Organization Description The Innovation Hub was founded in March 2020 by President Ellen Neufeldt, less than one year into her tenure as president. President Neufeldt’s commitment to encouraging social mobility and innovation was the catalyst for the Innovation Hub. As the nexus for innovation in the community, the Innovation Hub serves the Innovation Ecosystem at CSUSM, a diversely intuitive group of programs that further the missions of the university and community to solve complex social problems alongside faculty and industry leaders. The Innovation Hub, in addition to being a nexus for social innovation and the innovation ecosystem, provides a wide array of opportunities for the community. Students can participate in workshops, attend guest speaker series' and participate in research to solve real-world problems. The Innovation Hub is also equipped with professional prototyping equipment, such as numerous 3D printing devices.
Program Information The Innovation Hub at CSUSM is set to launch a faculty-led, student-run marketing agency designed to offer complimentary digital marketing services to nonprofits and local entrepreneurs. This initiative not only aims to provide students with real-world experience but also serves as a pilot for an innovative experiential learning program with the potential to become self-sustaining.
The agency will primarily focus on assisting nonprofits in areas such as lead generation, new donor acquisition, and search advertising. Additionally, services will be extended to startups and small businesses along Hwy 78, addressing their specific digital marketing needs.
Starting with a core team of 5-6 students from fields like marketing, communications, or graphic design, the agency plans to scale its operations as it acquires more clients. To ensure the quality and continuity of projects, year-round internships will be offered, allowing students to earn academic credits for their participation.
Operational oversight will be provided through weekly faculty-student meetings at the Innovation Hub. Students will also benefit from mentorship by professionals from community marketing agencies. Regular client progress reports will be shared at the hub, fostering community engagement and creating a mutually beneficial learning environment.