Events & Speaker Series

This collaborate series highlights and features speakers from across the University System, aimed at advancing innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) initiatives. These events bring together faculty, staff, and thought leaders from multiple institutions to share insights, best practices, and emerging strategies in the I&E space. By fostering cross-campus dialogue and showcasing diverse approaches to entrepreneurial education and innovation programming, the series strengthens system-wide efforts and encourages alignment around shared goals. It also serves as a platform for building partnerships, and inspiring new initiatives that benefit students and communities throughout the state.

                                     2025 - 2026 Speaker Schedule

Colin Ake, Director, Incubation & Commercialization, Kennesaw State University
“Built in the Burbs: Supporting Suburban Entrepreneurs at KSU," Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 1:00-2:00p 

Join Colin Ake as he discusses KSU’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, including HatchBridge Incubator, a set of programs and space that launched in July 2023 to support an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the communities surrounding Kennesaw State University. HatchBridge also leads commercialization processes at Kennesaw State, working to support faculty as they seek to ensure their research has impact.

Dr. Avinandan (Avi) Mukherjee, Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs, Georgia Southern University
“Establishing an Entrepreneur in Residence Program," Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 1:00-2:00p

Entrepreneur's in Residence (EIRs) engage directly with universities as experienced industry professionals to help identify and advance startup ideas from conception to launch. Join Avi's talk as he shares the experience at Georgia Southern and the ways EIRs provide advice, help catalyze new startups, and the opportunities for alumni engagement in the innovation space. 

Lynsey Steinberg, Director of innovation, Strategic Partnerships & Economic Development, Augusta University
“Building Sustainable Partnerships," Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 1:00-2:00p

Building sustainable partnerships across disciplines, institutions, and communities to create programming that endures and evolves. Through intentional collaboration, Augusta University has developed an ecosystem that integrates students, faculty, and industry partners to foster innovation that’s both practical and scalable. The discussion will explore how strategic alignment and relationship-driven growth can transform constraints into catalysts for lasting impact.

Chris Rhodes, Executive Director, Innovation District, University of Georgia
“Consolidating Innovation Resources,” Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 1:00-2:00p

The University of Georgia’s innovation ecosystem, while successful in many ways, is relatively young. With the decision to hire an Executive Director of the Innovation District in November 2024, President Jere Morehead set a path to have the different sources and support for innovation on campus work together more productively to have higher output, bigger projects, and a stronger culture of innovation on campus. Chris’s talk will describe the path of bringing together the parts of the Innovation District, plus the ~100 other innovation centers on campus into a cohesive whole, while maintaining the important parts of their independence.

Tatyana Pashnyak, Lecturer, Stafford School of Business, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
“Integrating Entrepreneurship Education through Experiential Learning,” Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 1:00-2:00p

This session will highlight ABAC’s new Spring 2026 Start-Up Initiative, an experiential learning model that merges MGMT 4220 Entrepreneurship with a Special Topics course. Through this integrated program, students will develop real-world start-ups, create comprehensive business plans, and engage directly with business and industry mentors throughout the semester. The initiative also features guest speakers who bring diverse professional insights, helping students connect classroom learning with practical entrepreneurial experiences. The session will discuss program structure, community partnerships, and strategies for fostering innovation and career readiness among students.