Saxbys Partnership Brings a Student-Led Experiential Learning Cafe to the Elizabeth Seton Library at the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Paid, credit-aligned leadership roles give students high-impact experience running a real campus business
Bronx, NY - February 3rd, 2026
The University of Mount Saint Vincent has announced a new partnership with Saxbys, the pioneering education company that transforms campus operations into student-led businesses.
Saxbys will open an entirely student-led, experiential learning cafe in the newly renovated Elizabeth Seton Library, advancing the University’s long-term vision to reimagine the library as a dynamic, 21st century “library of the future.” The cafe will be integrated into the ongoing renovation of the library and illustrate how learning spaces across campus are evolving to support today’s students by combining academic resources, student support services, and environments that encourage collaboration, engagement, and applied learning beyond the classroom.
The cafe will function as a paid, experiential learning environment where Mount students fully operate a campus business including taking on real profit-and-loss (P&L) responsibility. Through Saxbys Experiential Learning Platform®, students will participate in structured, credit-aligned roles that emphasize leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and career-ready skill development, while remaining on track academically.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to preparing students for life after graduation by embedding real-world experience directly into campus infrastructure. By situating a student-led operation within the Elizabeth Seton Library, the University and Saxbys are reinforcing the idea that experiential learning is not an add-on to the academic mission, but a natural extension of it.
“One of the things that excites us most about this partnership is the opportunity to be part of the Elizabeth Seton Library’s reimagination as a place where learning happens in many forms,” said Nick Bayer, Founder and CEO of Saxbys. “By integrating a one-of-a-kind student-led Saxbys cafe into this space, we are creating an environment where students actively apply what they are learning by leading teams, serving their community, and making financial decisions, all while building the confidence and capabilities that will carry forward into their careers.”
University leadership echoed this vision emphasizing how the partnership aligns with the Mount’s broader mission and long-term strategy for student success. Dr. Susan R. Burns, President of the University of Mount Saint Vincent, highlighted the role the partnership plays in advancing the University’s commitment to experiential learning, career readiness, and the education of the whole person.
“This partnership with Saxbys represents exactly the kind of innovative, mission-driven collaboration we seek at the Mount,” said Dr. Burns. “By placing students in leadership roles within a real-world business environment, we are creating powerful opportunities for them to apply what they learn both in and outside the classroom, build confidence, and develop the professional and life skills they need to thrive. This is education of the whole person in action—where academic learning, personal growth, and career preparation come together in meaningful and lasting ways.”
Together, these perspectives reflect a shared belief that meaningful learning happens not only in classrooms, but in the spaces where students gather, collaborate, and engage with the broader campus community, demonstrating the University’s commitment to aligning campus infrastructure with students’ evolving needs and long-term institutional priorities.
“The Saxbys cafe is a key part of the ongoing transformation of the Elizabeth Seton Library into a more welcoming, student-centered space,” said Kevin DeGroat, Vice President for Operations at UMSV. “It also reflects our commitment to a self-operated campus dining model that enhances the student experience and supports how our community uses and enjoys campus spaces every day.”
By integrating a student-led operation into a high-traffic academic space, the University is advancing a model that supports both daily campus life and long-term learning outcomes, without separating operations from the academic mission.
Each term, a competitively selected Student CEO and suite of Student Vice Presidents focused on Recruiting, Marketing, and Finance will lead the cafe. Students from across majors will be eligible to participate in paid, credit-bearing roles associated with the cafe, with opportunities designed to align with existing academic pathways and experiential learning frameworks at the University.
Another key aspect to the partnership is how Saxbys aligns with the University’s broader vision for experiential learning and the evolution of business education at the Mount.
“The Saxbys launch offers so many positives for UMSV students,” said Raymond Pullaro, Dean of the School of Business at the University of Mount Saint Vincent. “In addition to managing a commercial enterprise with a view toward growing revenue and generating profits, students have the opportunity to develop as leaders among their peers, navigate the interpersonal complexities of dealing with the public in a retail setting, and honing communication skills necessary to interact with stakeholders. Each of these aspects will serve them so well in future career settings.”
The Saxbys cafe creates a setting where students can practice decision-making, collaboration, and a high-impact leadership experience supported by outcomes—to date, students who have served as Saxbys Student CEOs have proven to advance post-graduation into leadership positions seven times faster than their peers. Additional details about student involvement, academic alignment, and timelines will be shared in the coming weeks.
The campus community is invited to celebrate the cafe’s Grand Opening on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026. Guests can enjoy Saxbys signature Cold Brew and Matcha Collections, made-to-order grilled cheeses, all-day breakfast, protein-packed Fit Frolatte! drinks, and more. Fun giveaways and opening-day surprises will be available for early guests.
Saxbys is a pioneering education company that turns campus operations into student-led businesses and real-world learning environments.
Through its high-impact Experiential Learning Platform®, Saxbys empowers the next generation of leaders by embedding paid, credit-bearing roles with real P&L responsibility into daily campus operations. In these roles, students build confidence and career-ready skills while institutions strengthen retention and deliver meaningful, measurable student success tied to career readiness and accelerated paths to leadership.
Over the past decade, Saxbys has developed more than 3,000 student leaders, served over 9 million guests, and currently operates over 30 cafes nationwide in partnership with leading colleges and universities.
About University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers a nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the University equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of achievement, professional accomplishment, and leadership in the 21st century.