Nov. 29, 2023: Announcing the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Dear Bucknellians,

Entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in the Bucknell community, and we are pleased to announce a new interdisciplinary initiative that will distinguish the University even further in this area — the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

Set to open in 2024, the center is made possible by a founding gift from generous donors who wish to remain anonymous at this time. We are grateful to these visionary Bucknellians, who appreciate the long-term value of deepening our commitment to budding entrepreneurs and providing them the tools and resources needed to succeed.

The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation will serve as a hub that connects, strengthens and builds upon Bucknell's hallmark entrepreneurial programs, including BizPitch, the Bucknell Small Business Development Center and courses such as Management 101. Students across the University will engage with the center, which will help them hone entrepreneurial skills to enhance their success in any profession. We will soon begin a search for an executive director, who will oversee growth and program development. More details about the center are available in this news story.

We wish to thank the faculty and staff who collaborated to develop the vision for the center: William Meek, the Campbell Rutledge Jr. and Eleanor Rutledge Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship; Professor Erin Jablonski, associate dean of engineering; Professor Emily Martin, the Ellen P. Williams Associate Professor in Music; Sabrina Shankar, assistant director of campus activities; and Steve Stumbris, director of Bucknell's Small Business Development Center. This type of dedication to truly interdisciplinary, hands-on learning changes the lives of our students and helps set Bucknell apart.

As we enter the final weeks of 2023, we are so pleased to end the year with this news, which represents another significant step toward meeting the goals of The Plan for Bucknell 2025. We look forward to the opening of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation — a welcome addition to Bucknell's thriving ecosystem of hands-on learning opportunities, and one that will endure for generations to come.

Sincerely,

John C. Bravman, President
Margot Vigeant, Interim Provost