.
“It was an incredible experience and an insightful trip for our students. At GlobalX ETFs, they were exposed to the various career opportunities in the dynamic world of ETFs, and then they had the incredible experience of being on the MarketSite of NASDAQ,” Luther said. “I’m so proud of our students who were true professionals throughout the trip. I’m thankful to all who were involved in making the trip happen. Based on the questions students were asking the presenters, I was impressed by how well the faculty have prepared them to enter the world of financial markets, and for that I am grateful to our faculty.”