Rider University officially launched the Brodsky Institute for Economic and Community Impact, a major new initiative designed to expand hands-on learning opportunities and connect students directly with real-world projects alongside local businesses and community partners.
Named in honor of longtime entrepreneur and benefactor Norm Brodsky ’64—the namesake of the University’s Norm Brodsky College of Business—the Institute aims to make practical, career-ready experience an even more central pillar of a Rider education.
Dr. Darryl Mace, previously Rider’s vice president of community engagement and belonging, has been appointed to lead the new venture as senior vice president and chief operating officer, with Sugenny Santiago serving as director.
President John Loyack emphasized that the Institute directly addresses what modern employers demand from college graduates.
“Universities serve their students best when they give them meaningful opportunities to apply what they learn beyond the classroom,” Loyack said. “Students need to be out doing what they will be doing in their chosen careers many times before they leave Rider and enter the full-time workforce. That is the kind of preparation employers are looking for, and that is our value proposition at Rider.”
At the heart of the Institute is a dedicated business incubator that pairs cross-disciplinary students with entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations across the Trenton and Mercer County region. Students tackle actual client projects from concept to execution—contributing across functional areas such as marketing, sales strategy, product development, operations, and fundraising.
For local enterprises, the partnership injects valuable talent and external capacity; for students, it fosters the analytical, practical, and interpersonal competencies required after graduation.
Although formal operations began over the summer, the Institute is already supporting nearly 50 active student-led projects spanning critical sectors such as economic development, health equity, workforce training, education, and journalism.
“The Institute is a clear example of Rider’s commitment to transformative experiential learning,” Mace said. “The mission is clear: connect Rider students with organizations doing meaningful work and let that work change both the students and the community.”
Beyond the incubator, the Brodsky Institute serves as an umbrella hub coordinating other campus initiatives where students test ideas and build leadership skills, including Rider’s Maker Space, Saxbys student-run cafe, the Bonner Community Leader Program, and the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program.
To learn more about the Institute, explore partnership opportunities, or become a fellow, visit the official Rider University Brodsky Institute portal.
