Dickinson's 3rd Annual Investment Competition: Navigating Volatility for Gains
66 students battle market chaos, managing $1,000,000 virtual portfolios over 10 weeks.
The Burgess Institute for the Global Economy is an academic and co-curricular accelerator for business fluency and global leadership. It will equip you, regardless of your major, with unmatched access to the networks, insights and applied experiences that give you an inside track to successful careers in business and finance.
You'll see the openings others miss. Act before the moment passes. Build the skills that move you forward.
"One plus of the Burgess Institute is that they actually have real, live executives in residence, really at the top of their fields, and they provide a unique leadership perspective.”
—Ty Chermsirivatana ’27 (political science, law & policy)
Employers want and expect more, and the graduates who stand out are the ones who bring more. They bring real and relevant experiences to bear and the ability to act and lead with confidence in any environment.
That kind of advantage is built through early and intimate exposure to business, opportunities to put learnings into practice, experiences that sharpen adaptability and the confidence to tell your story in a way that sets you apart.
Through off-campus excursions and networking opportunities, you'll interact with decision-makers and learn directly from industry leaders. Bootcamps and workshops allow you to earn credentials that strengthen your business and financial vernacular and prepare you to communicate clearly and act decisively.
That means that you'll be stepping into conversations already knowing how best to contribute. It means you'll learn about the dynamics of businesses and economic systems through your education, not from their training on the job. It means you'll have the tools to become confident leaders well before you finally sit in the boardroom.
It means that when it’s time to compete for opportunities, you'll have the experience, skills and network to give you the advantage.
We’re breaking down barriers to business and finance for liberal arts students. No exclusive tracks. No gatekeeping. Just immersive programming and resources.
From providing access to Bloomberg terminals on campus to offering foundational Financial Literacy Bootcamps, Burgess ensures that you'll develop the language and access the opportunities to compete, lead and thrive during and after college, regardless of your background or discipline.
At its core, the Burgess Institute is an extension of Dickinson’s commitment to a useful liberal arts education: empowering students to ask better questions and lead with integrity in a changing world. But we go further still.
We extend this mission by pairing liberal arts strengths with the market-savvy skills and experiences that open doors after graduation.
There’s no need to choose between purpose and pragmatism. By making liberal arts more clearly connected to career success, the Burgess Institute will help you unlock a stronger return on your education investment and feel confident entering the workforce.
One of the hallmarks of a Dickinson education is that we don’t just provide students with theory; we ground them in practice. The Burgess Institute will offer you essential experiential opportunities through our academic program that allow you to apply your learning in active and meaningful ways. Every facet of the institute is another step on your path toward the career you’ve imagined.
The Burgess Institute is Dickinson's dedicated center for integrating liberal-arts education with practical skills in business, finance and global economics. Launched in 2024 through a generous alumni gift, it offers resources like Bloomberg terminals, case studies, business-related excursions and an executive-in-residence series to prepare students for dynamic careers while embracing interdisciplinary perspectives.
It's designed for all Dickinson students, from first-year students to seniors, regardless of major. Whether you're in the humanities, STEM or exploring options, Burgess is ideal for those interested in business, finance or roles addressing global challenges.
Getting started is straightforward: Attend workshops on financial literacy or business ethics, participate in winter break career immersion programs in consulting or technology, connect with alumni through the Finance & Business Network or join student-led groups like the Student Investing Group. Use Handshake to access tailored Career Communities and internship opportunities.
Burgess is especially welcoming for undecided students. It provides flexible opportunities, such as introductory bootcamps and events, to explore business concepts without commitment, helping you discover interests and build foundational skills.
The institute's core purpose is to empower Dickinson's liberal-arts foundation with targeted global economics expertise: fostering adaptability in uncertainty, effective communication for professional success and ethical decision-making for sustainable impact. While the Career Center offers broad career exploration and job search support, Burgess focuses specifically on business and finance pathways, providing specialized alumni networks, industry treks and hands-on simulations to accelerate your professional development from the start.
66 students battle market chaos, managing $1,000,000 virtual portfolios over 10 weeks.