Written by Ben Castro C’25 for the Drew Acorn
May 2025 – As the spring semester comes to a close, students are encouraged to explore the diverse and expanding Fall 2025 course offerings from the Department of Business.
The department continues to offer courses across four majors, focusing on preparing students for today’s rapidly changing professional landscape. Recent faculty promotions and new course additions reflect the department’s growth and commitment to innovative education.
Sean Mooney
“We are delighted to expand our offerings and to bring back courses that were popular last year,” said Sarah Abramowitz, John H. Evans Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science and co-chair of the Department of Business.
Two familiar faculty members will join the department in full-time positions this fall. Maggie Wells, known to many students from the Principles of Marketing, and Rob Roche, who teaches courses in sports management, law and marketing, will both transition to full-time roles beginning in the fall semester.
Wells will teach Marketing Analytics, a new course examining the expanding role of data in modern marketing strategies. Students will learn about two key types of marketing data and how to use them to improve campaign results, demonstrate return on investment and enhance organizational decision-making.
The course features practical exercises and real-world applications to help students build marketable skills.
“The US Department of Labor estimates that there were 1.1 million job openings in business analytics in 2023 with 40% of those in marketing and creative fields,” said Wells. “That number is projected to grow by 11% over the next ten years which is much faster than average. Having some knowledge of how to use data is now a prerequisite for many marketing jobs.”
Roche will be offering Business Contract Law for the first time this fall. The course will examine contract law in both everyday and business contexts, providing students with a practical understanding of enforceable agreements, liability, third-party rights, the Uniform Commercial Code and remedies for breach of contract.
“Contracts are one of the most essential parts of business. Students will have an advantage in the workforce by having an understanding of the elements required for enforceable contracts and their remedies when an agreement is breached,” said Roche. “I am looking forward to bringing practical examples from the world of business and have students analyze them from a contractual perspective.”
Returning this fall is Cryptocurrency Investing, a graduate-level course available to undergrads with instructor permission. Co-taught by Drew alumni Bob Carella (C’07) and Adam Meshell (C’08), the course introduces students to the world of digital assets commonly referred to as “crypto” and explores their potential role in investment portfolios.
Designed to be accessible to students with even a basic understanding of finance, the course makes room for interactive discussions, case studies and real-world applications.
Carella is the CEO and founder of BobFi Enterprises and co-founder of LedgerAI Quantum Corporation. He previously served as global head of equity at Binance.US and brings nearly two decades of experience in financial services. Meshell is a partner at Ernst & Young and serves as the head of KYC Financial Technologies.
Throughout the semester, students will examine the ethical, environmental and regulatory considerations surrounding crypto, as well as the potential benefits and risks associated with digital asset allocation. The class is designed to be both rigorous and fun, offering students an introduction to one of the most talked-about sectors in finance.
Another returning offering will be Brand Strategy and Consumer Experience taught by Ann Mills. The course explores the foundational elements of brand strategy and challenges students to build their own brand using behavioral insights and creative tools.
“This course is a nice contrast to some of the other marketing classes because students are challenged to think long-term about a brand’s overarching identity,” said Mills. “Throughout the semester, students will learn how to strategically represent and position a brand across all visual assets, platforms and channels.”
Mills will also teach the returning Digital Marketing and AI Marketing courses, the latter returning after a successful debut this past spring semester.
Other returning highlights include Entrepreneurship I with professor and Drew alumna Lyndsee Manna (C’07), and Student Managed Investment Fund I with Professor Hamed Yousefi.
As the department continues to evolve, students are encouraged to speak with their advisors and review course descriptions when considering their fall schedules. For more information on Fall 2025 offerings, contact Business Department Chair Steve Firestone.
Benjamin Castro is a senior double majoring in business and marketing.
