The Martin J. Whitman School of Management has been rated No. 1 for participation in experiential learning projects in the Poets&Quants 2026 Best Undergraduate Business School rankings.

The recognition reflects one of the school’s most deeply held commitments: that the best way to learn business is to practice it.

Through global immersions, live-client projects, case competitions, the Goodman IMPRESS Program, the WIRE Initiative and the Local Leaders Initiative, Whitman students build real skills in real environments long before graduation.

Every opportunity is organized around four pillars that define what a Whitman graduate looks like: Be Global, Be Innovative, Be Collaborative and Be Prepared.

Those pillars now have a formal home. The recently launched Whitman Experiential Center unites all of the school’s signature experiential programs under one coordinated strategy as part of Transformation 2030, Whitman’s five-year plan to become a Top 25 undergraduate business program by 2030.

“Every Whitman student, regardless of major or background, has access to these opportunities,” says Erin Draper, director of experiential programs. “That is what it means to be prepared at Whitman.”

The No. 1 experiential learning rating is also reflected in Whitman’s broader rise to No. 37 overall in the Poets&Quants 2026 rankings.

Learn more about .

recently announced the spring 2026 recipients of the Orange Innovation Fund, awarding $5,000 grants to a cohort of student inventors and entrepreneurs advancing high-potential ventures across health care, financial technology, consumer products and enterprise software.

The Orange Innovation Fund is designed to accelerate student-led startups beyond the idea stage, supporting founders who have demonstrated meaningful progress through customer discovery, prototyping and early validation.

The fund emphasizes deep research and development work, along with comprehensive proposal development, and recognizes ventures that show strong execution, real-world traction and a clear path toward commercialization. Funding supports critical next steps such as product development, regulatory readiness, pilot testing and go-to-market strategy.

“The Orange Innovation Fund plays a critical role in SU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling student founders to move beyond concept and into execution,” says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian. “By supporting ventures at a pivotal stage of development, the fund helps transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact.”

Spring 2026 Winners

Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies) for SecondWave

SecondWave is a financial wellness platform that helps users build personalized roadmaps to manage and grow their finances. The platform combines education, tools and vetted resources to guide users toward financial independence. Funding will support minimum viable product (MVP) completion, user testing, cloud infrastructure and trademark registration, as well as continued customer discovery.

Jayson Bromley (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) for Bromley Bio Med LLC – InDeazy

InDeazy is an integrated incision and drainage device designed to improve efficiency, control and safety in urgent care and emergency settings. Funding will support final design refinement and pilot manufacturing, including engineering updates, simulated workflow testing and Food and Drug Administration pre-submission readiness.

Nicholas Davis ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science [ECS]) for Ethyra

Ethyra is an AI-native auto-grading and classroom analytics platform that helps educators save time and better understand student performance. Funding will support MVP completion, a version 1.0 launch and pilot testing at Syracuse University, the University of Washington and Eastside Preparatory School, along with learning management system integration and a study on grading efficiency.

Haley Greene ’26 (Newhouse School of Public Communications) for Miirror

Miirror is a clinically guided, peer-led, tech-enabled platform redefining eating disorder recovery. Offering free, inclusive and stigma-free tools, support circles, crisis resources and therapy matching, the platform connects underserved communities with accessible recovery pathways. Funding will support completion of the MVP, regulatory compliance, technical infrastructure and a campus pilot at Syracuse University.

Ronan Hussar ’26 (Whitman School) for MacroFlow

MacroFlow is an Excel add-in that automates macro creation, saving users significant time and increasing productivity. Funding will support development of secure AI implementation, full local functionality and enterprise-grade validation of macro generation capabilities.

Yasmin Madmoune G ’27 (Whitman School) for Yas Apothecary

Yas Apothecary is a Moroccan-inspired body care brand with a long-term vision of building a cooperative-based production infrastructure. Funding will support equipment upgrades, production scaling, wholesale market entry and supply chain development.

Nathan Brekke ’26 (ECS), G ’27 (Whitman School) and Joshua Varkey ’26 (ECS) for Phloat

Phloat is a magnetically attachable flotation device that deploys to bring a submerged phone back to the surface. Funding will support the first commercial-grade production run, field testing with beta users and development of a scalable manufacturing supply chain. The company has recently filed for a patent.

Jack Venerus ’27 (School of Information Studies) for WingStat

WingStat is a business-to-business platform for aircraft transaction data in the pre-owned business jet market. Funding will support the transition from a no-code MVP to a production-ready platform, including backend infrastructure, authentication systems and automated data workflows.

About the Orange Innovation Fund

The Orange Innovation Fund was initially established through a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, an alumna, a member of the Board of Trustees and an operating partner at Silicon Valley Quad (an angel investing syndicate). The program is administered through Syracuse University Libraries as a Universitywide initiative, run in collaboration with multiple campus innovation and entrepreneurship programs. Proposal reviewers include entrepreneurial faculty and staff, along with alumni who have come through the ecosystem and are venture founders or in C-Suite roles at leading innovation companies.

The rose to No. 37 in the Poets&Quants 2026 Best Undergraduate Business Schools , up two spots from No. 39 in 2025. The advancement marks continued progress toward the school’s strategic goal of becoming a top 25 business school by 2030.

Poets&Quants is the authoritative source for undergraduate business school rankings, news and analysis. The publication bases its undergraduate rankings on three equally weighted categories: admissions selectivity, academic experience and job placement.

“This is the ranking that matters most to us in measuring our progress, and moving to No. 37 is a meaningful signal that we are heading in the right direction,” says Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School of Management. “Transformation 2030 is not a traditional five-year academic strategic plan. It is a commitment to doing things differently across every dimension of what we offer students. The improvement in rankings is recognition reflecting the hard work of our faculty, staff, alumni and the students themselves. It gives us momentum in our upward trajectory to the top 25.”

Transformation 2030: A Blueprint for Ascending to Excellence

Publicly launched in November 2025, emphasizes commitments and investment in the academic and student experience, admissions and career outcomes, among other priority areas.

Progress is already visible across these important areas. Recognizing student success extends well beyond the classroom, Whitman has invested in the academic team, including hiring a director of academic advising and an assistant director of student success to ensure students receive the ongoing support they need, from tutoring and time management to building resilience and prioritizing mental wellness. Whitman also created a required one-credit business and technology course that includes Excel and AI-related certifications, to ensure students have the technical acumen for a changing digital work environment.

this month, emphasizing Whitman’s commitment to infusing industry focused, practical and meaningful experiences throughout the entire program. The center provides a robust infrastructure for Whitman’s many impactful programs such as the Goodman IMPRESS professional development program, study away and study abroad, the Whitman Industry Readiness & Excellence (WIRE) certification initiative and a growing portfolio of case competitions and simulations.

On the admissions front, Whitman welcomed its most academically qualified incoming class on record this fall, with the Class of 2029 posting the highest-ever average SAT (1349), ACT (31) and GPA (3.84) in the school’s history. Applications reached 8,596, surpassing the previous record and representing 16 applications per available seat, making Whitman the most in-demand school on the  University campus.

Career outcomes have also strengthened. Whitman’s 180-day undergraduate placement rate stands at 98.1%, with an average starting salary of $71,024. The school has restructured Career Services and Employer Relations under unified leadership, expanding impactful career readiness programs like Design Your Future and the Finance Career Accelerator Program, while deepening relationships with premier employers our students aspire to join.

“Every initiative we are building, whether in the classroom, through career services or experiential learning, reflects our commitment to preparing students for long-term success,” says Mike Haynie, Syracuse University chancellor-elect. “Being in the top 25 is a tangible milestone that is part of a larger goal to deliver world-class educational outcomes for our students. This ranking movement confirms what we already know: Whitman is ascending.”

—Story by Danielle Rosenburgh

The (NSF) has awarded $45 million over three years for phase two of the , a regional initiative in which Syracuse University is a core partner.

Launched in 2024, the initiative aims to make upstate New York a national hub for battery technology by bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and workforce trainers to develop the next generation of batteries—the kind that will power electric vehicles, store renewable energy on the grid and strengthen national security. It’s led by and includes partners (RIT), , , and .

“Syracuse University is proud to be a core partner in advancing battery technology research, building workforce pathways and strengthening the upstate New York economy,” says , vice president for research. “The success of the Engine’s Energy Storage Workforce Development Network in the first phase has contributed to a regional innovation ecosystem that connects innovation to talent development and economic growth across upstate New York. We look forward to working with our Engine partners to build on this success in the years ahead.”

In phase two, the Engine will focus on developing safer, more cost-efficient next-generation battery systems; integrating artificial intelligence into materials discovery and manufacturing; and deepening partnerships with regional corporations and the defense sector. A new advanced battery safety testing facility, the first of its kind in the Northeast, is set to open at RIT this summer.

Phase two will also see the expansion of workforce development programs, with a particular emphasis on preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists to meet growing industry demand. The Engine may receive up to $160 million in total NSF funding over 10 years, with an additional $16 million in matching funds from .

Since its launch, the Engine has supported 15 industry-academia research teams, served more than 300 learners through its workforce development network and funded more than 15 high-tech battery startups. Those startups have attracted more than $20 million in follow-on funding in the past year alone.

and the have partnered to launch an , a new self-paced credential designed to help business students evaluate sources, identify misinformation and apply research skills in a professional landscape increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI).

The program, offered in collaboration with the Office of Microcredentials, is open to both Whitman undergraduate and graduate students and encourages the development of core skills in information literacy, which is a crucial competency for academic pursuits, and one that employers also describe as being essential. The skills learned also connect to the University’s of Information Literacy and Technological Agility and Critical and Creative Thinking.

“For Whitman students, the certificate fills a meaningful gap between classroom learning and professional readiness,” says Assistant Director of Experiential Programs Roshawn Kershaw. “It increases a student’s ability to find reliable information, assess its credibility and apply it with confidence. This is important for a business environment increasingly shaped by excess data and AI content. It sets them apart from others before they even realize. The certificate is now available to both undergraduates and graduate students, which means it can meet Whitman students wherever they are in their academic journey, reinforcing skills that will serve them from their first internship to the boardroom.”

To earn the certificate and digital badge, students take online self-paced tutorial modules that introduce them to key information literacy skills and library resources:

• Identifying Bias and Misinformation
• Types of Sources
• Evaluating Information
• Research as Process
• Search Basics, Part 1
• Search Basics, Part 2
• Syracuse Libraries Resources
• Student Guide to AI

“I am so excited to have these online tutorials become an official certificate and digital badge that is now available to both grads and undergrads,” says Librarian for Business, Management and Entrepreneurship Steph McReynolds. “We’ve offered the tutorials as part of the program for years, and students have asked for a certificate to show employers their accomplishments in this area, and now we can provide that digital credential.”

Information Literacy Librarian Kelly Delevan sees this certificate as an excellent template for the development of information literacy badges for other schools and colleges at Syracuse. The certificate is even serving as a model beyond our institution, as a librarian from another university has recently reached out to use the certificate module categories at their own library.

Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19, a devoted alumnus, University trustee and generous supporter of Syracuse University, will deliver the keynote address at the ‘s 2026 Convocation Ceremony. Barnes, who majored in accounting in the Whitman School, has maintained close ties to the University throughout a career spanning nearly four decades in private equity.

Bain Capital LP is one of the world’s leading global private investment firms, managing more than $215 billion in assets under management across private equity, venture capital, public equity and leveraged debt. Barnes has been affiliated with Bain since 1988 and previously served as chairman of global private equity, head of North American private equity, co-head of European private equity, and founded and led the global portfolio group.

He also served in various leadership positions within Bain’s portfolio companies, including as CEO of Dade Behring, a global diagnostic company, president of Executone Business Solutions, a telecommunications company, and president of The Holson Burnes Group, a publicly traded consumer products company.

Barnes served as chairman of the University’s from 2015-19 and as chairman emeritus from 2019-23. He currently serves as vice chair of the board. Outside of Syracuse, Barnes serves on the board of directors of the Boston Celtics as a member of ownership, and is a board member of MV Youth, The Park of West Palm Beach and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. He previously served on the boards of Boston Children’s Hospital, New Profit, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Boston City Year and was the former chairman of the board of The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve Barnes back to campus to speak to our graduates this year,” says Whitman Interim Dean . “Steve’s extraordinary career in private equity, combined with his lifelong commitment to this University and its students, make him an ideal voice for our Class of 2026. His story, from his time as a student at Whitman to the heights he has reached in business and in his service to Syracuse University, is one that will truly inspire our graduates as they take their next steps.”

Barnes’ connection to the Whitman School is long-standing and wide-ranging. He is a longtime member of the , a founding investor in the Orange Value Fund and served as the founding co-chair of the Advisory Board. He received the Whitman School’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award in 2011.

The generosity of Barnes and his wife, Deborah, has had a transformative impact across campus, including:

• providing the lead gift for the , the University’s integrated health, wellness and recreation complex;
• endowing the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and the Barnes Professorship in Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School and establishing the Barnes Award for Academic Excellence, a merit-based scholarship recognizing outstanding first-year Whitman students; and
• supporting Remembrance Scholars, Syracuse Athletics, the Office of Disability Services and other initiatives across the University.

Barnes was recognized with an honorary doctorate degree from Syracuse University in 2019 and he received the Dritz Trustee of the Year Award in 2014.

The Whitman School’s Convocation Ceremony will be held Saturday, May 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the JMA Wireless Dome.

The officially launched the Whitman Experiential Center this week, marking a major milestone in the school’s Transformation 2030 strategic plan and its commitment to preparing students through hands-on, relevant and applied learning.

The Experiential Center brings together the high-impact programs that define a Whitman education. Global immersions, case competitions, study away programs, class projects with companies, the Goodman IMPRESS professional development program and the Orange Business Angel Network are now aligned under one coordinated team and office.

As a central hub, the Experiential Center also works in close partnership with Whitman’s centers and institutes to expand access to high-quality experiential learning across all programs and levels.

The Experiential Center is built around four pillars that reflect what it means to be a Whitman student: Be Global, Be Innovative, Be Collaborative and Be Prepared. Together, these pillars ensure that every student, regardless of major or background, has access to experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

“What we’re launching is not simply a new program or office,” says Whitman Interim Dean . “This is a defining commitment to the culture of Whitman and how we prepare students. Experiential learning is central to how we develop the skills, judgment and perspective our students need to lead. It is Transformation 2030 in action.”

is Whitman’s five-year strategic plan to elevate the school into the Top 25 undergraduate business programs rankings by 2030. Experiential learning sits at the center of that vision and constitutes a major area of investment. Experiential education is not an added feature of the student experience—it’s an essential centerpiece of how students learn to apply and practice their skills in realistic and meaningful settings at Whitman.

Director of the Experiential Center , who led the development of the center, says the four-pillar framework is designed to create a progression of experiences throughout a student’s time at Whitman.

“A student might begin with our first-year experiential AI course and use virtual reality in their sophomore management course to develop communication skills. From there, they might attend an immersion program in a major U.S. or global market, compete in a national case competition, work on a semester-long consulting project for a company, and later conduct due diligence on a new venture through the Orange Business Angel Network,” Draper says. “Each of those experiences builds on the last. Students aren’t just collecting experiences. They are building a track record of excellence and relevance.”

Whitman’s alumni and employer network plays a critical role in bringing these opportunities to life. Industry partners and alumni mentors help shape projects, coach student teams and open doors to new possibilities. As a result, students leave these experiences with more than skills. They leave with relationships, including mentors, collaborators and champions invested in their success.

To learn more about the Whitman Experiential Center and its programs, visit the  or email whitexp@syr.edu.

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management historic placement rates for its graduates for the second year in a row. For the Class of 2025, there was 98.1% employment rate within 180 days of graduation among students actively seeking employment, illustrating how the University continues to deliver exceptional career outcomes for its students.

The result marks the second consecutive year Whitman has achieved employment outcomes above 98%, reinforcing strong, sustained momentum in student placement and career readiness—even amid an increasingly competitive and uncertain job market. Graduates in the Class of 2025 also reported a mean starting salary of $71,024, reflecting strong placement across industries including finance, consulting, marketing, technology and retail.

“When you come to Whitman, you are building a career,” Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School of Management, says. “Our students get excellent jobs. They go on to lead amazing careers as leaders in their fields. These outcomes reflect the strength of our academic programs, our career preparation, and the deep engagement of employers and alumni who invest in our students.”

Sustained Growth in Career Outcomes

Whitman’s employment outcomes have steadily strengthened over the past several years, reflecting focused investment in experiential learning, employer partnerships and early career preparation.

Together, the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 represent the strongest employment outcomes in school history, demonstrating consistent progress rather than a single-year spike. It helps further establish Whitman among the top business schools nationally.

Career Preparation by Design

Whitman’s results are driven by a comprehensive approach to career readiness that begins early and continues throughout a student’s academic journey. Through the Whitman Career Center, students receive individualized advising, participate in structured professional development programs and engage directly with employers and alumni across industries.

“These outcomes reflect years of intentional work to meet students early, prepare them thoroughly and connect them meaningfully with employers and alumni,” Kara Primrose, executive director of career services and employer relations, says. “Our focus is on helping students explore what’s possible, build confidence and develop the skills and relationships that lead to strong career outcomes. Sustaining results like this shows that when students engage with the process, Whitman delivers.”

Key initiatives include cohort-based career readiness programs, experiential learning opportunities, industry immersion trips, alumni mentorship, on-campus recruiting and employer-led workshops that connect classroom learning to real-world application.

These efforts are aligned with , Whitman’s five-year strategic commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning and career outcomes that prepare students for long-term success.

Confidence for Students and Families

The Class of 2025 results reinforce Whitman’s value proposition to prospective students and families: students who come to Whitman and actively pursue employment graduate with strong outcomes and meaningful opportunities.

“As a school, we are focused not just on first jobs, but on building durable career pathways,” McKelvie says. “This sustained momentum shows that our strategy is working and that Whitman students are well prepared to compete, contribute and lead. We are very proud of this accomplishment for Whitman—and especially for our students who are well on their way to success.”

Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad awarded prizes to several student entrepreneur teams as part of its annual Afropreneurship Celebration and Pitch Competition held in Bird Library on Feb. 6.

The event included a panel discussion featuring student and alumni entrepreneurs, followed by a pitch competition open to student teams across campus. Students pitched in either the Concept/Idea Track, where participants delivered a 90-second pitch on their idea for a chance to win $250-$500, or the Proof of Concept/Prototype/In-Market Track, where participants delivered a 4-minute business pitch and question and answer for a chance to win $1,000-$2,500.

Winning teams in the Concept Track were:

• Yuqian Di ’26 (School of Architecture), founder of ReBoot, won 1^st place ($500). ReBoot is a specialized on-campus service to save students’ winter boots from salt damage through professional restoration, extending the lifespan of expensive footwear.
• Yuxin Chen ’26 (School of Architecture), founder of PlateMap, placed 2^nd and was awarded $250. PlateMap is a visual meal-mapping system that eliminates decision fatigue by aligning food planning with a user’s actual schedule to make healthy, cost-effective eating effortless.

Winning teams in the In-Market Track were:

• Edouard Agbor G’26 (School of Information Studies), founder of GritGateway won 1^st place ($2500). is an ethical human-centered AI-powered global opportunity platform with active users across 20+ African countries that helps ambitious African students turn their life stories into verified profiles of grit, resilience and potential that universities can trust.
• Imaad Maqsood ’29 (College of Arts & Sciences), founder of Upstate Pressure won 2^nd place ($1500). Upstate Pressure is a residential and commercial pressure washing service that restores and protects exterior surfaces such as concrete walkways, driveways, decks, siding, fences, patios and more.
• Dylan Bardsley ’26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Clarity won 3^rd Place ($750). Clarity is a transparent, AI-powered platform that instantly gives students clear, hyper-personalized credit card recommendations.
• Naheem Cadiz III ’28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Coveted won 4^th place ($250). Coveted is a mobile fashion marketplace app designed for independent and emerging clothing brands and the consumers who discover them.

Students in Ph.D. candidate Xiaoying Feng’s Essentials of Marketing course recently teamed up with the Syracuse Orchestra to conduct market analysis and create marketing materials. Top-scoring projects in the course’s final project are being included in the orchestra’s marketing campaigns.

The project was personal for Feng who, as an international student earning a doctorate in marketing at the Whitman School of Management, found a place of beauty and belonging in the audience of the Syracuse Orchestra.

Feng frequently takes advantage of the orchestra’s $5 student tickets. During a concert in February 2025, she was moved to tears by a rendition of “Moon River,” the Henry Mancini tune famously performed by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” She was also impacted by seeing empty seats around her. She wanted to find a way to encourage more people to enjoy the music as she did.

“I saw an opportunity for a meaningful service-learning collaboration,” she says. Feng contacted the orchestra to see how her students, a diverse group of marketing and business minors with interests in everything from engineering to music, could work with the organization. So began what turned into “Go Local,” the capstone project of Feng’s Essentials of Marketing course.

Rehearsing for the Real World

The project kicked off in November 2025, when Pamela Murchinson, the orchestra’s executive director, visited the class. During a wide-ranging discussion, she told the class about the inner workings of the orchestra, a nonprofit that is one of the nation’s two musician-led cooperatives. She shared information about the orchestra’s marketing challenges as well as attendance and revenue goals for four upcoming events.

Following the visit, groups of four or five students were assigned one of the Syracuse Orchestra’s holiday events. Final presentations included analysis of each event’s target audience and competitor positioning, as well as recommendations for potential community partnerships and social media campaigns. For example, one group proposed a partnership with a local candle shop to provide discounts to ticket holders for the orchestra’s Candlelight Christmas Concert.

The orchestra included a from one of the two highest-scoring teams in their holiday campaign. In it, students appeared at local Syracuse venues like the Clinton Square Ice Rink to promote the orchestra’s Viennese New Year concert. The orchestra also hopes to use a student-created visual from the other top-scoring team for a future campaign.

A Grand Finale

Syracuse Orchestra’s Patron Services Manager Brian Pope and Director of Marketing and Communications James Mehran judge judged the presentations. “The presentations were thoughtful, creative, and well researched,” says Mehran. In addition to using student-made marketing materials, Mehran said the orchestra has since hired one of the students in the class as an intern for the spring 2026 semester.

For Feng, the Go Local project was a full-circle moment, bringing together her own appreciation for the Syracuse Orchestra with a learning experience for students in her class.

“For these students, seeing their work transition from a classroom assignment to actual marketing materials represents a significant milestone,” Feng says. “Their campaigns will reach real audiences and contribute to filling those concert seats that first inspired this partnership.”

The University’s (CCE) is ramping up this spring with new content creation initiatives, the introduction of a new academic minor and outreach events across the country, including a vibrant gathering in New York City that featured influential alumni in this dynamic space.

More than 80 people stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the Lubin House in New York as University leaders and students connected with alumni to preview what’s ahead for the center, which launched in the fall. Syracuse is the first university in the country to build a center dedicated to the growing creator economy.

Featured guests at the Jan. 22 event included Carly Shapiro ’18, co-founder of the media brand SisterSnacking and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Roger Moore ’24, a director, visual effects artist and video editor with more than 1.2 million followers on TikTok.

They took part in a panel discussion that touched on topics like how they’ve navigated their careers as creators and entrepreneurs and how the CCE addresses prospective students’ evolving career interests. They are two of dozens of recent Syracuse graduates and current students already active in the creator economy space.

“There’s so many people—and I wish I started [creating] earlier, because you don’t realize how much of a community there is in Syracuse, how many other creators that are there that want to create,” said Moore, who goes by “Metronade” on social media. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in cinematography and film/video production from the .

Building a Hub for Creator-Driven Careers

Powered by podcasters, streamers, influencers and other creatives, the creator economy is reshaping how ideas, products and services are marketed and monetized. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Substack have emerged as engines of commerce and platforms for communication.

The Center for the Creator Economy is co-led by the and the . The initiative positions the University at the forefront of research, education and thought leadership within the rapidly expanding creator-driven economic landscape.

In January, a physical space opened for the center that serves as a dynamic hub for collaboration, learning and community. When complete, the space will feature flexible resources, including professional lighting and camera equipment, dedicated pods for audio recording and adaptable workspaces.

“If we can bring the excellence that exists in the business school, around entrepreneurship and business development, together with the expertise that resides in Newhouse on the creative side, on the production side, we could do something very, very special,” said , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School, during the panel discussion.

“That really is the differentiating aspect of what it is we’re trying to do here,” Haynie said.

3 New Initiatives; Trustee Support

During the Jan. 22 event, Haynie announced three upcoming initiatives:

• An academic minor on the creator economy, open to students from any school or college, anticipated to debut in fall 2026.
• An “Inside the Creator Economy” video series documenting students’ “micro-internships” and networking experiences with alumni.
• The “Creator Crew,” funded by Syracuse University life trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld ’56, H’25. The Creator Crew will produce content for students and by students that will tell the story of Syracuse University.

The center recently received support from University trustee Nomi Bergman G’24 and her husband, Neal Bergman ’81, who both graduated from Whitman. She said they were inspired to support the center because of how the initiative recognizes how the world of work and influence is changing.

“Syracuse is leaning into a reality students are already living in, where the ability to create content, tell stories and engage communities is not a side skill but a core one,” says Nomi Bergman, president of the Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership.

“By giving students the tools to build audiences, create meaningful content, and think entrepreneurially, the center is helping prepare them not just for their first jobs, but for careers that will evolve alongside technology, culture and society,” she says.

The center also hosted a Feb. 5 event in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the  and Substack, with an event in Los Angeles planned for later this spring.

Shapiro, who majored in television, radio and film at Newhouse, applauded her alma mater for teaching students how to establish a career in the creator economy at the Jan. 22 event. Her advice for aspiring creators?

“It takes consistency,” she said. “Consistency in posting and finding a voice, but then it also takes finding a community online.”

Syracuse University has been ranked No. 1 in New York state among private universities for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs rankings.

The University’s ranked #1 in Best Online Bachelor’s Business Programs of private universities, #4 in Best for Veterans for Online Bachelor’s Programs of private universities and #9 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs of private universities.

“These rankings reflect the excellence of Syracuse University and our commitment to delivering rigorous, market-sensitive and applied programs that prepare learners for real-world success,” says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. “Our career-focused, high-quality, flexible study options empower part-time learners to reach their educational goals.”

These rankings highlight the College of Professional Studies’ mission to expand high-quality education to learners balancing careers, military servic, and family responsibilities. With flexible academic pathways, the University continues to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.

The University’s strong national rankings underscore the excellence of its online degree and certificate programs, which are developed by distinguished faculty to deliver practical, real-world skills. Programs and courses are designed to be immediately applicable to workplace challenges, enabling learners to apply new knowledge directly to their careers.

To learn more about continuing online education, visit .

Students transformed lived experience, empathy and emerging technology into inclusive solutions at the Innovation Showcase, hosted at Bird Library on Dec. 9.

The event marked the culmination of a semester-long interdisciplinary design course offered through the  School of Education’s Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education-, the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ and .

Open to undergraduate and graduate students across campus, including students with intellectual disability, the Intelligence++ program brings together teams to co-design products solutions to challenges that people with disabilities face in daily life.

The initiative, funded by the , encourages teams to learn universal design principles, conduct deep user research, learn the basic principles of entrepreneurship and deliver functional prototypes and pitch presentations by semester’s end.

Four student teams received enthusiastic feedback from judges across business, accessibility and technology sectors.

Detecting Dairy Allergens: Zero React

The first team, Zero React, asked: What if people with dairy allergies could eat without fear? Inspired by personal family experiences, the six-person team created a portable strip that detects dairy proteins, especially milk and casein, in everyday foods. Like a rapid test, users apply a food sample and get clear results in under a minute.

The students used 3D modeling and tools to build the prototype and developed branding, instructions and a go-to-market strategy. Extensive interviews, ranging from caregivers to allergists, identified their primary customer as parents of children with severe allergies, who constantly navigate hidden ingredients and unclear labels.

Zero React proposed multiple sales channels, including pharmacies and allergist offices, and emphasized fully accessible instructions and displays. Judges noted strong product-market fit and encouraged the team to move toward regulatory testing and commercialization.

Making Meal Planning Inclusive: Accessible Appetite

Accessible Appetite addressed a universal frustration: deciding what to eat. For neurodivergent individuals, the mental load of planning meals, managing nutrition and staying on budget can be exhausting.

Their application combines three tasks typically siloed in other apps, including recipes, grocery lists and nutrition, in one clean, accessible interface. Key features include:

• Smart Plate Builder for visual portioning
• Smart Substitutions tailored to sensory preferences
• Allergy Filters that automatically replace trigger foods
• Machine-Learning Suggestions personalized over time

A built-in chatbot provides step-by-step support. Judges noted the tool’s broad appeal and praised the inclusive design that could ease stress for many households.

Navigating Grocery Stores With Calm: Ease Cart

One the premise that bright lights, noise and crowded aisles can make grocery shopping overwhelming, Ease Cart set out to create a calmer experience.

Interviews revealed that sensory overload leads many students to avoid stores or rely solely on delivery. The two-person team developed a soothing navigation app that reduces time in high-stimulation environments. Lavender tones reinforce calming intent and features include:

• Minimal-distraction visual modes
• Audio read-aloud assistance
• Budget tracking and receipt organization
• Quick list templates for routine shopping

Judges applauded the team’s focus on a real barrier that can limit independence and noted that the design could benefit nearly anyone seeking a quicker, lower-stress trip to the store.

Phones for Emergencies Only: Every Second Counts

With more K–12 schools, now including those in New York state, banning student phones during the day to reduce distraction, a safety concern has emerged, What happens when a student needs immediate help?

Every Second Counts designed a solution that keeps students off their phones while preserving emergency access. Their VPN-based “emergency-only mode” automatically activates on school Wi-Fi, replacing apps with a single button to call for help.

The team consulted teachers, administrators, parents and students to understand implementation and concerns. The University’s Senior Vice President for Digital Transformation and Chief Digital Officer Jeff Rubin advised on technical feasibility. Judges encouraged the team to continue development as policies evolve.

A Program Designed for Impact

Throughout the showcase, judges emphasized how advanced the work felt, less like class projects and more like early-stage startups. That outcome reflects the program’s purpose, said Gianfranco Zaccai ’70, H’09, who founded and funded Intelligence++.

“That is exactly the vision of Intelligence++,” says Zaccai. “It is designed to empower students to design together, while exploring entrepreneurship as a tool for inclusion. The program invites students from engineering, design, business, communications, and the arts to collaborate, as it partners with stakeholders and community organizations to ensure that lived experience leads the process. Students learn how rigorous discovery leads to better products and how accessible design helps everyone.”

Attendees left impressed by the students’ creativity and professionalism. “These could be real companies solving real problems,” one attendee remarked. For students, and for the thousands of people who could benefit from their ideas, this showcase is just the beginning.

Story by Linda Dickerson Hartsock

Kivanc Avrenli, professor of practice in finance in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, has been named one of , a distinction recognizing exceptional teaching, mentorship and impact on students.

The honor is based on Poets&Quants’ comprehensive evaluation of nominations from schools worldwide. Professors are scored on both research (30%) and teaching (70%), with reviewers considering scholarly influence, media visibility, teaching awards, innovations in the classroom and the depth of student impact.

A Transformative Teacher

Avrenli was nominated by David Weinbaum, chair of the school’s Department of Finance, who highlighted the extraordinary reach and quality of Avrenli’s teaching. “Between Fall 2021 and Fall 2025, Dr. Avrenli has taught 65 in-person, 3-credit courses, reaching approximately 2,700 students,” Weinbaum wrote. “He consistently earns near-perfect ratings from students, and he is the highest-rated professor at Syracuse University on Rate My Professor.”

Poets&Quants noted this quote from a student evaluation, “Dr. Avrenli is hands-down the best professor I’ve had. He walks into class with a contagious smile, turns stats into something you actually look forward to, and makes you feel like you can tackle anything. He’s the gold standard for what a professor should be—clear, hilarious and always in your corner.”

When asked what sets him apart as an educator, Avrenli joked: “My energy level, which is the human equivalent of a quad-shot espresso, and the lively animated visuals I deploy to demystify complex concepts.”

A Record of Excellence

At Whitman, Avrenli teaches managerial statistics and specializes in applied statistical methods, probability theory, statistical modeling and experimental design. He received the Faculty of the Year Award in both 2021 and 2022, was named Undergraduate Faculty of the Year in 2020 and has been selected six times as Best Faculty and Class Marshal by U.S. Army students in Syracuse’s Defense Comptrollership Program. He has received the universitywide Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award, the Whitman School Teaching Fellow Award and a Faculty Recognition Award from the Office of Disability Services.

Before joining Whitman, he taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he was named to the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students seven consecutive times and received the Alumni Award in Teaching Excellence.

Academic and Industry Impact

Avrenli holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Bogaziçi University in Istanbul—formerly Robert College, the first American college established outside the United States. He later completed a second M.S. in statistics and a Ph.D. in civil engineering with a specialization in commercial aviation safety at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. His expertise in commercial aviation safety and statistical modeling has made him a frequent media commentator in outlets including Newsweek, Law360 and The Washington Post.

Well-Deserved Global Recognition

Poets&Quants received more than 1,200 nominations representing nearly 200 individual professors from more than 60 of the best undergraduate business programs worldwide. The recognition spotlights educators who shape the next generation of business leaders through extraordinary dedication and impact.

When asked what he is most grateful for, Avrenli says “my students, my colleagues and any student who watches my lecture and homework solution videos before asking me the question the video already answers.  Also, the cloudy, cold and snowy Syracuse winters.”

To read Avrenli’s full profile and interview, visit