Syracuse University’s Trailblazers

Each year Syracuse University recognizes the 50 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by Orange alumni with the ’CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award. The ceremony takes place on campus and includes a symposium at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management—giving the awardees the chance to share valuable business insights with current Syracuse students and faculty.

Below are snapshots of some of the awardees showcasing the diverse range of industries represented.

Michelle Schenandoah G’19

Founder and Executive Lead; Rematriation; Syracuse, New York

Rematriation is dedicated to supporting the movement of rematriation, which is Indigenous women-led work to raise human consciousness toward a relationship with Mother Earth. The organization uplifts Indigenous women’s voices through their digital storytelling platform and in-person gatherings—ensuring their stories and knowledge are widely shared. She’s also releasing a talk show and podcast series, “Rematriated Voices with Michelle Schenandoah,” in 2025.

Schenandoah earned a master’s degree in magazine, news and digital journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Her favorite course was offered through the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship, where she engaged in real-time business development of her organization.

“The program at Newhouse truly helped shape my understanding of the current digital landscape of multimedia publishing and social media,” she says.

Fun fact: As an Oneida Nation member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, it’s important to Schenandoah to stay connected to the Syracuse University Indigenous community, which she does as an Orange alumna and adjunct professor in the College of Law.

Rob Long ’12, G’14

Executive Director; Uplifting Athletes; Doylestown, Pennsylvania

By funding research and connecting individuals and families with a network of athletes and athletic organizations, Uplifting Athletes uses the power of sport to build a community that invests in the lives of people impacted by rare diseases.

At Syracuse, Long studied marketing management and supply chain management as an undergraduate in the Whitman School of Management and then pursued a graduate degree in new media management from the Newhouse School. He was also on the football team, which he says was an incredibly impactful experience in learning the true meaning of being a teammate.

“My time at Syracuse was instrumental in preparing me for many of the challenges I faced while building Uplifting Athletes,” he says.

Fun fact: Since 2018, Uplifting Athletes has funded more than $1 million in research grants to the next generations of rare disease researchers and, since 2022, has provided Uplifting Experiences programs to more than 1,200 individuals impacted by a rare disease.