Hobart and William Smith Colleges

history

In commemoration of the William Smith Centennial, a facility at 603 South Main Street was dedicated as an innovative space where HWS students could gain access to coursework, presentations, workshops and community projects that would deepen their understanding of leadership. Since its inception, the Centennial Center has been a symbol for co-curricular programs that engage, develop and ready students for future contributions of value, character and significance. In 2007, the Center was renovated and endowed as part of a historic Campaign for the Colleges, including the lead gift from Trustee Cynthia Gelsthorpe Fish '82, in honor of the William Smith Centennial. 

"Since William Smith College began and Hobart and William Smith became coordinate Colleges, our alumni and alumnae have pioneered in everything from English to economics to history," said Fish during the building's dedication in November 2008. "Now, as we cut the ribbon on the Centennial Center, we will become leaders among leadership programs across the United States." 

"This building speaks to us," Fish said. "Its message is clear: leadership is a value that will carry from this Centennial well into the next." 

Since its inaugural year, the Centennial Center has grown in programming as well as staff. In addition to the HWS Leads certificate program, the Center, invites noteworthy speakers to campus for a Leader in Residence series, sponsors student projects with leadership fellowships and provides leadership development for local elementary school students through the Youth Leadership College. 

In 2011, the Centennial Center organized the first Pitch Competition, marking the Center’s expansion into entrepreneurship by embedding problem-solving and idea generation into the creation of potential new ventures. This intersection of leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation has led to programs such as the HWS IdeaLab and Opell Start-Up Fund Committee – programs that offer rich, comprehensive experiences and produce compelling student outcomes. The Centennial Center officially changed its name to include Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2018.

Today, the Centennial Center is a dynamic operation that offers unparalleled experiences and resources for young leaders to develop global awareness, community focus and the skills to transform conviction into change. With its collection of educators, the Center has fulfilled the mission of the original visionaries by becoming a point of distinction for the Colleges.

mission statement

The Centennial Center is a dynamic center that prepares leaders and entrepreneurs to drive innovation.  Through experiential education, the Centennial Center provides opportunities to explore and apply theoretical and practical knowledge in leadership and entrepreneurship.

Vision Statement 

The Centennial Center strives to be a catalyst for meaningful change by providing transformative experiences for students, faculty, staff and community members. As a comprehensive resource, the Centennial Center adds value to the liberal arts education by challenging individuals to engage with new thinking in leadership and entrepreneurship.

centennial center staff

LISA KAENZIG (She/Her)

Dean of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Director of the Centennial Center

Dean Lisa Kaenzig has over 30 years of administrative and academic experience, including more than two decades serving as a dean at HWS and several years working in politics in Washington, D.C. On the national stage, she is current Chair of the Advisory Council for the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) and the past Chair of the PLEN Board of Directors. HWS is an institutional member college of PLEN which has headquarters in Washington, D.C. and is the only national organization with the sole focus of empowering, educating and engaging women and marginalized gender groups in public policy to promote diverse, inclusive leadership in policy making.

Dean Kaenzig currently serves as the HWS Dean of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Director of the Centennial Center. She is also the Director of the PLEN chapter at HWS. Dean Kaenzig founded the HWS First Generation Initiative in 2006 and was appointed to serve in leadership roles on several HWS initiatives including the HWS Middle States Accreditation Steering Committee, the President’s Committee on Inclusive Excellence and the Strategic Diversity Plan Committee

A frequent invited speaker on issues relating to talent development and introverted learners, Kaenzig’s acclaimed research on the topic, “Introversion: The often forgotten factor affecting the gifted,” is cited as one of the most influential references in the field. Kaenzig has appeared on NPR and the BBC’s podcast “The Why Factor” to discuss her research on introversion. In the local community, Kaenzig served as the founding president of the Music Boosters of Geneva and on the board of the Geneva Theatre Guild.

Dean Kaenzig earned her Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership from William and Mary, her M.A. in Human Resource Development from the George Washington University and her B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University.

Craig Talmage

Centennial Center Entrepreneurship Faculty Fellow, Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship

Talmage has more than ten years of combined not-for-profit, nonprofit and public sector research and leadership experience. Before becoming an educator, he founded and operated a research consulting practice for small businesses and nonprofits in Arizona. He also serves as the editor-in-chief of Community Development. In his own journey through higher education, Talmage pivoted away from a traditional business school to join an interdisciplinary master’s program where he could apply industrial/organizational psychology to understand nonprofit and for-profit workplaces. He earned his Ph.D. in Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University and now teaches courses in local development, tourism development, organizational behavior/development, nonprofit management and leadership, and social entrepreneurship. At HWS, he serves as the faculty liaison for the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning and faculty advisor to a number of clubs and organizations on campus.

Kevin Miles

Centennial Center Entrepreneurship Fellow, Business Management and Entrepreneurship Faculty

Kevin Miles brings more than 25 years of transformative experience in entrepreneurship, education, and business management to higher education. While building and running his portfolio of successful businesses, he taught graduate courses in management, entrepreneurship, and business law. This experience teaching while actively running companies became a pivotal moment, leading him to eventually sell his businesses and transition to full-time academia with a focused mission: educating and mentoring students in business and entrepreneurship within liberal arts institutions.

As a director of collegiate business and entrepreneurship programs, he secured funding and built one of his previous institution's largest academic programs. A serial entrepreneur who has founded and grown 11 successful ventures, including a pioneering management consulting firm specializing in business turnarounds and a technology company, Miles brings real-world expertise to the classroom and entrepreneurship center.

His impact on student entrepreneurship is exemplified through numerous success stories, including multiple first-place finishes in a variety of business pitch competitions, first place in the United Nations Global Business Plan Competition, multiple place finishes in the New York Business Plan Competition, two teams of entrepreneurs receiving Shark Tank invitations, and two ventures securing seven-figure investments. Miles takes particular pride in mentoring first-generation student entrepreneurs and students from diverse backgrounds, helping them transform innovative ideas into viable businesses that create positive social impact.

Combining his engineering background from Bucknell University with an MBA in Management and Finance and his DBA in Social Entrepreneurship, Miles offers unique insights into both technical innovation and business development. He actively serves the entrepreneurial ecosystem through organizations including SCORE, the Small Business Development Center, Startup Corps, Economic Development Corporation, Beacon, Sidebar, The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Design Thinking Association, and Habitat for Humanity, where he has helped aspiring entrepreneurs develop businesses that strengthen families and communities.

At the core of his teaching and mentoring philosophy is the belief that every business, regardless of industry, has the potential to create meaningful positive social impact. This perspective shapes his approach to business and entrepreneurship education, where he guides students to build ventures that achieve both business success and positive community outcomes.

Student Interns

Holly McCarty ‘25

Holly McCarty (she/her) is a Centennial Scholar a double majoring in History and Writing & Rhetoric with a minor in Italian Studies. As a senior, she has taken advantage of opportunities available on campus including being a student worker at Campus Safety, a study table mentor, a Teaching Fellow, a First-Year Mentor and part of HWS Day of Service. Holly is also a member of the William Smith Laurel Society and Hai Timiai. This year, she serves as the Centennial Center Cohen ’67 Leadership Intern, where she focuses on HWS LEADS, Leadership Distinction, the First-Year Mentor program, and programming for Centennial Scholars. Holly is working diligently to evolve and grow the programming available to all students. She is incredibly grateful for the guidance and support she has received from the Centennial Center staff during her time at HWS and is honored to be a member of the team!

Kahlil Fontana ‘26

Kahlil (he/him) is a junior majoring in Business Management and Entrepreneurship and minoring in Media and Society. As an Entrepreneurship Intern at the Centennial Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Kahlil plays a vital role in the process of coordinating various entrepreneurship programs including Idea Lab and the Pitch contest. He provides support and mentorship for fellow students who are looking to take their entrepreneurial ideas to the next level. Additionally, Kahlil hosts the podcast "Behind Success," where he engages with guests to uncover the stories and insights that have shaped their paths to personal and career success. With a passion for innovation, community and leadership, Kahlil is dedicated to enhancing the entrepreneurial leadership student experience at Hobart and William Smith.

Isabella Renzi ‘24, MSM ‘25

Isabella Renzi (she/her) is a graduate student in the Master of Science in Management program at HWS. She also attended HWS for her undergraduate studies and majored in International Relations with a double minor in Writing Colleagues and Spanish. As a graduate student, Isabella stays active on campus through her roles as a Writing Fellow and Bozzuto Marketing Coordinator Intern. At the Centennial Center, Isabella works as a Graduate Community Assistant and manages the center’s communications, social media and outreach. She is working towards building an expansive alumni network and stronger student relations. Isabella is passionate about making a long-lasting impact on the Centennial Center’s relations with its past and present students, and is grateful to be a member of the Centennial Center team.