Syracuse University announced three new initiatives for its Center for the Creator Economy at a January 22 event in New York City, including an academic minor.

The center, which opened in fall 2025 as the first university-based facility dedicated to the creator economy in the United States, will offer a minor open to students from any school or college starting in fall 2026, according to Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation and Executive Dean of the Whitman School of Management.

The university also unveiled two content initiatives. An “Inside the Creator Economy” video series will document students’ “micro-internships” and networking experiences with alumni. The “Creator Crew,” funded by Syracuse University life trustee Judith Greenberg Seinfeld, will produce student-created content about the university.

A physical space for the center opened in January, featuring professional lighting and camera equipment, audio recording pods, and flexible workspaces. The facility serves as a collaboration hub for the joint initiative between the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Whitman School of Management.

Alumni Network Events

More than 80 attendees gathered at the Lubin House in New York for the announcement event, which featured panel discussions with Syracuse alumni working in the creator economy. Speakers included Carly Shapiro, co-founder of media brand SisterSnacking and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and Roger Moore, who has 1.2 million followers on TikTok.

“It takes consistency,” Shapiro said. “Consistency in posting and finding a voice, but then it also takes finding a community online.”

Moore, who graduated in 2024 with a degree in cinematography and film/video production, said the university offers more support for the creator community than many students realize.

The center hosted a Feb. 5 event in Washington, D.C., in partnership with the University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship and Substack, with a Los Angeles event planned for spring 2026.

University trustee Nomi Bergman and her husband, Neal Bergman, provided support for the center. “Syracuse is leaning into a reality students are already living in, where the ability to create content, tell stories, and engage communities is not a side skill but a core one,” said Nomi.

The center’s programming includes undergraduate and graduate courses, workshops on personal branding and influencer law, and research initiatives on trends in the creator economy.