Studio 26
Studio 26 is Mercyhurst University’s applied innovation and venture studio—a hub where students, faculty, business leaders, and community partners work side-by-side to solve real-world challenges and create new economic opportunity in Northwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.
Named in honor of Mercyhurst’s founding in 1926, Studio 26 reflects the university’s commitment to mission-driven innovation, workforce development, and regional growth.
What Does Studio 26 Do?
Studio 26 connects industry challenges with university expertise.
Companies, nonprofits, public agencies, and entrepreneurs bring forward real problems—in areas such as:
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Cybersecurity and intelligence
- Data science and advanced analytics
- Business innovation and entrepreneurship
How It Functions
Studio 26 operates through a structured, collaborative model:
- AI-enabled tools and analytics platforms
- Cybersecurity assessments
- Intelligence research and risk analysis
- Business prototypes and commercialization plans
- Workforce training solutions
Local and regional partners submit project concepts or innovation needs. Studio 26’s Advisory Board and directors evaluate feasibility, scope, and community impact.
An external Advisory Board, composed of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, provides strategic guidance, ensures market relevance, and strengthens community alignment.
Faculty mentors guide student fellows and project teams. Students work in a professional environment, applying classroom knowledge to live challenges.
Projects may produce:
Economic Opportunity and Workforce Impact
Studio 26 strengthens the regional economy by:
- Retaining Talent: Giving students high-level applied experience that connects them to local employers
- Supporting Employers: Providing innovation capacity to small and mid-sized businesses that may not otherwise have access to advanced analytics or AI expertise
- Launching Ventures: Helping new ideas move from concept to market
- Expanding Career Pathways: Creating experiential opportunities for students
By aligning university resources with real economic needs, Studio 26 acts as a bridge between higher education and workforce development.
Community-Centered by Design
Studio 26 is not an isolated lab—it is a community-facing innovation platform.
Its model is built on partnership:
- Business and nonprofit collaborators
- Civic and public sector leaders
- Entrepreneurs and start-ups
- Faculty scholars and researchers
- Undergraduate and graduate students
Together, they form a network committed to strengthening the Erie region and contributing to national innovation efforts.
Why It Matters
Studio 26 demonstrates how a university can serve as an economic engine—not only by educating students but by actively generating solutions, partnerships, and opportunities.
At its core, Studio 26 is about shared innovation, growth, and impact—ensuring that Mercyhurst’s talent and expertise translate into tangible benefits for the broader community.
Contact Us
Studio 26
Christopher Mansour, Ph.D.
Chair, Computing and Information Science (Cyber Security and Data Science) Department; Associate Professor; Director, Studio 26
