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School:Iona University

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= Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship =

Iona College is a private university located 22 miles outside of Midtown Manhattan , in New Rochelle, New York. Iona has recently renamed its school of business after Robert LaPenta, who donated $17.5 million for the business school’s reconstruction. With the LaPenta School of Business being the main attraction at Iona, often, it's easier for students to intertwine their business mindsets/endeavors with entrepreneurship and innovation. Outside of the business school, there are departments in which an entrepreneurial mindset is also encouraged such as Arts and Science.

Iona offers a wide selection of courses that can be a foundational step for the students innovative process. Introduction to Acting and Delicious Chemistry are two classes at Iona that if one has an entrepreneurial approach, can be used to build one’s personal brand and even start their own business. Digital Production is another course within the Mass Communications department in which it teaches one how to be a producer and/or edit video footage. With an entrepreneurial approach, one can use the skills learned from these courses to innovate within their chosen field.

Furthermore, Iona College has workshops hosted by the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, such as 3D Printing and Storytelling. 3D printing is a relatively new technology that disrupts the traditional way of prototyping. 3D printers can be used for making gadgets out of a PLA filament. In addition to the 3D workshops, the Hynes Institute also offers Arduino workshops where students learn to interact with different open-sourced electronic objects.

Moreover, we have inspirational events that encourage entrepreneurs to pursue their aspirations whole heartedly and despite failure, to persevere. A GaelTalk with J.C. Polonia was an event in which he explained the ups and downs of his social entrepreneurial journey, ultimately providing us with wisdom, and advice on how to move forward after defeat. Another inspirational event we had was when representatives from ~~Pidney~~ Pitney Bowes discussed blockchain in our incubator space, GaelVentures. Both events were hosted by the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Hynes Institute also hosts events by the English Department where Janet Mock was interviewed by Professor Timothy Lyle about her recent book and her personal entrepreneurial journey.

The entrepreneurial mindset has recently amplified at Iona in which multiple new entrepreneurship and innovation courses have been introduced to our students this semester. Introduction into Ideation and Design Thinking, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Practice and Mindset, as well as Ethics and Entrepreneurial Leadership are 3 courses that have boosted entrepreneurial thinking throughout campus. We also have 5 new graduate courses that study Ideation and Design Thinking, Business Modeling, Financing and Sustaining Entrepreneurial Ventures, and a Studio Course that facilitates the process of developing an entrepreneurial venture, from idea to launch, with the help and support of Iona College’s incubator space GaelVentures.

The Idea Hackathon hosted by the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was a successful event as well. Students were able to develop skills in problem solving, design thinking and collaboration. There were also many alumni and potential mentors present for student to obtain knowledge from.

For students to tap into their full potential, a variety of courses are necessary to understand what type of entrepreneurial journey one will embark upon. Some hands-on courses at Iona include Biochemistry Laboratory where students experiment chemically in order to create new concoctions such as cologne, perfume, etc. ~~ ~~Website design is another hands-on course where students spend part of the semester learning how to construct their own website, and other parts of the semester applying what they’ve learned to actually building their own website that serves a purpose.  Introduction into Ideation and Design Thinking with the Hynes Institute promotes problem solving and prototyping as well, prompting students to think entrepreneurially not just from a business standpoint.

Spaces at Iona where students can prototype, collaborate, and innovate are GaelVentures, our school’s incubator space, Ryan Library, that has private rooms for discussion and ideation, and Arrigoni Library, which also has private spaces for discussion, innovation, and technological creation.

Internship opportunities are not scarce at Iona. Being less than 22 miles from Mid-Town Manhattan, world-class internships and job opportunities are within reach. There are opportunities outside of New York City as well such as Larchmont Community Television, in which their Vice President of the Board of Directors Michael Witsch teaches at Iona, and NBC Universal which is in Connecticut, just a train ride away. The opportunities at Iona College are limitless, and with an entrepreneurial mindset, one can take advantage of Iona’s resources and embark on a journey to success.

= Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship =

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