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Professor Brittany Thierman Connects Business and Community

Posted By Alfred University

May 21, 2026 | Business Faculty General Blogs Parents & Families Pre-College

When students and families are choosing a college, one question often rises to the top: Will professors connect what I learn in class to real life? At Alfred University, Professor Brittany Thierman is a great example of that. As an assistant professor of marketing, Thierman doesn’t just teach business concepts. She lives them every day as the owner of the Neighborhood School of Dance, a long‑standing studio in nearby Olean, New York.

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A Classroom Rooted in Experience

Brittany Thierman Neighborhood School of Dance group photo — Brittany Thierman, assistant professor of marketing, with fellow instructors at the Neighborhood School of Dance

Thierman’s journey with the Neighborhood School of Dance began long before she stepped into the classroom — she started as a student there at just five years old. Years later, she returned not only as a professional, but as the studio’s owner, continuing to grow and expand its impact.

Today, she oversees two studio locations and helps provide dance education to around 200 students, from young children to adults.

For Alfred University students, that kind of experience translates into something invaluable: learning from a professor who actively applies marketing, management, and entrepreneurship in the real world.

Turning Passion into Business

Brittany Thierman, assistant professor of marketing

Running a successful business isn’t just about creative passion. It also requires strategy, branding, and leadership. These are the same skills Thierman teaches in her marketing courses.

Her work managing a multi‑location business, a growing and evolving brand, and community events and performances, including an annual recital tradition, gives her a unique perspective that goes far beyond theory.

Students benefit from real examples, real challenges, and real solutions, making classroom concepts more relevant and easier to understand.

Building Community Through Creativity

The Neighborhood School of Dance isn’t just a business — it’s a community hub. It recently held its 50th annual recital, and the studio has been a meaningful part of the Olean community for decades.

Thierman has continued to build on that legacy by:

Expanding programs for dancers of all ages (beginning as young as 6 months)
Opening a second location in Pennsylvania
Moving the Olean studio into a new, historic space to support future growth

Her work also connects to broader community initiatives, including plans for a Neighborhood Museum of Play, focused on learning through creativity and exploration.

Why It Matters

For prospective students and families, Thierman’s story highlights something important: at Alfred University, faculty bring real‑world experience directly into the classroom.

That means students can expect to:

Learn from professors who are active professionals in their fields
See how classroom concepts apply to real businesses and communities
Gain insights into entrepreneurship, leadership, and career pathways
Build skills that go beyond theory into practical, career‑ready experience

Professor Thierman’s work is a reminder that education at Alfred University isn’t just about lectures and textbooks—it’s about connection, application, and impact.

Whether students are interested in marketing, business, the arts, or entrepreneurship, they’ll learn from faculty who are actively shaping their industries, and bringing those experiences back to their students every day.

How a Marketing Student Published a Novel

As part of a Marketing Strategy course taught by Dr. Brittany Thierman, students were tasked with creating, publishing, and marketing a book over the course of the semester. While many classmates opted for coloring or activity books, marketing major Alexis Izyk saw the assignment as a chance to pursue a longtime goal.