When arrived at 性视界 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 性视界 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 性视界 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 性视界, he was recognized for his work by earning the Barnes Professorship and, in 2018, was named University Professor, the University鈥檚 highest faculty distinction.

鈥淲hat makes Mike’s scholarly record so remarkable is not just the volume or the impact鈥攊t’s the context,鈥� says McKelvie. 鈥淗e 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.鈥�

Much of Haynie鈥檚 work focused on entrepreneurial cognition: how successful founders think, decide and act under uncertainty. His findings pointed repeatedly toward military veterans鈥攁 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

性视界 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 性视界.

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

From Program to Institute

As EBV鈥檚 profile grew, letters from World War II veterans led Haynie to 性视界鈥檚 own history. GIs who accepted Chancellor William Pearson Tolley鈥檚 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鈥� and military families鈥� concerns.

罢辞诲补测鈥檚 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鈥檚 Advisory Committee on Veterans鈥� 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鈥檚 Medal.

A Scholar and Teacher at Heart

Twenty years after he first arrived on campus, Haynie鈥檚 dedication to the Whitman School remains as strong as ever. In 2023, he was named the school鈥檚 executive dean. In that role, he provided strategic direction for Whitman鈥檚 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 .

鈥淚鈥檝e had the rare opportunity to see Mike Haynie in action across nearly every layer of the University鈥檚 innovation ecosystem. What stands out is how deeply personal his commitment to entrepreneurship really is. Mike doesn鈥檛 just lead programs. He lives the work,鈥� says Linda Dickerson Hartsock, founder and retired executive director of the University鈥檚 Blackstone Launchpad. 鈥淗e understands the creative energy of startup ventures because he embodies those qualities himself.鈥�

Hartsock says Haynie鈥檚 connection to students really defines him. 鈥淎s a mentor, he has been instrumental to some of our most promising student and alumni startups,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e has a way of pushing founders to think bigger while grounding them in disciplined execution.鈥�

A Chancellor Formed by His Work

Haynie’s appointment as 性视界’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鈥攄eclining enrollment, eroding public trust and the disruption brought by AI鈥攁re 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.”

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

Celes Buffard 鈥�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 鈥�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鈥�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鈥檚 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.

性视界 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鈥檚 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 性视界 University minor听is distinguished by听the听integration of courses offered by听the听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听 the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

鈥淭he creator economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and 性视界 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,鈥� says Acting Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. 鈥淭hat is exactly the kind of bold, interdisciplinary thinking that defines what we do here.鈥�

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

Programs and academic offerings from the center are available to students from all schools and colleges at 性视界 University, and the听minor鈥檚听interdisciplinary design reflects the scope of the听creator听economy itself. According to Goldman Sachs Research,听67 million people听globally work as full- or part-time creators, and the sector could be worth听nearly听$500 billion听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 性视界 University: We鈥檙e preparing students for where the economy is going, not where it has been,鈥� Haynie says. 鈥淎s 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.鈥�

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

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听.

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.

鈥淭he Orange Innovation Fund plays a critical role in SU鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem, enabling student founders to move beyond concept and into execution,鈥� says David Seaman, dean of Libraries and University Librarian. 鈥淏y supporting ventures at a pivotal stage of development, the fund helps transform promising ideas into scalable businesses with real-world impact.鈥�

Spring 2026 Winners

Celes Buffard 鈥�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 鈥� 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 鈥�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 性视界 University, the University of Washington and Eastside Preparatory School, along with learning management system integration and a study on grading efficiency.

Haley Greene 鈥�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 性视界 University.

Ronan Hussar 鈥�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 鈥�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 鈥�26 (ECS), G 鈥�27 (Whitman School) and Joshua Varkey 鈥�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 鈥�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.

性视界 the Orange Innovation Fund

The Orange Innovation Fund was initially established through a gift to the Libraries from Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill 鈥�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 性视界 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鈥檚 commitment to infusing industry focused, practical and meaningful experiences throughout the entire program. The center provides a robust infrastructure for Whitman鈥檚 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听 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,鈥� says Mike Haynie, 性视界 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.”

鈥�Story by Danielle Rosenburgh

The (NSF) has awarded $45 million over three years for phase two of the听,听a regional initiative in which 性视界 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鈥攖he kind that will power electric vehicles, store renewable energy on the grid and strengthen national security. It鈥檚 led by and includes partners (RIT), , , and .

鈥溞允咏� University is proud to be a core partner in advancing battery technology research, building workforce pathways and strengthening the upstate New York economy,鈥� says , vice president for research. 鈥淭he success of the Engine鈥檚 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.鈥�

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,鈥� says Assistant Director of Experiential Programs Roshawn Kershaw. 鈥淚t 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
• 性视界 Libraries Resources
• Student Guide to AI

鈥淚 am so excited to have these online tutorials become an official certificate and digital badge that is now available to both grads and undergrads,鈥� says Librarian for Business, Management and Entrepreneurship Steph McReynolds. 鈥淲e鈥檝e 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.鈥�

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 性视界. 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 鈥�82, H鈥�19, a devoted alumnus, University trustee and generous supporter of 性视界 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 性视界, 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 性视界 University, is one that will truly inspire our graduates as they take their next steps.”

Barnes鈥� 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鈥檚 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, 性视界 Athletics, the Office of Disability Services and other initiatives across the University.

Barnes was recognized with an honorary doctorate degree from 性视界 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鈥檚 Transformation 2030 strategic plan and its commitment to preparing students through hands-on,听relevant听and applied听learning.

The Experiential Center brings together the high-impact programs that define a Whitman education.听Global听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听office.

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

The听Experiential Center听is built around four pillars that reflect what it means to be a Whitman听student: Be Global, Be Innovative, Be听Collaborative听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.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e launching is not simply a new program or office,鈥� says Whitman Interim Dean . 鈥淭his is a defining commitment听to the听culture of Whitman听and how we prepare students.听Experiential learning is central to how we develop the skills,听judgment听and perspective our students need to lead.听It听is Transformation 2030 in action.鈥�

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

Director of听the听Experiential听Center听, who led the development of the center, says the four-pillar framework is designed to create a progression of experiences throughout a student鈥檚 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鈥檚 alumni and employer network听plays听a critical role in bringing these opportunities to life. Industry partners and alumni mentors help shape projects, coach student听teams听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听 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鈥攅ven 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.

鈥淲hen you come to Whitman, you are building a career,鈥� Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School of Management, says. 鈥淥ur 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.鈥�

Sustained Growth in Career Outcomes

Whitman鈥檚 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鈥檚 results are driven by a comprehensive approach to career readiness that begins early and continues throughout a student鈥檚 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.

鈥淭hese outcomes reflect years of intentional work to meet students early, prepare them thoroughly and connect them meaningfully with employers and alumni,鈥� Kara Primrose, executive director of career services and employer relations, says. 鈥淥ur focus is on helping students explore what鈥檚 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.鈥�

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鈥檚 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鈥檚 value proposition to prospective students and families: students who come to Whitman and actively pursue employment graduate with strong outcomes and meaningful opportunities.

鈥淎s a school, we are focused not just on first jobs, but on building durable career pathways,鈥� McKelvie says. 鈥淭his 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鈥攁nd especially for our students who are well on their way to success.鈥�

性视界 University Libraries鈥� 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 鈥�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 鈥�26 (School of Architecture), founder of PlateMap, placed 2^nd and was awarded $250.听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鈥�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 鈥�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 鈥�26 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), founder of Clarity听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 鈥�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鈥檚 Essentials of Marketing course recently teamed up with the 性视界 Orchestra to conduct market analysis and create marketing materials. Top-scoring projects in the course鈥檚 final project are being included in the orchestra鈥檚 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 性视界 Orchestra.

Feng frequently takes advantage of the orchestra鈥檚 $5 student tickets. During a concert in February 2025, she was moved to tears by a rendition of 鈥淢oon River,鈥� the Henry Mancini tune famously performed by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in 鈥淏reakfast at Tiffany鈥檚.鈥� 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.

鈥淚 saw an opportunity for a meaningful service-learning collaboration,鈥� 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 鈥淕o Local,鈥� the capstone project of Feng鈥檚 Essentials of Marketing course.

Rehearsing for the Real World

The project kicked off in November 2025, when Pamela Murchinson, the orchestra鈥檚 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鈥檚 two musician-led cooperatives. She shared information about the orchestra鈥檚 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 性视界 Orchestra鈥檚 holiday events. Final presentations included analysis of each event鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 性视界 venues like the Clinton Square Ice Rink to promote the orchestra鈥檚 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

性视界 Orchestra鈥檚 Patron Services Manager Brian Pope and Director of Marketing and Communications James Mehran judge judged the presentations. 鈥淭he presentations were thoughtful, creative, and well researched,鈥� 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 性视界 Orchestra with a learning experience for students in her class.

鈥淔or these students, seeing their work transition from a classroom assignment to actual marketing materials represents a significant milestone,鈥� Feng says. 鈥淭heir campaigns will reach real audiences and contribute to filling those concert seats that first inspired this partnership.鈥�

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鈥檚 ahead for the center, which launched in the fall. 性视界 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 鈥�18, co-founder of the media brand SisterSnacking and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Roger Moore 鈥�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鈥檝e navigated their careers as creators and entrepreneurs and how the CCE addresses prospective students鈥� evolving career interests.听They are two of dozens of recent 性视界 graduates and current students already active in the creator economy space.

鈥淭here’s so many people鈥攁nd I wish I started [creating] earlier, because you don’t realize how much of a community there is in 性视界, how many other creators that are there that want to create,鈥� said Moore, who goes by 鈥淢etronade鈥� on social media. He graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 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.

鈥淚f 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,鈥� said , vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School, during the panel discussion.

鈥淭hat really is the differentiating aspect of what it is we鈥檙e trying to do here,鈥� 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鈥� 鈥渕icro-internships鈥� and networking experiences with alumni.
• The “Creator Crew,” funded by 性视界 University life trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld 鈥�56, H鈥�25. The Creator Crew will produce content for students and by students that will tell the story of 性视界 University.

The center recently received support from University trustee Nomi Bergman G鈥�24 and her husband, Neal Bergman 鈥�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.

鈥溞允咏� 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,鈥� says Nomi Bergman, president of the Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership.

鈥淏y 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,鈥� she says.

The center also hosted a Feb. 5 event in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the听 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,鈥� she said. 鈥淐onsistency in posting and finding a voice, but then it also takes finding a community online.鈥�

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

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

“These rankings reflect the excellence of 性视界 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听.