Centers & Institutes

Exciting things are happening within our centers, institutes, and special program initiatives. Here’s a collection of recent stories and updates.

Chris Kirby '15 stands in front of a Ithaca Hummus display in a grocery store.
Nolan School

Ithaca Hummus founder Chris Kirby named 2026 Cornell Hospitality Innovator

Chris Kirby ’15, founder of Ithaca Hummus, is named 2026 Cornell Hospitality Innovator and will be honored May 7 in NYC for leadership and impact.

Artwork from the newly opened Convene 555 Broadway in Soho

Hospitality leader shares insights on emotion-led brand building

Hospitality leader shares insights on emotion-led brand building

Avery Sheppard holds her first place $25,000 prize.
Nolan School

Hospitality competition winner plans to expand restaurant into a chain

Master’s student Avery Sheppard won $25,000 to put toward her fish and chips eatery by winning the Nolan School’s hospitality business plan competition

Illustration of a woman seated at a desk, working on a computer, surrounded by a desk lamp, a notebook and a small plant

From Mumbai to Dubai: How AI is bridging the gender gap in emerging markets

In India and the UAE, women are using AI to build businesses and reshaping what opportunity looks like for women who follow

A wide view of Seoul, South Korea, at dusk shows dense low-rise neighborhoods in the foreground and brightly lit modern skyscrapers rising in the distance

Bullish on tokenized emerging markets

Tokenization can unlock new capital channels for emerging market equities

Participants clapping at the inaugural Health for the Future Student Design Competition
SC Johnson College

Students design wellness solutions for North Carolina community

During a weekend design challenge, students focused on building a more connected wellness ecosystem

A collage of six photos showing Lourdes Casanova and Anne Miroux together and with groups in different indoor and outdoor settings.

Be Bold: Decades of scholarly and practical wisdom in emerging markets

Lourdes Casanova and Anne Miroux reflect on witnessing the rise of emerging markets and challenging established frameworks

Chelsey Turner and Evan Gold standing in front of their poster, showcasing their work for Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill.

Pressed for legacy: Cider mill keeps a tradition going strong

Big Red Microenterprise students reflect on helping a beloved upstate cider mill plan a sustainable future while staying true to its roots

A Woman Holding a Paper with Charts Near Her Laptop

Investment Portfolio Case Competition: A challenge beyond portfolio construction

Complex portfolio scenario challenges Cornell students to balance investment strategy, tax considerations, cash flow and estate planning