Academics

Farrell Center helps fund student's trip to interactive festival

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Smeal College of Business’ Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship recently helped support one student’s trip to this year’s South by Southwest Interactive Festival (SXSWi) in Austin, Texas.

Elysia Mann — a senior marketing major with a minor in engineering entrepreneurship — has a passion for digital marketing, and SXSWi is dedicated to cutting-edge, emerging technologies and digital creativity.

“It was great to spend that time with my peers who have similar interests,” said Mann. “I spent a lot of time networking, and I appreciated the opportunity to represent both myself and Penn State.”

“The Farrell Center likes to support initiatives like this when possible because we think it’s important to encourage students’ participation in today’s culture of innovation,” said Farrell Center Director Robert Macy, clinical associate professor of management and organization. “SXSWi really represents a hub of innovative digital activity and entrepreneurialism.”

When she came to Penn State, Mann immediately sought out opportunities to build her knowledge and experience in her desired area of expertise. She’s held social media-related positions with companies like Nicole Miller Philadelphia, Modelinia.com, Style Coalition and Fashionista. Last year she held an internship at Facebook, and she is currently the Web director of Penn State’s Valley magazine.

After graduation, Mann will move to New York City to work for BuzzFeed, a website that curates the Web’s most viral content.

The Farrell Center, formed through an endowment from Michael J. Farrell, has three major roles in the college: the creation and management of educational programs in corporate innovation and entrepreneurship; research; and outreach. The center’s mission is to contribute to and interpret the best in academic research in the fields of entrepreneurship including innovation and knowledge management, and to translate this into actionable best practices in the commercial and government sectors.

Last Updated September 10, 2013

Contact