The Burgess Institute's executive in residence program is a cornerstone of hands-on learning and mentorship. By bringing seasoned leaders to campus, the program offers students direct access to professionals who excel in the global marketplace. This exposure provides students with invaluable insights into real-world business practices, leadership and industry trends, regardless of their academic focus.
Beyond classroom knowledge, the program fosters student networking, potentially opening doors to internships and future career opportunities. Ultimately, by connecting students with accomplished executives, the institute aims to enhance the Dickinson degree and equip graduates with a competitive edge in finance, banking, economics and related fields.
2024-25 Executives in Residence
Nate Mitchell ’09, co-founder and CEO of Mountaintop Studios and co-founder of Oculus
Since graduating from Dickinson in 2009, Mitchell's career has lived at the intersection of technology and entertainment. Mitchell is the co-founder and CEO of Mountaintop, the venture-backed game studio dedicated to delivering ground-breaking multiplayer experiences. Previously, he co-founded Oculus (acquired by Facebook for over $2 billion), the virtual reality pioneer, where he served as VP Product for over seven years. In 2016, Mitchell was named to Forbes’ "30 Under 30" list, which recognizes the “brightest young entrepreneurs, breakout talents and change agents." Before Oculus, Mitchell was a senior software engineer at both Gaikai, the cloud gaming startup, and Scaleform, the leading UI solution for games.
Amy Nauiokas ’94, founder and CEO, Anthemis Group, and chair of Archer Gray
Nauiokas began her career on Wall Street, culminating with senior posts at Cantor Fitzgerald and Barclays. She then co-founded Anthemis, the industry leading VC widely credited as the first firm to focus on the multi-trillion-dollar fintech industry. Along with her Anthemis team, she supported more than 250 companies and thousands of entrepreneurs. Amy is also the founder of Archer Gray, an award-winning production company responsible for Academy Award-nominated Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Once and standouts like Diary of a Teenage Girl and Lost Girls.
Nauiokas’ generosity has been essential to the college’s work in keeping impactful West African programming an integral part of global education at Dickinson, matched equally by her ongoing support of scholarships for our students.
Susan Miller '81, President & CEO, ATIS
Coming in Spring 2025.