Dr. Mona Pearl joins Wilkes this fall as assistant professor of management in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership. Her focus is on international business.
Pearl received her undergraduate degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Ill. She then received her graduate degree and doctorate degree from DePaul University also in Chicago.
She moved to Wilkes-Barre from Chicago, but was born and raised in Romania.
“After living in big cities my whole life, I was looking for a smaller place where people are kind of more human,” said Pearl.
Pearl’s journey into academia began with a strong foundation in business, earning her doctorate and spending the majority of her early career in the corporate world. As she delved into teaching as an adjunct professor, she discovered her passion for education.
Choosing Wilkes was a deliberate move for Pearl, who sought a smaller community with a focus on international business.
“Some of the jobs that I did as a student were translations, cross-cultural training for companies and then I decided there is something in it,” said Pearl.
With a rich background in international business, Pearl shared her multilingual abilities, speaking German, French, Spanish and Romanian. Her cross-cultural experiences and skills became evident when she assisted T-Mobile in entering the U.S. market.
“This is when I started to realize that what I take for granted, some of the skills, may have more value than I even understand,” said Pearl.
Outside the academic realm, Pearl, despite her busy schedule, enjoys hiking and reading, with a past interest in poetry. Revealing a lesser-known aspect of her life, Pearl explained the balance between her analytical left brain, which drove her corporate success, and her artistic right brain, appreciating poetry, music and the arts.
“It’s like the children’s story, Bob the Builder,” said Pearl. “Bob is to the rescue, so that’s the left side of the brain. On the other hand, it’s poetry, it’s music, it’s the arts and culture. And this is something that people can’t grasp that exists in one person.”
Reflecting on her teaching career, Pearl expressed satisfaction in witnessing students’ growth over a semester. She aims to make a lasting impact on students’ lives through experiential learning, fostering collaboration on international projects.
Looking ahead, Pearl plans to continue expanding her experiential learning initiatives, engage in research and contribute to the community through service. Her commitment to making a difference and preparing students for a globalized world is evident in her goals for the future.
“I’ve traveled the world and worked with some of the largest companies,” said Pearl. “I’ve been to I don’t know how many countries and lived in I don’t know how many countries so I’m kind of looking to stay put.”
When asked about her proudest achievement, Pearl acknowledged her journey of building a life and career in the U.S. as a female immigrant. Coming to the country in her 20s, she emphasized the importance of perseverance and not settling for less in life.
Pearl offered valuable advice to students, emphasizing the pursuit of happiness, passion and not succumbing to external pressures.
“Find out what makes you happy, what you want,” said Pearl. “Follow it. Don’t give up. I know many people say that, but when you get to a certain stage in life, I’m really happy about not giving up on my passions.”
Her words resonated with a call for self-determination and not settling for a life that doesn’t align with one’s true aspirations.
“Don’t let others determine where you’re going, what you’re doing, because you don’t feel secure,” said Pearl. “You have choices that you can choose. Don’t let someone push you into the corner, and then you’re stuck for the rest of your life.”