Sam Kurland ’26 spent more than five years in and out of hospitals to treat chronic brain inflammation when she was 10 years old. Kurland’s doctors eventually diagnosed her with autoimmune encephalopathy, caused by an infection.

The PET scan that displayed widespread inflammation in her brain became the inspiration for Kurland’s business venture: a line of high-end fashion garments featuring blown-up imagery of brain scans, cancer cell slides and histology printed onto clothing and accessories.

“I want to turn something scary into something beautiful,” says Kurland, who earned a graphic design major from the and a minor in fashion design from the . “You wouldn’t even know you were looking at medical imagery when you’re looking at the pieces.”

Kurland arrived at the without a business plan, a legal entity or a clear sense of what came next.

On her first visit, Sarah Schreiber ’26 sat down and produced a document highlighting Kurland’s business goals—including her dream of one day dressing celebrities for the Met Gala—that served as the foundation for a business plan.

“She got the ideas in my head and turned them into something concrete,” Kurland says. “That was the moment when I thought, okay, I can actually do this. We’re all going through this totally new experience of starting our businesses together.”

Turning a Concept Into a Product

Kurland hopes to launch her clothing line—featuring dresses, blouses, handbags, ties and pocket squares—for presale by the end of the month.

A scan of Kurland’s brain tumor adorns the front of a tank top, while imagery of her sister’s rare thoracic injury inspired another of Kurland’s fashion pieces.

Twenty percent of proceeds will go directly to the specific medical research initiatives depicted in each piece. Kurland has been in contact with medical research facilities to secure additional imaging.

“What we wear matters. I’m trying to bring meaning back to clothing. There is emotional resonance and value that goes beyond something looking cute,” Kurland says.

Kurland plans to launch on Coveted, a mobile fashion marketplace founded by fellow LaunchPad member Naheem Cadiz III ’28.

That kind of peer-driven support defines the LaunchPad experience for many student entrepreneurs.

Finding His Place, Then Paying It Forward

Shahaan Khan had just started working at the LaunchPad when he overheard a student entrepreneur, Haley Greene, discussing the difficulty of finding a reliable backend developer for her mental health app, Miirror.

Khan, who is pursuing a master’s degree in applied human-centered AI from the , helped Greene better understand behavioral patterns of Miirror’s app users, including how and where users were engaging with the platform. Just as important, Khan showed where users were abandoning the app.

Last semester, Khan held weekly AI office hours at the LaunchPad for students seeking guidance on AI tools to advance their ideas.

“When I’m in the LaunchPad, I just think of it as all my friends,” Khan says. “It’s a warm environment, an open-concept space where everybody cares about helping solve the problems we’re all working on.”

Competitors Who Coach Each Other

After Kurland and Greene competed for Hult Prize funding, Greene approached Kurland with a suggestion for improving her pitch.

As she listened to Kurland’s pitch, Greene noticed that Kurland’s personal story—her years spent in the hospital and the medical journey that inspired the brand—wasn’t featured prominently enough in the presentation. Greene pulled up Kurland’s slide deck and started rearranging it.

“Haley said, ‘Your story is your product,’” Kurland says. “‘That’s so much more powerful.’ And she’s right. It’s not like anyone can just make this. It’s because of my passion for helping fund medical research that makes it what it is.”

Kurland incorporated the feedback, restructuring her pitch deck to lead with the more personal narrative rather than the product itself.

“That’s just the kind of supportive environment we have among entrepreneurs on campus,” Kurland says. “Students don’t view each other as competitors. Everyone is willing to offer advice and feedback to help you improve your idea.”

Learning Together, Growing Together

When entrepreneur Jacob Kaplan ’27 expressed interest in wearing one of Kurland’s pieces at a LaunchPad pitch event, she decided to branch out into menswear.

“I almost turned a blind eye to that possibility, but thankfully, I was able to connect with the right people who opened my eyes to a whole new audience,” Kurland says.

For Kurland and countless student entrepreneurs, the LaunchPad doesn’t simply offer access to resources; it provides a community where students can bounce ideas off each other.

“I don’t have a team,” Kurland says. “But it feels like I’m not doing it alone. If I’m stressed or I don’t know what the next move is, I can go, and there are people there who are willing to help. That collaborative space is truly special.”

University researchers with groundbreaking ideas in semiconductors, microelectronics or advanced materials are invited to apply for an entrepreneurship-focused hybrid course offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program through Syracuse University this fall. The virtual course, which runs through September and October, includes an opportunity for an in-person immersion experience at SEMICON West, North America’s premier microelectronics conference, in San Francisco in October.

Interested working individual researchers and innovators .

The course provides hands-on entrepreneurship training and one-on-one coaching tailored to researchers working in far-reaching sectors that are critical to the next generation of semiconductor innovation. Successful applicants will be researchers working on solutions to enhance the performance and efficiency of electronic devices with applications to semiconductors across industries including big chip fabrication projects, consumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, artificial intelligence hardware and high-power materials.

Applications might range from 3D integrated circuits, system-on-chip integration and computing chips for tasks like pattern recognition, learning and sensory processing. Big data and machine learning innovations are also of interest, as well as conventional semiconductor design and manufacturing applications. The course benefits anyone interested in being part of the research, design, commercialization and supply chain associated with these industries.

Offered jointly by Syracuse University and Cornell University as part of the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), this NSF-sponsored course is open to faculty, postdocs, Ph.D. and master’s students, undergraduates and community-based startups working on semiconductor-related technologies with commercial potential.

Syracuse’s NSF I-Corps program is a partnership between and . The Syracuse Center of Excellence () serves as tech scout for the program.

The course opens for pre-course work on Monday, Sept. 21, and will follow this schedule:

Virtual:

Session 1: Monday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon

Session 2a: Wednesday, Sept. 30 (individual mentoring sessions)

Session 2b: Friday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon

Session 3: Wednesday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon

Session 4: Wednesday, Oct. 7 (individual mentoring sessions)

In-person at SEMICON West in San Francisco:����

Tuesday, Oct. 13, through Thursday, Oct. 15

Virtual wrap-up:

Session 6: Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon

Teams selected to participate may receive up to $5,000 in travel reimbursement, enabling participants to conduct in-person customer discovery interviews and attend specialized workshops during SEMICON West. Participation in this conference provides unmatched exposure to global industry leaders, cutting-edge technologies and potential collaborators or customers. Conference attendees include executives, engineers, startups and policy leaders shaping the future of chips.

Participants who complete regional courses may be eligible to receive lineage and a letter of recommendation for the�� which includes a $50K grant).��Learn more about courses here: and .

For questions about this SEMICON course, contact Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor for strategic initiatives for Syracuse University Libraries, at ldhart01@syr.edu

Two students whose ventures focus on accessible design and student well-being have been awarded Spring 2026 Intelligence++ Venture Grants through Syracuse University’s initiative, administered through .

The competitive funding program supports student innovators developing products, services and creative ventures that improve accessibility and quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergent communities.

This year’s recipients are Rudransh Rajput ’28 () and Cassia Soodak ’26 (). Both ventures emerged from the interdisciplinary Intelligence++ program, which combines accessible entrepreneurship, disability-centered design and innovation.

Rajput earned funding to advance development of RUDY AI, an AI-powered platform designed to help neurodivergent and socially vulnerable students build meaningful social connections and improve campus belonging.

A student in the and an 1870 Scholar, Rajput developed the idea after observing the growing problem of student isolation and disengagement on college campuses. The platform focuses on students who may struggle to navigate traditional social environments, including students with ADHD, autism, anxiety and related challenges.

“This grant means we can move from scrappy mode to building a prototype for discovery and validation,” Rajput says. “We know the problem is real because we’ve seen it firsthand on campus. This gives us the runway to get in front of more universities, refine the product with real student feedback and prove that you can measurably move the needle on retention and loneliness at the same time.”

Rajput will work closely with the Intelligence++ program and during the fall semester, focusing on user-centered product development and testing.

The second grant recipient, Soodak, is building a venture at the intersection of adaptive fashion, disability studies and nightlife culture. Her company, Ms. Spellled, creates sensory-friendly ravewear and club clothing designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals. The garments feature tactile and fidget-friendly elements intended to support sensory regulation while maintaining bold, expressive aesthetics.

Soodak, who previously served as an InclusiveU peer mentor and event planner, says the venture was inspired by her own experiences with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and sensory processing differences.

“Neurodivergent people shape rave culture, yet remain largely invisible within it,” Soodak says. “Ms. Spellled aims to redefine adaptive design as expressive, culturally relevant and empowering.”

The venture combines adaptive design with alternative fashion aesthetics through upcycled garments, tactile fabric manipulations, custom graphics and handmade pieces.

Soodak has already tested prototypes with neurodivergent users and models in both fashion-show and real-world rave settings, receiving strong feedback on both the sensory functionality and visual appeal of the designs. “With this funding, I will be able to transition Ms. Spellled from a thesis-based project into an actively developing fashion brand and business,” Soodak says.

She plans to use the grant to produce an initial collection of sensory-friendly garments, expand prototype testing and launch the brand through pop-up events and independent retail partnerships in New York City.

Soodak is a graduate of the Intelligence++ program and previously won a top student prize at the annual Intelligence++ Innovation Showcase, where student inventions are evaluated by industry experts and educators. Her work has also earned recognition within the University’s fashion program, including selection for a New York City design showcase and the Joan Rysitzky Prize for Excellence in Surface Design.

Her senior thesis collection, “DanceFloor Freaks,” explored Brooklyn techno clubs as safe spaces for neurodivergent and queer communities and became the creative foundation for Ms. Spellled. She has also participated in adaptive fashion networking events and developed relationships with organizations including Runway of Dreams and ARISE.

Edouard Agbor has spent years building a solution to a problem he knows intimately.

Growing up in Cameroon, he watched talented students lose access to life-changing educational opportunities—not because they weren’t qualified, but because the system designed to help them was broken, expensive and often predatory.

A first-generation student, Agbor’s parents did not attend university. He was unprepared to navigate a complex education system alone and, like so many promising students, fell victim to scam.

“I lost over $800,” says Agbor. “That money took me over a year and a half to save.”

Inspired by his experience, Agbor, a graduate student in applied human-centered AI in the , founded , an AI platform that connects African students with verified academic and funding opportunities across the continent and the world.

“I started building the system for two reasons: so that nobody would have to be in my shoes, and to collect information that will permit the continent to get ahead,” says Agbor. “Instead of just mapping to academic excellence, what about the talents that these people have? Can it open the door? We increase their chances of getting a scholarship, fellowship and getting access to those funds without being scammed.”

A Platform Built on Personal Experience

GritGateway’s matching engine uses a psychometric model called GritScore that measures resilience, resourcefulness and experience rather than GPA alone. The platform hasn’t formally launched or spent any marketing dollars and has already attracted 1,000 student users across more than 25 African countries.

Agbor is confident the technology works because he used it to advance his own education. It was the GritGateway tool that suggested Syracuse University would be a good fit for him, given his interests in AI and entrepreneurship and such resources as the at . He’s been a regular at the LaunchPad since he arrived on campus in January. That’s where he connected with teammate Souleymane Bah ’26, a then-senior in the . Bah believed in his venture and helped him share, pitch and grow the idea, freeing Agbor to continue to develop and test features.

“I’ve been so impressed with how this team has refined their business development plan, but even more impressed with the tremendous amount of work they’ve put into the service and how they’ve leveraged AI tools,” says Traci Geisler, director of the LaunchPad. “This venture has identified and addressed not only a gap in service but a true need. The interest in this product has been amazing and just continues to grow.”

Putting It to the Test

Agbor and Bah are not the only ones who believe in this idea. The team won several entrepreneurship competitions this past spring, including the Lerner Center Social Impact Pitch Competition, where GritGateway took home the top prize of $5,000.

The competition, now in its second year, is hosted by the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health in partnership with the LaunchPad. This year’s theme—Building Healthier Communities Through Innovation—drew 12 undergraduate teams from eight of the University’s schools and colleges, competing in a two-round format evaluated on problem-solving, viability, research and development, and social impact.

Other winners of the Lerner competition include rising senior Ava Ray Lubkemann ֶ’27, an environmental engineering student, in second place. Lubkemann won $3,000 for a mobile thrift model built around a converted bus that collects donated clothing and redistributes it to underserved communities.

Taking home third place and $1,000 was Haley Greene ’26, who graduated in May with a degree in advertising and applied communication from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, for a digital platform called Miirror that reimagines eating disorder recovery.

Vicente Cuevas, the Lerner Center’s undergraduate student engagement manager, says this year’s competition showcased exactly the kind of thinking it was designed to encourage. He says, “This competition is an opportunity for students to move from idea to action, and to see themselves as changemakers capable of building healthier communities through innovation.”

What Comes Next

All three teams are reinvesting their prize money in their ventures to support continued growth. Agbor and Bah plan to bring GritGateway to scale through new partnerships, while Bah will remain at Syracuse to pursue an M.P.A. at the Maxwell School.

Later this month, the system will launch a dedicated environment for African universities, high schools and nongovernmental organizations to support their students on the platform. Agbor projects 10,000 users by September, and plans are in development to open access to U.S. universities interested in recruiting African talent.

When arrived at Syracuse University’s in the fall of 2006 as an assistant professor, he had recently transitioned out of the Air Force as an officer after 14 years of service. He arrived in Syracuse with no particular intention of staying more than a few years. “My brain was sort of wired,” he told students at a recent fireside chat to celebrate Whitman Day. “I was used to staying in a place for a couple years.”

Nearly two decades later, on March 3, 2026, the Syracuse University Board of Trustees appointed him the institution’s 13th chancellor and president. The arc from his arrival to the University’s highest office is a story of scholarship put to use and of research that charted a new course.

The Scholar Behind the Work

Haynie completed a doctoral degree in entrepreneurship and business strategy at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His scholarship has been published in the world’s leading business and entrepreneurship journals, and his body of work has now been cited approximately 9,000 times.

That number places him, as Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie said as he introduced Haynie at the fireside chat, “among the most influential entrepreneurship scholars in the world.” At Syracuse, he was recognized for his work by earning the Barnes Professorship and, in 2018, was named University Professor, the University’s highest faculty distinction.

“What makes Mike’s scholarly record so remarkable is not just the volume or the impact—it’s the context,” says McKelvie. “He has 21 journal publications with more than 100 citations each, including five with more than 500 citations each, while simultaneously building programs, leading institutions and taking on the University’s most pressing challenges. Most scholars of his caliber are doing research full time. Mike was doing it as a fraction of his job. That is what separates him.”

Much of Haynie’s work focused on entrepreneurial cognition: how successful founders think, decide and act under uncertainty. His findings pointed repeatedly toward military veterans—a population largely absent from entrepreneurship discourse, yet shaped by training that produces exactly the traits research links to high-performing entrepreneurs: quick consequential decisions, leadership under pressure and persistence through unpredictable environments. What was missing was a program to help them translate those skills into building a business.

An Entrepreneurship Program for Veterans

About six months into his Whitman appointment, Haynie hit upon what a program could look like. His idea was to bring seriously wounded post-9/11 veterans to campus and help them become small business owners. “Here I am, an entrepreneurship professor,” he said. “I’m a veteran myself. It’s something I could do.”

He proposed the program to then-Whitman Dean Melvin Stith, a Vietnam veteran, and set one condition that the program would be free. Stith’s response: “Sure. Go raise the money.”

Haynie had never raised money before. Two months before the first program was set to launch, he had raised roughly $20,000 of the $120,000 he needed. It was at that time that he first met Martin J. Whitman, a University benefactor and the school’s namesake.

Whitman, a World War II veteran, wrote a check and covered the gap. “He made a point to me that has stuck with me now for 20 years,” Haynie said, “that this is an institution that gives people a chance when others would not.”

That first program, launched in 2007, became the : a three-phase curriculum combining 30 days of online business instruction, a nine-day residential at Whitman, and a year of mentorship.

More than 2,400 veterans have now graduated from EBV. Approximately 79% have started or continued to grow their own businesses, and 92% of those businesses remain in operation. The program expanded into a national consortium headquartered at Syracuse.

Inc. magazine named EBV one of the country’s 10 best entrepreneurship programs in 2011, the Department of the Army recognized it as a national best practice and in May 2013 CBS News’ “60 Minutes” spent nearly a month on campus following the work.

From Program to Institute

As EBV’s profile grew, letters from World War II veterans led Haynie to Syracuse’s own history. GIs who accepted Chancellor William Pearson Tolley’s 1944 open invitation had transformed the school from a 4,100-student regional college into a research university of nearly 18,000. Fast forward decades later, Haynie saw that no center in American higher education was systematically studying veterans’ and military families’ concerns.

�մǻ岹��’s is a national hub offering career, entrepreneurship and transition programs alongside research, policy analysis and community partnerships for service members, veterans and their families.

With initial funding he secured from JPMorgan Chase, the IVMF became the nation’s first interdisciplinary academic institute chartered to advance the policy, economic and wellness concerns of America’s veterans and military-connected families. Through partnerships with corporations, government agencies and nonprofits, it built new pathways for veterans transitioning to civilian life. More than 230,000 service members, veterans and military family members have participated in its programs.

Haynie served as the University’s vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation for more than a decade. He went on to chair the U.S. Secretary of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, Training and Employer Outreach and to help lead long-term reform at Veterans Affairs. Time magazine named him one of 16 individuals working toward a more equal America in 2020, the same year he led the University’s COVID-19 response, which earned him the 2021 Chancellor’s Medal.

A Scholar and Teacher at Heart

Twenty years after he first arrived on campus, Haynie’s dedication to the Whitman School remains as strong as ever. In 2023, he was named the school’s executive dean. In that role, he provided strategic direction for Whitman’s Transformation 2030 plan, under which the school has risen in national rankings, strengthened its research profile and expanded experiential learning opportunities. Under his leadership, Whitman recently launched the in partnership with the .

“I’ve had the rare opportunity to see Mike Haynie in action across nearly every layer of the University’s innovation ecosystem. What stands out is how deeply personal his commitment to entrepreneurship really is. Mike doesn’t just lead programs. He lives the work,” says Linda Dickerson Hartsock, founder and retired executive director of the University’s Blackstone Launchpad. “He understands the creative energy of startup ventures because he embodies those qualities himself.”

Hartsock says Haynie’s connection to students really defines him. “As a mentor, he has been instrumental to some of our most promising student and alumni startups,” she says. “He has a way of pushing founders to think bigger while grounding them in disciplined execution.”

A Chancellor Formed by His Work

Haynie’s appointment as Syracuse’s 13th chancellor was the natural extension of what his scholarship had always done: identify a problem, build something real in response and grow it.

At the fireside chat, Haynie was asked what excites him most about what lies ahead for the University. His answer was characteristically direct: the same conditions that challenge higher education—declining enrollment, eroding public trust and the disruption brought by AI—are also the conditions that create the most opportunity for institutions willing to respond with speed and imagination.

“If we do that well and do that quickly,” he said, “we can thrive relative to our peers.”

Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad hosted an inaugural Athletes for Data Sovereignty (A4DS) Summit and Pitch Competition, in partnership with UMiEconomy through its Charitable Foundation, , on April 24. The pitch competition was open to student-athletes, student-athlete alumni and student entrepreneurs with sports-related ideas. Winners of the pitch competition were:

• Gabriel Josefson ’28 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of XCHKR, won the grand prize of $2,000.
• Zach Richter ’26 (College of Arts and Sciences) and Taran Singh ’26 (Whitman School), founders of Wavelength, tied for second place, winning $750.
• Edouard Agbor G’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of GritGateway, also won $750 for second place.
• Marissa Johnson ’26 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications), founder of Gymify, won $250.
• Dylan McKinley ’26 (Newhouse School), founder of DylanDoesBasketball, won a Tier 1 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Jase Malloy ’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of ErgoCraft, won a Tier 2 Marketing Package from UMiEconomy.
• Ethan Barone ’26 (Whitman School), founder of CaneCLamp, won a Tier 1 Intellectual Property Legal Package
• Jonathan “Jack” Wren ’26 (Whitman School) and John “Trey ” Adams III ’26 (Whitman School), founders of Happy Duck, won a Tier 2 Intellectual Property Legal Package

In addition to the pitch competition, the summit included interactive games and workshops around the importance of data in industries such as sports, healthcare, media and finance, and how startups can build long-term value beyond short-term deals.

Three Syracuse University Libraries’ LaunchPad student start-up teams won prizes in the finals of the ,��powered by Upstate Capital Association of NY, held in Albany on April 22.

Celes Buffard ’27 (School of Information Studies), founder of SecondWave, won the $10,000 first prize in the learn, work and live category. SecondWave combines financial literacy education with fractional real estate investing, starting with fix-and-flip properties and community development.

Nathan Brekke ’26 (College of Engineering and Computer Science), co-founder of Phloat LLC, won the $2,000 second prize in the products and hardware category. Phloat is a phone case that has an ultra-compact, deployable flotation feature that triggers in the event of a phone falling and sinking into deep water.

Frederick Zindell G’27 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Renewed Roots, won a $500 best concept stage award in the health and wellbeing category. Renewed Roots is a sustainable alternative to traditional burial options.

The NYBPC attracts some of New York state’s best student entrepreneurs. The competition promotes entrepreneurial opportunities for college students from across the state who pitch their business plans to seasoned investors. Students also get to engage with mentors and judges from the business community.

The finals event connects students with business professionals, provides experiential learning opportunities through competitions, introduces entrepreneurs to available resources through the Entrepreneurship Expo and awards up to $100,000 in cash prizes to help seed new ventures.

This year 60 finalist teams from across the state participated in the competition.

Syracuse University is launching a minor in the creator economy, the first academic offering from its trailblazing Center for the Creator Economy, providing a new path for students to build careers in content creation, digital entrepreneurship and the fast-growing ecosystem reshaping how ideas, audiences and businesses are built online .

Slated to begin in fall 2026, the minor highlights the University’s commitment to prepare students for dynamic opportunities in an expanding sector of the economy, where creative entrepreneurs can produce and monetize content across digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Substack.

While a handful of institutions have introduced content creation programs, the Syracuse University minor��is distinguished by��the��integration of courses offered by��the��renowned S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the top-ranked Martin J. Whitman School of Management, which co-lead the Center for the Creator Economy.

The minor also includes electives offered by other schools and colleges, including a Name, Image and Likeness class offered by the David B. Falk College of Sport and Music Industry Marketing and Media class offered by�� the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“The creator economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and Syracuse University is uniquely positioned to prepare students to lead in it. This minor brings together two of the country’s premier schools in communications and business to give students the skills, strategy and confidence to build something that lasts,” says Acting Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. “That is exactly the kind of bold, interdisciplinary thinking that defines what we do here.”

The curriculum for the minor��includes��three��required courses:

• Introduction to the Creator Economy: A Newhouse class that surveys media industries and platforms with an emphasis on the intersection of creators with topics including brands, entertainment, sports, gaming, news and music.
• Business Toolkit for Creators: A Whitman course that focuses on the business tools needed for creation, including monetization, developing strategic partnerships and customer acquisition.
• Entrepreneurship: Students can choose one of two hands-on entrepreneurship courses where students work on their own creator startup: Launchpad (at Whitman) or New Media Venture Launch (at Newhouse).

Students can then choose��three��courses��from a menu of electives that meet their career goals, spanning topics including entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, electronic retailing and marketing, social media for communicators and sports content for social platforms.

The��debut of the��minor punctuates a productive first year for the Center for the Creator Economy,��which also opened its physical home at the Newhouse School this spring.��The space��features��areas��for collaboration, programming and��video and podcast production.

Programs and academic offerings from the center are available to students from all schools and colleges at Syracuse University, and the��minor’s��interdisciplinary design reflects the scope of the��creator��economy itself. According to Goldman Sachs Research,��67 million people��globally work as full- or part-time creators, and the sector could be worth��nearly��$500 billion��by 2027.

“What excites me most about the Center for the Creator Economy and this new minor is that they reflect a deeper commitment from Syracuse University: We’re preparing students for where the economy is going, not where it has been,” Haynie says. “As the center grows and its physical home at Newhouse comes to life, I believe SU will become the destination for students who want to turn their creativity into a career.”

The Center for the Creator Economy launched��in November��2025��with��a kickoff celebration at the Whitman School in Syracuse, followed by events during the��spring��semester in New York City,��Washington, D.C.��and Los Angeles.

Through leadership, academics and an unwavering commitment to the Orange community, annually two students earn one of the most distinguished honors of a Syracuse University undergraduate career, being named the Senior Class Marshals. For the Class of 2027, the Student Experience division is proud to announce William Lewandowski ’27and Alyssa Limjuco ’27 as the rising Senior Class Marshals.

Together they will guide their graduating class during Commencement, play a role in recommending the Commencement speaker and engage directly with senior University administrators to discuss student experiences and perspectives. Among other responsibilities, Lewandowski and Limjuco will represent their class at Universitywide events and build connections with alumni.

“From integrity, heart and academics, to a genuine passion for community, William and Alyssa embody everything we hope to cultivate in our students. As Class of 2027 Senior Class Marshals, they have earned this honor not just through achievement but through both big and small intentional daily actions that have culminated into what it means to truly have Orange pride,” says , associate vice president for the Student Experience division, dean of students and chair of the selection committee.

William Lewandowski

Originally from Lockport, New York, Lewandowski is preparing to enter his final year at Syracuse University more than 60 years after his grandfather, Dr. James Olson ’60, had his own student experience. Despite the distance, he says he has always found a piece of home within the Orange community.

Sharing an alma mater not only deepened Lewandowski’s bond with his grandfather but illuminated shared lifestyle philosophies that have ultimately built a foundation for being a Senior Class Marshal.

“Every time I would go back home from Syracuse University, I would talk to him and he loved hearing all my stories and what I was doing on campus,” says Lewandowski. “As a dentist for 50 years, he impacted so many people with his quality of care but also with his humility and willingness to accept payment in the form of homemade cookies or plants for his garden. He didn’t care who you were, he just wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of others. He taught me that true joy in life comes from people. It’s the people at this University that make it so great. I learned that very early on as a first-year student within the Whitman Living Learning Community.”

A Whitman Leadership Scholar and member of the dean’s list, Lewandowski is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises in the . He has worked as a peer mentor and lead ambassador, showcasing the Whitman student experience for prospective and admitted students.

Throughout his undergraduate career his pursuit of experiential learning has propelled him into countless opportunities offered by Syracuse University. Weaving together hands on experience in venture capital, consulting, content marketing and private equity, Lewandowski’s internships have spanned Triangle Insights Group, 5Point Venture Partners and Blue Star Innovation Partners.

Helping student entrepreneurs and working to spark student interest in entrepreneurship, Lewandowski has spent much of his time immersed in the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additional highlights include his participation in the , where he has served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and as an Entrepreneurship Fellow. Expanding into content creation, he has been published in Poets&Quants, “,” and Ecology Prime, “.”

“Syracuse University gave me a platform to be who I want to be,” says Lewandowski. During his undergraduate career Lewandowski has showcased where his academic rigor meets real-world impact. He has worked to help launch the new and has further harnessed his entrepreneurial spirit by starting two businesses. Clique Sports is a digital platform focusing on connecting college athletes with professional athletes regarding guidance and mentorship, and WM Media is focused on adding DJ and photography services to local events.

“To me, being Orange is about the people—making an impact on the lives of others to help them achieve their goals,” says Lewandowski. “Syracuse University is a place where new ideas are encouraged and innovation is supported. There are big changes approaching the University and as the Class of 2027 we can become agents of change and leave our mark, which is quite a special opportunity.”

Alyssa Limjuco

Alyssa Limjuco may have joined the Orange community from Silver Spring, Maryland, but she grew up in a military family, which meant moving between different places and school systems. These experiences quickly taught her how to adapt and understand different spaces and people, a skillset rooted in community building and empathy, that she has strengthened throughout each of her undergraduate experiences.

“I try to lead with empathy, stay open-minded and be someone who helps bridge gaps between groups,” says Limjuco. “Being selected as a Senior Class Marshal felt like recognition of a lifelong learning process. Not just the end result of my undergraduate experience but each time it has taken and will take, to get comfortable, to find my voice and to become someone who contributes meaningfully across different spaces while also fostering connections.”

As a student in the (VPA) and the , Limjuco is a dual major in film and sociology. Her dedication to academic excellence is quickly realized through multiple scholarships alongside membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, being a Renée Crown University Honors Scholar and never missing a dean’s list placement.

As an Honors Academic Enhancement Awards recipient, studying abroad in Bologna, Italy, become possible. During this time she immersed herself in experiential learning weaving together classes that explored film history, visual strategy and preproduction planning, alongside Cinema Ritrovato, the world’s leading festival of restored cinema. Professional development highlights also include serving as the communications manager for the OrangeReels Film Festival and producing viral digital content as the Project FreeFall video editor.

“What Syracuse University gave me was permission to explore fully and commit deeply. Receiving honors and merit-based scholarships, including support to study abroad, affirmed that interdisciplinary work was not only possible here but valued,” says Limjuco.

Limjuco’s involvement spans widely as an active member of communities both on and off campus. On campus she has helped to connect veterans and military families with relevant support programs through the , she serves as the National Panhellenic Conference vice president of communications, as an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, a VPA peer coach, a Shaw Center STEM literacy tutor, OTTOthon team captain and as president of the Boxing Club. Globally, she amplifies the mission of Habitat for Humanity International, as video production and editing intern and as a volunteer for Habitat’s Women Build, a program that builds stronger and safer communities.

“The legacy I hope to leave is one of connection, demonstrating that involvement across disciplines, identities and roles strengthens a campus rather than divides it. I hope to be remembered as someone who embraced the full breadth of Syracuse University, someone who led with intention, while believing and supporting through intentional actions, that the University is at its best when students are encouraged to bring all parts of themselves into the spaces they serve.”

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.

Syracuse University undergraduates are getting their moment to shine this spring, presenting original research and creative work to peers, faculty and the broader campus community across a series of symposia and showcase events running through the end of the semester.

“For a researcher, learning how to effectively present their work is a crucial part of the research process. Whether a student is sharing a completed project with conclusions, or a work-in-progress still in development, the dialogue and conversation with a broader audience is always clarifying,” says Kate Hanson, director of the (SOURCE). “Our undergraduates do incredible research, guided by dedicated faculty mentors, and our campus community is warmly welcomed to engage with and celebrate this work.”

The SOURCE Spring Showcase includes the following:

Thursday, March 26

Lundgren Room, 106 Life Sciences Complex, 4-6 p.m.
The event will feature four “TED-style” student research talks and a presentation of SOURCE and Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) awards.

Friday, March 27

Life Sciences Complex Atrium, 2-4 p.m.
This interdisciplinary event will feature more than 100 students presenting research and creative activity.

The entire campus community is invited to attend the events.

A complete list of programs in March, April and May with event and registration details can be found on (check back for updated information).

Other symposia and research-related events this spring include:

• , Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center
• , Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Life Sciences Complex Atrium
• , Friday, April 3, 9:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 608 Bird Library
• , Friday, April 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Collegian Hotel and Suites, 1060 E. Genesee St.
• , Thursday, April 16, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Nancy Cantor Warehouse, Auditorium, Room 100A
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Complex
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m., 101 Newhouse 1
• , Tuesday, April 28, 3-5 p.m., 220 Eggers Hall
• , Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hall of Languages, multiple locations (complete schedule will be available on the after April 8)

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.

, a program instructor at the and associate professor of entrepreneurship in the , has been named one of eight , providing national recognition for his role helping U.S. service members chart their own path from uniform to business ownership.

From the Korean Marine Corps to the Whitman School Classroom

Park’s path to the classroom began in uniform. He served as an officer in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, where one of his most formative roles was as a liaison officer to the U.S. Marine Corps. “I loved working side-by-side with U.S. Marines, and that experience gave me a lasting respect and affection for the U.S. military community,” Park says. “I feel fortunate that I can continue contributing in a way that supports service members and their families.”

After his military service, Park co-founded a high-tech startup before entering academia, giving him direct experience with both the challenges of transition and the realities of launching a business. “After leaving the military, I went through my own transition into entrepreneurship. It was exciting, but also uncertain, especially because at the time in Korea there wasn’t a robust transition assistance program like the one that exists here,” Park says. “I learned the hard way through trial and error, and I still remember how steep that learning curve can be.”

That experience now shapes how he teaches. Park joined the Whitman School faculty in 2017 and teaches Opportunity Recognition and Ideation, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management. His teaching has earned multiple honors, including recognition by in 2022.

Helping Veterans and Military Spouses Shorten the Learning Curve

“I am passionate about helping service members, veterans and military spouses shorten the trial-and-error cycle, build confidence and move forward with practical tools and a clear roadmap to launch and grow successful ventures,” he says. “Being named SBA’s Boots to Business Instructor of the Year means a great deal to me because it reflects the privilege of supporting participants at a pivotal moment in their lives.”

“What makes David’s contribution to the IVMF, the Whitman School and Boots to Business so impactful is that he has lived the very journey he’s teaching,” says Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation, executive dean of the Whitman School and founder and executive director of the IVMF.

“He served in uniform, navigated his own transition, co-founded a business and then chose to dedicate his career to preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs. For the service members and military spouses sitting in his classroom, that credibility matters,” Haynie says. “David’s recognition by the SBA is well-deserved, and it speaks to the kind of impact that’s possible when world-class teaching and a genuine commitment to the military community come together.”

The recognition comes during a period of momentum for entrepreneurship education at Syracuse. In November 2025, the Princeton Review ranked Whitman’s graduate entrepreneurship programs No. 17 nationally, up seven spots from the previous year. Whitman’s undergraduate business program held at No. 11 in the country.

“Professor David Park’s exceptional work with Syracuse University’s IVMF embodies the spirit of the Boots to Business program by transforming military experience into entrepreneurial success,” says Matt Coleman, SBA Atlantic Region administrator. “His dedication provides our veterans and military families with the vital tools and confidence needed to launch their next chapters after service in uniform.”

Park also credited his program manager, Brigid Purtell, for making everything seamless for instructors, which allows Park to focus on delivering the best possible workshop experience.

Park earned a Ph.D. from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, a master’s degree from Seoul National University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Seoul. He was honored alongside other recipients during a ceremony on Feb. 19.

About Boots to Business

The program, part of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program, provides foundational entrepreneurship courses to service members, veterans and military spouses exploring business ownership. The IVMF serves as a key partner in delivering Boots to Business instruction, including to service members and military spouses stationed outside the continental United States.

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 is accepting through Wednesday, Jan. 28, for its I-Corps Regional Course for Startups, a month-long virtual program designed to help research-driven teams accelerate the commercialization of their tech innovations. The virtual course runs from Feb. 23 through March 25, and is targeted at teams affiliated with community-based incubators or innovation ecosystems.

Teams that want to collaborate with the University or other National Science Foundation I-Corps Northeast Interior Hub partner institutions or other regional universities are strongly encouraged to apply. This program is ideal for teams already working with university researchers in community-based or university-based incubators. University faculty and student researchers who are commercializing technology are encouraged to apply. Space is limited.

NSF I-Corps courses are designed for teams from academic institutions, research organizations and innovation hubs to empower researchers with the tools, skills and strategies needed to bring technological innovations to market. Eligible projects must be beyond the idea stage and can range from validated scientific discoveries to prototype or early manufacturing efforts.

Syracuse University’s program is part of the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps ecosystem, a nationally recognized network that helps researchers bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications. Through hands-on activities, live virtual sessions and one-on-one mentoring, participants engage in intensive customer discovery, learning how to identify the strongest product–market fit for their technology or research project. Teams will test assumptions, refine their value propositions, assess the commercial potential of their technologies and receive feedback and guidance from NSF-trained instructors.

Participation in the program positions eligible teams for potential nomination to the national I-Corps Teams program and for NSF I-Corps lineage. It can also serve as a pathway to federal grant opportunities such as NSF SBIR/STTR, which provide up to $2 million in non-dilutive funding to help bring research-based innovations to market, as well as to private investment.

The Syracuse University–hosted course is offered through the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub (IN I-Corps), funded by the NSF and led by Cornell University in collaboration with partner institutions including Dartmouth College, Rochester Institute of Technology, the University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Rochester, the University of Vermont and West Virginia University. The NSF I-Corps program at Syracuse is led through a cross-campus collaboration by Syracuse University Libraries, the Whitman School of Management and the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE).