Syracuse University taps Ryan Schram to lead creator economy center

Syracuse University has named Ryan Schram the inaugural executive director of its Center for the Creator Economy, which opened last fall and is now expanding its academic and industry footprint. The move comes as Syracuse launches a creator economy minor this fall and positions the center to shape training, research and partnerships in a fast-growing sector.

Why it matters: - Syracuse University is trying to build a pipeline for students entering the creator economy, a sector that Goldman Sachs Research says includes nearly 50 million full- or part-time creators globally and could reach $480 billion by 2027. - The appointment gives the university’s first academic center focused on the creator economy a practitioner leader as it expands programs, research and industry ties.

What happened: - Syracuse University named Ryan Schram the inaugural executive director of the Center for the Creator Economy. - Schram will start Aug. 3. - The center launched last fall and is led jointly by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. - Syracuse describes the center as the first academic center for the creator economy on a U.S. college campus.

The details: - Schram will oversee the center’s growth across academic programs, research and industry partnerships. - Schram thanked Chancellor J. Michael Haynie for creating the center. - Schram said Syracuse aims to become the global authority on curriculum, research and rankings in the creator economy. - Schram has more than 25 years of experience across public and private companies. - He was named a Top 10 Global Chief Operating Officer at the 2023 OnCon Icon Awards and a Top 101 COO by Boardroom Media in 2022. - Schram most recently served as managing partner at Particle Wave, a boutique advisory firm focused on the creator economy. - Schram spent 13 years at IZEA, including 12 years as president and COO. - Earlier roles included group vice president at Merkle, formerly HelloWorld/ePrize, plus leadership posts at Westwood One and iHeartMedia. - Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato said Schram brings the vision, industry experience and entrepreneurial mindset needed at this moment. - Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie said Schram’s practitioner perspective will help prepare future business and creative leaders. - Syracuse is launching a creator economy minor this fall. - The minor will support careers in content creation, digital entrepreneurship and related business ecosystems. - The minor includes courses from Whitman and Newhouse and electives from other schools and colleges. - One elective is a Name, Image and Likeness class from the David B. Falk College of Sport. - Another elective is Music Industry Marketing and Media from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. - Students from all Syracuse schools and colleges can access center programs and academic offerings. - Syracuse says the minor’s interdisciplinary design matches the structure of the creator economy. - The center’s physical home at Newhouse opened this past spring. - The space includes collaboration and programming areas. - New podcast production booths are scheduled to open in the fall.

Between the lines: - Syracuse is tying the center to multiple parts of the university, not just communications or management, which suggests the school sees the creator economy as a broader business-and-media opportunity. - Schram’s background in operations, advisory work and creator-focused businesses signals a hands-on approach rather than a purely academic one.

What's next: - Schram begins work Aug. 3. - The creator economy minor launches this fall. - New podcast production booths are slated to open in the fall, adding more production capacity to the center. - Syracuse is expected to continue building the center’s curriculum, research agenda and outside partnerships.