The School of Management has appointed Susan C. Steffan executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL).

Active in the entrepreneurial community, Steffan is an experienced trainer and facilitator on a variety of topics, particularly in the areas of finance and accounting for entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

She previously worked for Medaille College, where she was most recently an associate professor of the practice in the Department of Business, Management and Leadership. She also served as department chair and director of the school’s MBA program.

Prior to her role in higher education, Steffan held positions in the private sector and ran an independent consulting business. She also serves on the board of directors for Alden State Bank.

Steffan earned both her MBA and BS in business administration from the UB School of Management.

“We welcome Susan and look forward to working with her,” says Dean Paul Tesluk. “Her unique skill set will enable her to build on the high-quality entrepreneurial and small-business programming and support to the community that has defined the CEL brand for more than 30 years.”

Steffan will succeed Anthony DeSimone, who has served as the interim director of the CEL for the past year.

Established in 1987, the CEL provides participants with individualized and interactive education in entrepreneurship. More than 1,400 CEL alumni employ more than 23,000 Western New Yorkers, and their businesses are worth more than $2.3 billion to the local economy.