Syracuse Sun

Jim Weiss, a media and health care business leader, will be the keynote speaker at the Newhouse Convocation Ceremony in 2025. Weiss is the chair and founder of Real Chemistry, a global health innovation company. The ceremony will occur on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the JMA Wireless Dome.

Weiss, a 1987 Newhouse School graduate, has long supported the institution, helping to expand learning opportunities for students. Together with his wife, Audra Weiss, he established the Weiss Center at Newhouse. The center focuses on developing programs related to communications, influencer marketing, artificial intelligence, and analytics, aimed at preparing students for careers in strategic marketing and communications.

Real Chemistry, founded by Weiss, played a crucial role in establishing the Emerging Insights Lab, a social media command center at the Newhouse School. Dean Mark J. Lodato praised Jim Weiss, saying, “Possessing an entrepreneurial spirit and forward-looking mindset, Jim Weiss serves as a role model for students as they begin to forge their own paths in technology-driven industries."

Over the years, Real Chemistry has grown from a small consultancy into a company with over 2,200 employees, working with high-level organizational clients. Weiss emphasizes the importance of data in achieving decisions, having pioneered its application in the biopharmaceutical and health care sectors.

Weiss remains committed to driving innovation in the health care industry through data and technology, aiming to address significant health challenges globally.