October 22–23, 2026

View Schedule + Register Panelists, Moderators and Speakers

’CUSE Creator Con is the Center’s flagship annual event, convening top creators and leading thinkers from across the creator economy for two days of programming, panels, and networking. Scheduled for October 22–23, 2026 this year, the event brings the Center’s academic and industry sides together in one room — students, faculty, platforms, brands, creators, and partners all working the same two days of programming.

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’CUSE Creator Con 2026 Schedule

Thursday, October 22

Thursday Registration

Welcome & Reception

6:00–8:00 PM – ’CUSE Creator Con Kickoff Gala

Flaum Grand Hall, Whitman School

• Reception and networking, welcome remarks, a Year One recap
  from Center leadership, and headline findings from the “What
  Is a Creator?” study.
• Keynote · Ted Murphy, “The Father of Modern Influencer
  Marketing,” on the past, present, and future of the creator
  economy.

8:00–10:00 PM – Official After Glow

Gaming and Esports Center, Schine Student Center

Cocktails, desserts, and the University’s state-of-the-art gaming facility: console tournaments, F1 sim racing, and PC games.

Friday, October 23

Friday Registration

Exclusive Panels and Talks from Industry Leaders.
All sessions at the Whitman School of Management

9:00–9:30 AM – Arrival, Registration, Coffee

9:30–10:30 AM – Welcome + Opening Panel

The Culture & Business of Sports Content
Moderated by Jordan Kligerman | Newhouse Sports Media Center

• Bryan Blair | SU Athletics 

• Olivia Schmitt | SU Women’s Basketball

• Megan Hueter | Excel Sports/GameSeven 

10:45–11:45 AM – Concurrent Sessions, Block 1

Creators in Industry: From Getting Started to Getting Results
Moderated by Cydavia Patterson | Syracuse University

• Wyatt Gillespie 

• Essie Acolatse | Spotter, Creator

• Stacey Tank 

Defining a Discipline: Researching the Creator Economy 
Moderated by Carrie Welch | Syracuse University

• Mariah Wellman | Michigan State University 

• Brooke Erin Duffy | Cornell University  

• Jessica Maddox | University of Georgia 

11:45–12:45 PM – Lunch break

12:45–1:15 PM – Signature Research Unveil

Creator, Defined 

• Carrie Welch | Researcher 

• Nicholas Bowman | Data Analyst 

• Malik Evans | Meta 

• Matty Weisholz | Student Creator  

1:30–2:30 PM – Concurrent sessions, block 2

Regulating the Feed: Who Writes the Rules?

• Cameron MacPherson | Syracuse University 

• Howard Smith 

• Sandra Carbone 

From Pitch to Post: Anatomy of a Brand Deal 

• Michael Curtis | Proud Management 

• Imaris Reyes | Ensemble 

• Jack Adler | Out2Win 

2:30–2:45 PM – Quick break

2:45–3:15 PM – Headliner conversation

3:15–3:50 PM – Student creator showcase

3:50–4:00 PM – Closing remarks

Panelists, Moderators and Speakers