Students seeking to build an enterprising mindset look for experiences that combine creativity, innovation, and purpose-driven action. Bucknell University’s Freeman College of Management is building on the momentum of its experiential educational tracks in real estate and finance by connecting students with a fresh venture that transcends coursework.
The Perricelli-Gegnas Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation stands as Bucknell’s newest cross-disciplinary center of excellence, leveraging expertise from all three of the University’s colleges to help students bring novel products, services, and organizations to life.
Launched in the summer of 2024, the center was made possible by a visionary gift from Scott and Susan Gegnas Perricelli, both Class of 1994 graduates and parents of a Bucknell senior. “We’re thrilled for the ways this center will connect Bucknell’s three colleges and provide students with opportunities to strengthen critical skills,” Sue says. “It will be a hub for entrepreneurship across Bucknell and a distinguishing feature of the University.”
The center’s inaugural director, Erin Jablonski, is already at work amplifying Bucknell’s commitment to cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across its three colleges. She has identified strengths in the highly ranked Freeman College of Management, College of Engineering and College of Arts & Sciences, leading efforts to unite Bucknell’s existing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Jablonski emphasizes the importance of curiosity, empathy, and rigorous research in the center’s work. “The center is more than a collection of resources — it is a dynamic, action-oriented environment where innovation flourishes,” she says. “I want students to walk through the world with their eyes wide open and to ask, ‘Why do we do this, and why this way?’ By providing robust entrepreneurship programs with cross-disciplinary opportunities, we are building on Bucknell’s foundation of recognizing opportunities for change.”
Under Jablonski’s leadership, the center has launched new programming — including venture funding, mentorship, and development coaching — equipping students with essential entrepreneurial skills. Complementing these initiatives is The Campus Shop, an on-campus retail outlet that opened in November.
Hosted in the historic Campus Theatre in downtown Lewisburg, Pa., part of the Bucknell campus, the shop enables undergraduate students to sell products and market services directly to consumers. These students work closely with Jablonski, who tailors coaching to each student entrepreneur’s needs as she guides them through production, cost analysis, and the complexities of bringing new products to market. She then reviews sales data and trends with students, helping them make strategic decisions to inform the future of their ventures.
Students profit based on their pricing strategy and contribute 10% of sales to support the shop’s operations. The Campus Shop’s business model thereby intertwines commerce and philanthropy, offering students invaluable hands-on experience in managing, marketing, and profiting from their creative endeavors while supporting the broader Bucknell community.
“This center cements Bucknell’s commitment to inspiring the next wave of creative problem-solvers,” says Bucknell University President John Bravman. “Our goal is to empower future founders of all kinds — artists, inventors, investors, and advocates — who want to make a positive impact on society. The new center will foster an environment where innovation and action thrive.”
Learn more about the center at bucknell.edu.
