
Yonai joined Flagler College in 2023 as the second Freytag Associate Professor of Economics, and the fourth faculty member to be endowed through the Freytag fund. He brings a wealth of experience and a vision to enhance student engagement and innovation. He aims to foster an environment where students have the freedom to “tinker and explore,” expanding campus engagement through the Center.
“I see the Brown Innovation Center as a place for educating students and the public about the ecosystem of institutions necessary to promote innovation and human progress,” Yonai said. “We will examine how innovation is more than just learning skills but requires an appreciation of the human condition to create new value for others.”
About Derek Yonai

Derek Yonai is a distinguished scholar with extensive experience in directing interdisciplinary centers at Emporia State University, Southern Methodist University, and Florida Southern College. He currently serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Yonai has been recognized for his exceptional teaching, earning the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award at Campbell University and the “Spirit of Inquiry Award” by the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy.
Charles White, dean of Flagler’s School of Business, expressed confidence in Yonai’s leadership.
“I believe that his leadership experience, his vision for the Center, and his expertise engaging students from diverse programs will serve the Center well as we seek to fulfill the mission of engaging students in the innovation process and finding solutions to our most pressing problems,” White said.
Flagler’s Brown Innovation Center
The Brown Innovation Center, which opened in spring 2023, was envisioned as a revolutionary campus resource to foster multidisciplinary collaboration and address pressing challenges. The Center features state-of-the-art equipment, including 3-D printers and a laser cutter, and serves as a hub for students to pitch ideas, organize teams, interact with community partners, and work on projects under the mentorship of industry leaders.