• Hands-on learning: “I think that when you can have that impact as a student where you’ve already given that advice to a business, it’s meaningful not only for the business, but for the students to understand they can impact real people in the real world in which they live.”

• Student businesses: “I think in the materials I’ve seen, one of the things that really impressed me was the student businesses in Acorn Alley, and that’s somewhat unusual. There are other institutions around the country that offer student-based businesses, but to be able to connect the town with the university, I think that’s a fabulous idea.”

• Preparing students for the global economy: “We have a global economy. You can imagine when [students] come back to the states, how competitive they are having experience not only studying abroad but working with international organizations.”