UTICA, NY – SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Jim Staihar, Assistant Professor of Business Ethics, as the inaugural Executive Director of the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence.

The newly launched center, located in Donovan Hall, serves as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary education, featuring an AI & Business Lab, a Business Ethics Initiative, an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Hub, and a state-of-the-art AI Trading Room. In his new role, Staihar will oversee the center’s initiatives, which aim to prepare students to navigate the evolving intersections of technology, business, and ethics.

“I am deeply honored to be named Executive Director of the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence,” said Staihar. “This center represents a unique opportunity for our students to explore artificial intelligence, confront the ethical challenges of modern business, and pursue bold entrepreneurial ideas. I am excited to work alongside our faculty, staff, and community partners to create an environment where students can develop the skills, knowledge, and integrity needed to lead in today’s dynamic global economy.”

In addition to his new leadership role, Staihar serves as Assistant Professor of Business Ethics in SUNY Poly’s College of Business. He was previously the inaugural Fishlinger Family Endowed Scholar at the University of Maryland’s Center for the Study of Business Ethics, Regulation, and Crime and has held fellowships at Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. His research explores business law, business ethics, and criminal law theory, with publications in leading journals including The Journal of Philosophy, Iowa Law Review, and the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law.

SUNY Poly Interim Dean of the College of Business Dr. Rafael Romero praised Staihar’s leadership and dedication:
“Dr. Staihar is an outstanding scholar, teacher, and mentor who embodies SUNY Poly’s values of excellence, integrity, and innovation,” said Romero. “As Executive Director, he will guide the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence into becoming a vibrant hub where students can engage with the most pressing issues of our time—artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and the ethical foundations of business. I can think of no better leader to ensure this center fulfills its promise of preparing students to make a positive impact in the world.”

The Center’s launch builds on the recent AACSB reaccreditation of SUNY Poly’s College of Business, a distinction earned by fewer than six percent of business schools worldwide. Together, the AACSB reaccreditation and the establishment of the NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence underscore SUNY Poly’s commitment to excellence in business education, providing students with the resources and experiences needed to thrive in diverse industries and communities.

The NYSTEC Business Center of Excellence will continue to grow through strong partnerships with industry, philanthropy, and government, ensuring that SUNY Poly students are positioned to become leaders in the Mohawk Valley and beyond.