The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship invites participation by students in all Elon University academic programs.
Elon University’s Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership is being renamed the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The new name was announced by President Leo M. Lambert at the Evening for Elon event in New York City on Sept. 13. The annual event is sponsored by trustee Ed Doherty and his wife Joan Doherty, of Saddle River, New Jersey, who endowed the Doherty Center with a $1 million gift in 2007.
“This new name signifies the continued growth and evolution of entrepreneurship programs at Elon,” Ed Doherty said. “Creativity and innovation are central to the mission of creating the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
“We were thrilled to invest in the entrepreneurship programs of Elon’s business school, and this new name for the Doherty Center is designed to attract creative students from all majors,” said Joan Doherty.
Raghu Tadepalli, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, said the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is well-positioned to support students who are sometimes called “entre-curious.”
“Our faculty and staff want to work with students at all stages of their education, no matter what their discipline,” Tadepalli said. “They often come to us with the germ of an idea and need help getting started, designing a product or service and turning their concepts into actions.”
Through the Doherty Center, students learn to look at problems and challenges from an innovative perspective. “They are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, recognize opportunities and think creatively to find solutions,” said Alyssa Martina, director of the center and lecturer in the Love School of Business.
As with other Elon academic programs, the Doherty Center focuses on hands-on experiences and engaged learning opportunities. The center also encourages students to consider the social impact of their entrepreneurship and the ways they can make a positive impact in the world.
The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is currently headquartered in the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center. In fall 2018 it will move into specially designed space in the new Richard W. Sankey Hall, which is under construction adjacent to the Koury Business Center. The new facilities will provide more space with a flexible design to facilitate group projects, creative activities and one-on-one mentoring between faculty and students.