The Innovate@BU community gathered last week to celebrate the graduating class of 2025 from the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Minor program. The ceremony, held on May 15, brought together students, faculty, family members, and alumni to honor the accomplishments of these future innovators.
The event featured heartfelt speeches from graduating students who reflected on how the minor transformed their approach to problem-solving and collaboration during their time at BU.
“Innovation isn’t just about products. It’s about relationships, collaboration, and community,” shared James Rhee (CAS’25) during his remarks. “The work we do now and after graduation is only as strong as the people we surround ourselves with.”
Each student speaker emphasized different aspects of their experience in the program, highlighting three key themes that defined their journey: curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.
Addison Cummings (COM’25) described how the minor opened doors to new ways of thinking. “I became curious not just about entrepreneurship but about people, ideas, and ecosystems shaping our world,” she explained. Addison credited her spotlight presentation from SI250 with helping her land an internship that led to her post-graduation position as a communications associate at The New York Times.
Mark Fraenkel (CAS’25) shared how the minor’s approach to learning through real-world experiences prepared students for their futures. “Being around other entrepreneurs was huge—being around other people that think the same way we do, and have that same sort of drive and ambition,” he reflected, highlighting the community aspect of the program.
The ceremony also featured remarks from faculty members who have guided these students throughout their journey, including Yoo Jin Chung, Senior Lecturer in Management & Organizations; Ian Mashiter, Director of Curriculum at Innovate@BU and Master Lecturer in Strategy & Innovation; Wendy Swart-Grossman, Questrom Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation; and Patrick Abouchalache, Lecturer in Strategy & Innovation.
Brendon Jones (CAS’24), an I&E Minor alumnus, shared insights about how the program’s impact extends beyond graduation. “The I&E Minor gave me more than just skills—it gave me a community of entrepreneurs,” Jones remarked.
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Minor has seen remarkable growth across Boston University, drawing students from a variety of disciplines and schools. The program emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, with students from engineering to film to biology working together on projects that solve real-world problems.
As Lily Johnson (CAS’25) noted in her speech, “I’m not the same girl that I was when I sat in SI250 all those years ago. Back then, I was a dimly lit spark, just waiting to blossom into who I am today. And now I am a star. I’m forever grateful for this program. I can confidently say that it changed my life and gave me that sense of community that I longed for my whole life.”
In her closing remarks, Siobhan Dullea, Executive Director of Innovate@BU, encouraged graduates to continue applying their entrepreneurial mindset as they move forward in their careers. “You invested in your future with this minor,” she told the graduates, emphasizing that the skills they’ve developed will help them navigate rapidly changing industries.
Students interested in learning more about Boston University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Minor can explore course requirements and more on this page.
