Syracuse University Libraries recently appointed Traci L. Geisler as director of the Blackstone LaunchPad (LaunchPad). She succeeds Linda Dickerson Hartsock, founder and former executive director of the LaunchPad, who has transitioned to the role of strategic initiatives adviser at Syracuse University Libraries.
Prior to joining the LaunchPad, Geisler served in an investment, program and contract management role at The Tech Garden since 2016.
She began her career in communications and sports and entertainment after graduating with a dual degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and The College of Arts and Sciences. She obtained her master’s in business administration from the City University of New York and her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School.
In her role as director of the LaunchPad, Geisler will be responsible for creating programs and services that support Syracuse University students, faculty, staff and alumni across all disciplines. This includes entrepreneurship resources for those who want to build and create, as well as intrapreneurship resources for those who want to strengthen leaderships skills. The LaunchPad is dedicated to inspiring, coaching and empowering the world’s future innovators through connections with subject matter experts, coworking space, individualized coaching, alumni and peer mentoring, workshops, professional networking events, demo days and talent fairs, competitions for seed funding, toolkit resources, technology platforms, access to accelerators and innovation grant funding.
