December 15, 2025
Shawnee State University President Eric Andrew Braun has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), a national nonprofit organization that partners with leaders across the country to build tech economies that support entrepreneurship and lead to more tech jobs in rural America.
“Our rural communities have a long history of entrepreneurship,” SSU President Eric Braun said. “CORI leadership truly values the potential of rural communities and helps tap into their strengths to build the infrastructure needed for tech jobs development.”
Braun explained that while building SSU’s landmark Kricker Innovation Hub, Shawnee State and Portsmouth became one of the first communities served by the CORI network. Working together with CORI, the Kricker Innovation Hub has created an environment that catalyzes business start-ups, fosters entrepreneurship, and supports a regional digital economy. For example, the Hub’s Shawnee XP Accelerator is helping video game developers launch world-class digital studios in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Dr. Braun’s entrepreneurial approach to higher education is elevating the impact that Shawnee State has on students, families, and communities. His leadership is rooted in innovation, collaboration, and Appalachian values of family, self-reliance, practicality, community, and a deep sense of belonging.
“I come from a long line of Appalachian Ohio business owners who dedicated their lives to making rural communities better places to live, work and learn,” Braun said. I’m proud to be associated with the amazing talent at CORI and to use what we’ve learned together to advance rural communities throughout the country.”
Drawing on his background as an attorney, entrepreneur, and business leader – Dr. Braun has positioned Shawnee State University as both a driver of opportunity for
students and a partner in regional economic growth. SSU is a national leader in social mobility and transformational student outcomes and offers top ranked programs in digital game design, engineering technology, and health care professions.