Vice chancellor appoints university's first administration position for entrepreneurship

By: Veena Bissram

Posted: 3/30/07

Bruce Kingma, professor and associate dean in the School of Information Studies, was recently given the additional job as Syracuse University's first associate provost for entrepreneurship and innovation.

The now-effective position focuses on spreading the ideas of entrepreneurship across campus. Kingma will work to promote new projects, research and education in this entirely new position at SU.

Vice Chancellor Eric Spina recently appointed him for the position, without going through the University Senate, which Spina said wasn't necessary. After receiving many nominations, Spina decided Kingma had the right background for the job.

"Bruce has expertise in economics, business and technology," he said. "He is very collaborative and works to promote student learning and faculty success."

The new position was created by a gift from the Kauffman Foundation, which looks for universities that have strong core values in entrepreneurship education. Schools must submit an application to be part of the foundation. Only nine schools were accepted last year - including SU.

"SU's Whitman school is No. 1 in entrepreneurship at the graduate level," Kingma said. "It's easy for Kauffman to give the university money, because they look at us and see that we are already doing the right things."

There are no additional costs to the university for the new post. The Kauffman Foundation has given a $3 million grant. Kingma said he is looking for creative people and projects to spend the grant money on.

Kingma began working at SU in 2001. He holds a doctorate in economics and has dedicated time to research not-for-profit organizations and entrepreneurship.

"This job was created by Academic Affairs to recognize entrepreneurship in broad areas," said Ian MacInnes, chair of USen's Appointments and Promotions Committee. "Bruce will do a lot to encourage that, because he values research and services to the community."

Kingma will partner with five other schools to promote "scholarship in action," which aims to apply academic lessons to the community. These schools are the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Le Moyne College, Morrisville State College, Onondaga Community College and Cayuga Community College.

He will also work with The Gifford Foundation, the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, the Central New York Community Foundation and National Grid.

"The university has always been an entrepreneurial school," MacInnes said. "The new position offers a way to build on something that the university has great strength in."

Students from every college at SU will benefit from the new position, Spina said. "By next fall, there will be new courses developed across the university, and new opportunities for learning experiences such as co-ops and internships," he said.

The Martin J. Whitman School of Management has always been involved in community service. Students and faculty commit themselves to projects that lead to positive changes within the community.

"One of our classes helped put a wireless network in one of Syracuse's public libraries," Kingma said. "It was a great project not only for the library, but for local businesses who also have access to the wireless network."

Though Kingma has taken on a new position, he will continue his job as associate dean of Information Studies.

"There are many students and faculty at SU who want to work more on projects that help the city," Kingma said. "This position is a great opportunity for me to build on this campus-wide."