Sparking Innovation for 21st Century Social and Economic Justice

The Ignite Institute, a Center of Excellence at Saint Peter’s University, sparks the spirit of entrepreneurship through education, business planning, community-partnered programs and research both on campus and regionally. It positively impacts local economic development as a hub for entrepreneurial empowerment and thought leadership for public, private and nonprofit stakeholders.

The Ignite Institute was founded in 2014 in partnership with Rising Tide Capital.

Carlos Miguel Gutierrez, Jr., J.D.
Executive Director, Ignite Institute

Chanaz Gargouri, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administration
Coordinator, Jersey City Urban Entrepreneur Project

Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Business

Joseph Gilkey, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Chair, Department of Business Administration; Director of Data Science Institute
Faculty Mentor