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Crawford Hall, the new home for the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, celebrated numerous milestones this year after opening in August 2024 with the start of fall semester.

“This has been a remarkable year – the building has been transformative in the ways that we work, educate our students and welcome alumni and friends of the college to this beautiful space,” said Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., dean of the college. “Each day as I drive past Crawford Hall, I am reminded that this new facility allows us to provide best practice education with the latest technology and appropriate spaces for educating the business leaders of tomorrow.”  

Fall Semester Highlights 
Prior to the start of fall semester, building donors, including Ambassador Edward F. Crawford for whom the building is named, were invited to a “First Look” at Crawford Hall. During the event guests enjoyed dinner, building tours and a presentation thanking them for their support.  

Classes officially began in the building on August 18, bringing the first group of students through the doors to learn, study, attend events and network.  

The Grand Opening Celebration for Crawford Hall took place on September 27 with an event attended by more than 700 guests including university leaders, faculty, students, donors, alumni and dignitaries. The dedication event included remarks from university leaders and Claire Crawford, granddaughter of Ambassador Edward F. Crawford. Highlights of the event included performances by The Marching Golden Flashes and a selection from “Lord of the Dance” by the �������� Orchestra. Following the program, guests toured Crawford Hall while enjoying refreshments.

On the following day, alumni and community members were invited to tour Crawford Hall during an open house prior to the �������� versus Eastern Michigan Homecoming game.  

During the fall, the college hosted a number of events focused on students and guidance counselors. In October, an event for high school guidance counselors in Crawford Hall was held in partnership with ��������’s Enrollment Management team. During the event, counselors toured Crawford Hall and experienced the state-of-the-art technology and labs in the building.  

Area high school students participated in the second annual Accounting High School Competition in the James R. Unger Global Forum in November. The event brings together high school students to learn about the accounting profession while participating in a case competition. Cash prizes were presented to winning high schools and students.

The Idea Pitch competition took place in November, during which eight student finalists pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win cash prizes. Winners were Ishwor Acharya, first place with Legacy Webs; Marissa Jackson, second place with Beauticase and Olivia Fenneken, third place with Twisty Treasures.  

Spring Semester Highlights 
The first speaker series in Crawford Hall occurred in early spring with the Michael D. Solomon Entrepreneurship speaker series. The event featured digital storyteller Steve Giralt, founder of New York based The Garage. Giralt discussed his company’s multimedia services for television and film in the James R. Unger Global Forum.

Also in February, the college’s Career Services team hosted the All-Business Major Career Fair, the first of several career fairs held in the building in the spring. Hundreds of students were in attendance to network and learn about available job and internship opportunities at 27 companies. Additionally, the Sales and Marketing Career Fair and numerous employer information tables provided opportunities for student networking during the spring semester.

Members of the Golden Flash Asset Management Group, the college’s student managed investment fund, presented on the fund’s performance to the �������� Alumni Foundation Board, �������� President Todd Diacon and other guests in the James R. Unger Global Forum. Students also discussed the economic outlook and fund positioning given the current economic outlook. 

The first spring pitch event to take place in Crawford Hall was held April 17 in the Donald S. and Johnna F. Grant Atrium. Six student finalists pitched their businesses for a share of $21,000 in cash prizes. Winners included Zoe Noel with Zonuts, first place; Aaron Rombach with Romby Innovations, second place; Angelique Wong with Angie’s Sweets and Treats, third and Nat Foote with Saint Pierre, who received the Promising Idea Award. 

“Crawford Hall has become a destination for students on front campus where they can attend classes, purchase a meal at the Commerce Café and enjoy the seating in the atrium while they study and collaborate with faculty and other students on projects throughout the semester,” Spake said. “In designing the building, the architects were mindful of the latest innovations in business education and those features are included throughout from the Walter G. and Judy A Van Benthuysen Collaboration Staircase, the James R. Unger Global Forum, and the Robert M. And Janet L. Archer Trading Lab. The world-class spaces within the building are as integral to education as the people within it.”