Innovate State kicks off speaker series with Christen Rochon of Divas & Dorks

The MSU Innovation Center welcomes Christen Rochon, creator of www.divasanddorks.com to start the 2015/2016 Innovate State Speaker Series at 6 p.m. on September 23. Rochon, a NYC-based graduate of MSU, is an accomplished writer and creator of multiple successful web ventures.

Divasanddorks.com is a bridge between lifestyle and technology focusing on an African American audience. The Divas and Dorks blog brings together men and women who enjoy learning about fashion, technology and entertainment. Featured on Essence.com, BlackEnterprise.com and Rollingout.com Divas and Dorks highlights gadgets, ground breaking tech and a community linking everything back to fashion and lifestyle. 

Rochon studied advertising and public relations at MSU, was voted a top blogger by Black Enterprise, The Root and was recently featured in the Verizon Wireless “Potential of Us” initiative as part of Black History Month.  Rochon has over 10 years of radio marketing experience and is currently expanding her Divas and Dorks website into the automotive and travel realms with DivasDriveInHeels.com and DivasonDestinations.com. 

“Christen’s entrepreneurial spirit is something we hope to instill in every student coming through our doors, says Paul Jaques, Director of Student and Community Engagement at Spartan Innovations. Combining multiple topics into one very successful blog and turning that blog into a business, students will be able to learn about working in the digital field and what it takes to be successful in the market today from Christen’s presentation.”

The Innovate State Speakers Series is free, but attendees are asked to register via Eventbrite before the event. Rochon’s presentation will take place at the MSU Innovation Center in the 300 Room, located at 325 E. Grand River Avenue in East Lansing. 

The Innovate State speaker series is a free monthly event, giving students the ability to learn from and interact with successful entrepreneurs. Future Innovate State speakers include:
Henry Balanon, October 13
Nathan Bashaw, November 17
Eric Jorgenson, December 8
Marc Hudson, January 19