Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship
The J. Lawrence Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship is an interdisciplinary center intended to help students from across campus learn how to turn their creative ideas into successful business ventures. The Connolly Center is named in recognition of the generosity and support of Leigh and Larry Connolly ’79. Connolly is the former CEO of Connolly Inc., a recovery audit accounting and consulting firm. The couple gave $2.5 million to the university in 2013 to establish the center.
A liberal arts university is the ideal setting in which to foster entrepreneurship. Students are immersed in a course of study that emphasizes analytical thinking, qualitative and quantitative reasoning, creativity and innovation. The Connolly Center provides them with the necessary tools to develop business plans that are both executable and fundable, and an extremely supportive faculty and alumni community helps shepherd students’ ventures from concept to business plan to launch and beyond.
‘W&L After Class’ Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Jay Margalus
In this month’s episode, Margalus discusses unlearning, the richness in risks and how the Connolly Center provides experiences in chance-taking.
Entrepreneurship Summit Connects Students and Alumni With Shared Interests
The 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit brought students together for networking, honing their pitch skills and sharing ideas with alumni.
Jay Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship, offers us an office tour.
W&L Student-Run Investment Fund Ranks Among Nation’s Largest
The Williams Investment Society’s $25.5 million assets under management rank sixth nationally according to a survey conducted by the Center for Investment Research.
Washington and Lee University to Host 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit
The two-day program will be held on campus April 11-12.
Iuteri’s work with the Connolly Entrepreneurship Society and business administration professors has led to the expansion and growth of her own nonprofit.
Jay Margalus receives VIVA Open Adopt Grant
The professor of entrepreneurship and leadership will use the funds to create an open-source materials course.
Students Share Entrepreneurial Ideas in Video Pitch Competition
Students polished their pitching skills at a video pitch competition on Dec. 6 in the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning.
Connolly Center Creates Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program
The program exposes students to cutting-edge ideas by bringing business and entrepreneurial leaders to campus.
McBoyle chose W&L for its close-knit community and the opportunity to excel academically and athletically.
Jay Margalus Publishes Paper in The Lancet Discovery Science Journal eBioMedicine
The article discusses the inexpensive solution for early cancer detection that Margalus helped develop alongside researchers at the University of Chicago.
Eliza Spaht ’26 took a course on the economics of winemaking with the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Business and Culture program in Barcelona, Spain.
Jayson Margalus
Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship