Alfred University Launches Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday, May 1, to launch the Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship in Alfred University's College of Business. Pictured above, from left, are College of Business faculty Jason Morrison, Jean Ellefson, and Shelly Freyn, who will serve as Institute directors, Beth Ann Dobie, provost and chief operating office, and Mark Lewis, College of Business dean.

Alfred University on Thursday, May 1, announced the launch of the Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship. The IEE is built on the belief that the best way to learn business is to do business.

The Institute emphasizes the intersection between curricular experience and career experience. Students roll up their sleeves, launch ventures, solve problems for local businesses, and build skills in marketing, analytics, and leadership - all while creating economic impact in the Western New York region.

"In a world where artificial intelligence tools and endless online resources are changing how information is accessed, students don't need more textbooks - they need hands-on, real-world experience," Mark Lewis, dean of the College of Business, said At Thursday's ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the Institute's launch.

"The Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship is the culmination of years of work incorporating hands-on creation and support of businesses into our curriculum. Combining our various initiatives under one institute creates synergies and gives us the platform for launching student-run businesses."

The Institute is led by College of Business faculty Jean Ellefson, assistant professor of analytics, Shelly Freyn, associate professor of marketing, and Jason Morrison, assistant professor of finance, with strong support from Lewis and Provost Beth Ann Dobie. Together, they are building a program that bridges the gap between education and industry - combining the strengths of analytics, marketing, and graduate business education with practical work that matters.

Dobie spoke about the value of faculty who have worked in business and industry and bring those unique experiences into the classroom. "Our business faculty have more than a terminal degree; they incorporate their experience into their teaching. The insights gained from these real-life experiences make their teaching and mentoring invaluable. Our students talk about it all the time," she said.

"Alfred University is focused on the intersection between curricular experiences and career experiences. The Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship is our latest initiative to enhance outcomes for our students, while simultaneously promoting economic prosperity in the region. The Institute embodies the very best of Alfred: It lives at the intersection of learning, doing, and serving. It draws from our strengths in business, the arts, engineering, and community engagement to create something that's greater than the sum of its parts. This kind of work brings our mission to life in powerful ways."

The College of Business is accredited by the Association for Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) the global accrediting body for colleges of business with the highest and most demanding standards in the world. Economic impact is the foundation of Alfred University College of Businesses Societal Impact Plan, which is a primary requirement for AACSB accreditation.

Freyn noted that for years, faculty and students in the College of Business have collaborated with companies and businesses through courses such as Marketing Research, Strategic Marketing, and a variety of capstone projects. Students have worked with local businesses and non-profits such as the Hornell YMCA, and Sunny Cove Farm and Honey Port Chocolate, both in Alfred, on projects focusing on market research, business planning, succession planning, and social media outreach.

"The establishment of this Institute marks a significant step forward, one that will provide our students not only with valuable experience and confidence, but also with meaningful opportunities for internships and employment," Freyn said. "I am equally enthusiastic about deepening our engagement with alumni through future projects and initiatives. This institute represents a true intersection of opportunity and innovation."

"There's something incredibly powerful about bringing together meaningful work, strong academics, and real impact. At Alfred, we're building on our AACSB-accredited foundation, especially our growing strengths in analytics, to create a space where students learn by doing," Ellefson said. "They're solving problems that matter, supporting local businesses, and making a real difference in their communities. It's not just about knowledge, it's about turning that knowledge into action that can launch careers and strengthen our region."

"We're giving students, especially those in the graduate program, the chance to apply finance and other business skills in ways that matter. Whether it's building financial models, managing real budgets, or pitching viable ventures, they're seeing how financial thinking drives results," Morrison added. "And when that work supports a local business or helps a nonprofit grow, it's no longer just theory, it's real. That's the kind of experience that sticks and shapes future leaders."

The IEE focuses on learning by doing, tackling the kinds of problems that typically aren't found in a textbook - because in today's world, anyone can look up answers, but real learning comes from figuring things out in action.

The program is built around three parts:

• Challenge-Based Learning: Students form teams and solve live business problems from local companies and nonprofits.
• Applied Sprints: Short, intense six- to 12-week projects where students quickly help businesses validate ideas, create plans, and test solutions.
• Real-World Engagement: Partnering with local communities and businesses to generate economic and social impact.

Each sprint concludes with a Sprint Summit Spotlight, where students present their outcomes to an audience of alumni, donors, and local partners.

Among the partners currently working with the IEE are IncubatorWorks, Alfred University's Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT), United Way, First Heritage Credit Union, Bill Jones, Sunny Cove Farm, Honey Pot Chocolate and many other local businesses and organizations.

"These partnerships ensure students work on real problems - not just classroom exercises - and build the kind of experience employers, funding agencies, and communities respect," Lewis said. "The Institute is about building something bigger than a résumé. Students graduate with a track record of action, leadership, and collaboration - and they leave Alfred already contributing to the world around them."

The Institute welcomes alumni, businesses, and community members to join as mentors, clients, and supporters, helping prepare students for a world that values doing over memorizing, and solving over simulating.