Welcome to another exciting year of innovation brought to you by a dynamic new Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University team. Thanks to generous donor gifts to SU Libraries, this year’s student team includes roles as mentors, subject matter experts, outreach and engagement specialists, and ambassadors for diversity and inclusion. Meet the new 2022 – 2023 student team here.
This year’s team includes Global Fellows, Rubin Family Innovation Mentors, Innovators in Residence, Todd B. Rubin Diversity and Inclusion Scholars, Blackstone LaunchPad Content Creators, a Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar, and two Hult Prize Campus Ambassadors.
2022 – 2023 Rubin Family Innovation Mentors
Rubin Family Innovation Mentors serve as peer advisors to a portfolio of student startups, coaching them on strategy and venture development. They are funded through a generous gift from the Rubin Family Foundation. They include:
- Selim Dangoor ’23, Whitman, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, Advertising
- Ben Ford ’23, Whitman, Marketing, and School of Information Studies; Data Analytics
- Jack Ramza ’22, G’23 Whitman, Business Analytics, and Newhouse; Advertising
- Aidan Mickleburgh ’22, G’23, College of Engineering and Computer Science Computer Engineering, and Whitman, MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing
- Noah Mechnig-Giordano ’22, G’23, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Computer Science, and Whitman, MBA in Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
2022 – 2023 LaunchPad Global Fellows
LaunchPad Global Fellows are subject matter experts in various disciplines such as engineering, software and data management, industrial and interaction design and product development, graphic design, web design, UX-UI, all forms of digital media and content development, as well as marketing, sales, and finance. They include:
- Alesandra (Sasha) Temerte ’23, Maxwell, Economics and Arts and Sciences, Writing and Rhetoric
- Claire Howard ’23, Maxwell, Economics and International Relations
- Jack Rose ’24, Whitman, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
- Zach Goldstein ’22, G ’23, School of Information Studies, Information Technology
- Sydney Grosso ’24, Falk, Public Health and Policy Studies, Health/Health Care Administration Management
2022 – 2023 Blackstone LaunchPad Content Creators
The Blackstone LaunchPad Content Creation Team is composed of students who are talented in the areas of content writing, web design, and video production. They are available to help student ventures with their creative needs. They include:
- Kelly Davis ’23; Whitman, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, and Newhouse; Television, Radio and Film
- Justin Gluska ’23, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Computer Science
- Coral Hunter Coad ’23, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Film and Media Arts
2022 – 2023 Innovators in Residence
The LaunchPad’s Innovators in Residence, funded through donors to SU Libraries, are talented entrepreneurs who are incubating in the LaunchPad while providing technical assistance and mentoring to LaunchPad student ventures. They are multi-talented subject matter experts who provide guidance for students who are building ventures from the ground up. They include:
- Jack Adler ’23, Whitman, Business Administration
- Sam Holland ’23, Newhouse, Public Relations, and Whitman; Finance
2022 – 2023 Todd R. Rubin Innovation and Diversity Scholars
Todd B. Rubin Diversity and Inclusion Scholars, funded through a generous gift from Todd B. Rubin ’04, Architecture, work to broaden diversity and inclusion outreach and programming, expand participation in entrepreneurship by underrepresented groups and support the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. They include:
- Andrew Kim, ’24, Whitman, Marketing Management and Finance
- Ethan Tyo, ’17 G’22, Falk, Food Studies
2022 – 2023 Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar
Hunter Brooks Watson Scholars are supported through a generous gift from the Hunter Watson Memorial Fund. It is Inspired by Syracuse University’s Remembrance Scholar program and was established to honor the life and entrepreneurial spirit of Hunter Brooks Watson, a Syracuse University student who passed away after injuries suffered in a tragic 2016 distracted driving car accident. The Syracuse University Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar mentors students and builds a pipeline of innovative students who exemplify the “spirit of entrepreneurship.” This year’s Scholar is:
- Jack Adler ’23, Whitman, Business Administration
2022 – 2023 Syracuse University Hult Prize Campus Ambassadors
The Syracuse University Hult Prize Campus Ambassador helps organize the campus Hult Prize competition at Syracuse University. It is part of a global competition that is often referred to as the “Nobel Prize” of student impact entrepreneurship.
- Andrew Kim, ’24, Whitman, Marketing Management and Finance
- Alesandra (Sasha) Temerte ’23, Maxwell, Economics and Arts and Sciences, Writing and Rhetoric
Together, the LaunchPad team provides multi-disciplinary skill sets and expansive services to help all members of the Syracuse University community explore innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and building professional and personal skill sets to succeed.
“The Libraries are grateful to SU Libraries donors for continued support for Syracuse University’s innovation community and encouraging diversity and inclusion,” said David Seaman, Dean of Syracuse University Libraries and University Librarian. “The LaunchPad is an incubation environment for students from 134 countries around the world to grow and flourish. It provides experiential opportunities for innovative students and significantly compliments what they learn in a classroom, helping them understand how to become thoughtful and engaged citizens and change-makers.”