Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Announces New Executive Director

November 14, 2023

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI), housed in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business, officially welcomes Breanna Hale as its new executive director. This vital ACEI role is responsible for leading the center and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit around the UT campus and the greater Knoxville community.

A Seasoned Entrepreneurship Leader

Coming from Utah Valley University’s Entrepreneurship Institute, Hale brings vast experience in developing entrepreneurship programming, building a network of mentors and resources for students and increasing student business funding.

Hale has dedicated the last eight years to working with entrepreneurship centers around the country, supporting their missions and impactfully helping students and community members. She has also served on the boards of Tech Coast Venture Network, WeAngels and the Mountainland Association of Governments Revolving Loan Fund.

“I am honored to be the new executive director at the Anderson Center,” says Hale. “I have seen firsthand how access to knowledge, mentorship, tools and resources can build strong, socially responsible companies and change lives.”

Lindsay Mahony, who served as the ACEI interim executive director, explains, “We are tremendously excited to welcome Breanna Hale to the Anderson Center team. Her passion and experience make her the perfect fit to lead the center’s entrepreneurship endeavors across campus and in the community. We look forward to reaching more students, developing entrepreneurial talent and helping students from all majors create businesses. Under her leadership, the Anderson Center will continue to build on its positive momentum as a collaborative supporter of innovation and technology commercialization at UT.”

About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a university-based resource for entrepreneurship across the region and the state of Tennessee. Its mission is to foster an entrepreneurial culture at UT and across the state by developing student skills, providing experiential learning opportunities, conducting meaningful entrepreneurial research and connecting students with mentors and resources that enable them to successfully start and grow new businesses.

CONTACT:

Brennan Hullett, bgalbrai@utk.edu