Shippensburg University is pleased to announce the appointment of Robin Burtner as the director of the Charles H. DillerJr. Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation. Burtner is also the director of the Shippensburg University Small Business and Development Center (SBDC) and has served as the interim director of the Diller Center since December 2024.
The Diller Center cultivates creative thinking and collaboration, generating cutting-edge ideas and solutions. By bringing together students, faculty, and community members from diverse backgrounds, the Diller Center sparks the exchange of ideas and the blending of expertise. This synergy leads to breakthroughs that wouldn’t occur in isolation, strengthening the hub’s ecosystem. Beyond technical skills, the Diller Center also nurtures problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork—key entrepreneurial traits.
The Morgan Makerspace provides the physical tools and environment for rapid prototyping and experimentation, allowing aspiring student entrepreneurs to transform concepts into tangible products swiftly. Equipped with advanced prototyping equipment, like 3D printers, entrepreneurs can rapidly design, test, and refine their concepts. Entrepreneurs can experiment, fail fast, and iterate efficiently, which is critical in the early stages of business creation.
Simultaneously, the SBDC offers crucial business expertise, mentorship, and resources to navigate the complexities of launching and scaling a company. This integration enables seamless progression from ideation to product development to market entry, maximizing the potential for entrepreneurial success and driving economic growth within regional communities.
“We don’t move forward in isolation, we move forward by building strong, lasting connections between founders, investors, universities, and community leaders. That’s the mindset I bring to Shippensburg’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. I’m truly honored to take on this role permanently and excited to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout our region, while growing entrepreneurial engagement for students of all majors and strengthening their connections with community entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners,” said Burtner.
In her role as director, Burtner is providing leadership during a pivitol time for Shippesnburg University. Renovations to Kriner Hall, the the future home of the Diller Center, Mr. and Mrs. Milton K. Morgan III Makerspace and the SBDC, is nearing completion. This space will enhance Ship’s efforts to support business growth in the region by providing an entrepreneurship hub that will create a synergistic ecosystem that significantly enhances the process of turning successful ideas into successful businesses.
“Robin is a recognized leader and expert when it comes to business development and cultivation. Her knowledge, connections, and experience are exactly what Shippensburg University needs to continue to support the business development and growth needs within our region. We look forward to opening the newly imagine Kriner Hall and watching this endevor grow under her leadership,”
Burtner joined the Shippensburg University SBDC upon its opening in January 2007, serving Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties. As director, Burtner is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing all programs offered by the SBDC; identifying resource requirements and strategies in the delivery of such programs and services; and securing and maintaining the funding necessary to accomplish program goals and objectives in the four-county service area. Sheholds a Master’s of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration.
