Seton Hall Faculty Leader Tapped to Present ImpactNJ's Inaugural Success at Notre Dame Global Summit

Susan Scherreik-Hynes, M.B.A., founding director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Seton Hall University's Stillman School of Business and director of ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative, has been selected as a featured speaker at the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) Partners Meeting, hosted by the University of Notre Dame's McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business. The invitation reflects the remarkable achievement of Seton Hall's inaugural ImpactNJ cohort and the university's growing prominence in the global movement to link entrepreneurship with economic empowerment.

ImpactNJ is Seton Hall's adapted version of the UPBI program, an international initiative led by Notre Dame that operates in communities across the globe. As the northern New Jersey partner, Seton Hall launched ImpactNJ to serve entrepreneurs in underserved communities including Newark, East Orange, Irvington, Paterson, Elizabeth and Jersey City. The program is a collaboration between the Stillman School of Business and the Division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies.

The inaugural ImpactNJ boot camp ran Saturday mornings from January 31 through March 7, 2026, at Equal Space Sharespace & Incubator in Newark. More than 35 entrepreneurs completed the six-week program, earning a microcredential and a digital badge. Those graduates are now paired with 32 seasoned business mentors for the next phase of the program, a four-month mentoring period running from mid-March through July that provides one-on-one guidance, networking connections, and ongoing business support.

The cohort's success drew the attention of Notre Dame organizers, who invited Scherreik to share ImpactNJ's model and results with UPBI partners gathered from around the world. Her presentation at the Notre Dame Partners Meeting will highlight how Seton Hall tailored the UPBI framework for the unique challenges and strengths of the Northern New Jersey region and what lessons that experience offers to the broader global network.

Scherreik’s leadership of ImpactNJ has already earned recognition closer to home. She received the Faculty Social Impact Award at the Stillman School of Business graduation ceremony, honoring her commitment to turning the program from concept to reality. The award reflects the broader Seton Hall community’s recognition that entrepreneurship education, especially when designed with equity and access in mind, can be a powerful engine for community transformation.

About ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative
ImpactNJ is an 11-month Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and Mentoring Program that provides entrepreneurs, whether launching a new venture or trying to grow an existing one with practical business training, access to microlending resources, one-on-one mentorship, and support with business basics such as licensing, banking, websites, and accounting. Participants also benefit from continued consulting through Seton Hall’s student-led business consulting teams, providing a meaningful learning experience for students.

ImpactNJ has attracted support from major corporate partners. As a leading sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2026, Coca-Cola is backing ImpactNJ as part of an international effort to foster economic development in the upcoming host cities, including the New York/New Jersey region.

Applications for the 2027 ImpactNJ Boot Camp will open in September 2026, with the program once again scheduled for late January through early March. Entrepreneurs and community organizations interested in learning more about participating, mentoring, or supporting ImpactNJ are encouraged to contact the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Stillman School of Business.

Categories: Business, Nation and World