Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

About Us

Since its founding in 2015, Hofstra’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship has hosted over 450 events, facilitated more than 2,350 mentor sessions, and entrepreneurs affiliated with the Institute have received over $950,000 in prizes to jumpstart their businesses. The Institute’s headquarters is the ideaHUb incubator, a collaborative workspace that offers companies networking opportunities as well as prototype development at the Maker Space. The Institute’s core programs include the Hofstra-Digital Remedy Venture Challenge and Unispan Records. Through these initiatives, entrepreneurs participate in bootcamps, workshops, and mentor sessions, all facilitated by seasoned entrepreneurs. Named the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers’ “2017 Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center,” the Institute provides focused assistance to entrepreneurs.

The Scott Skodnek Business Development Center (BDC) assists small business entrepreneurs on Long Island and in the metropolitan area to succeed in starting or expanding a business. The BDC, a designated New York State Entrepreneurial Assistance Center, offers support to these entrepreneurs through EAC, digital marketing workshops, financial management using QuickBooks and providing assistance with the Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification application process. The BDC has supported more than 1,407 entrepreneurs since 1991 and received the Outstanding Performance Award from Empire State Development Corp. in 2009, 2013, 2019 and 2020.

Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team

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Hayes

Dr. Richard N. Hayes
Executive Director
Office: Guthart Hall Room 107
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-5727

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Eric Hunt

Erick Hunt
Director
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-4069

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Jones

April Jones
Assistant Director for Faculty and Student Initiatives
Office: Guthart Hall Room 114
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-5850

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Avi Mukherjee

Avi Mukherjee
Assistant Director, Grant Writing and Management
Office: Guthart Hall Room 103C
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-5222

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Gandomi

Dr. Amir Gandomi
Director of Innovation
Office: Business School Building, Rm 242
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-7622

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Vickerie

Dr. Lutisha Vickerie
Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship
Office: Business School Building, Rm 107
Email | Bio

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Olivia Nadolny

Olivia Nadolny
Program Administrator
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-5285

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Joy Williams

Joy Williams
Associate Director for Community Engagement & Initiatives
Email | Bio
Phone: 516-463-6986

Advisory Board

The Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship has tapped a group of experienced business and economic leaders to serve as members of its Advisory Board. Members provide financial support, student mentoring and guidance on program development. To contact an Advisory Board member please contact Richard.Hayes@hofstra.edu.

NextGen Advisory Board

The Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship formed the NextGen Advisory Board of recent Hofstra alumni who have started companies, participated in business plan competitions, and have started their careers in the field of entrepreneurship. The NextGen Advisory Board members mentor students, participate in our programming, and connect students to entrepreneurship opportunities in the NY metro area. To contact a NextGen Advisory Board member please contact Richard.Hayes@hofstra.edu.