Published on January 31, 2024 by Morgan Black Â
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McDermott, Carson, Brown, Lohrke, Mazzei and McCombs represented ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ as panelists during the USASBE 2024 conference.
Throughout the three-day event, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ faculty and students attended sessions dedicated to topics such as the integration of artificial intelligence in entrepreneurial settings, international entrepreneurship case studies, the history of entrepreneurship education, and more.
¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ faculty presented a manuscript in the “Intentional and Effective Entrepreneurship Programs” track where they discussed the development and purpose behind the new entrepreneurship and corporate innovation concentration available for ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ business majors. Authors on this manuscript include Matt Mazzei, interim chair of the entrepreneurship, management and marketing department and ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Startup coordinator; Kate McCombs, assistant professor of management; and Chad Carson, dean of Brock School of Business; Matt Mazzei, interim chair of the entrepreneurship, management and marketing department and ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Startup coordinator; and Kate McCombs, assistant professor of management. These authors addressed the concentration’s curriculum design, which provides a coordinated progression of skill-building to enhance entrepreneurial thinking and innovative behavior, allowing students to generate numerous paths to pursue their career interests.
A second panel presented by ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ faculty and former faculty was titled “Reflections on Student Entrepreneurship: 10 Years of the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Startup Student Incubator”. In addition to Carson, Mazzei and McCombs, Franz Lohrke, former faculty member; and, Keith Brown, former entrepreneur in residence, joined the panel. Through their discussion, all four advisers who have overseen the student incubator program, Lohrke, Carson, Brown and now Mazzei, shared a 10-year retrospective look at the program including its evolution, successes along the way and lessons learned. Additionally, alumna of the ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ Startup program, Kaitlin McDermott ’23, joined to provide her perspective.
Mazzei said, “It was exciting to welcome entrepreneurship educators to Birmingham. We have such a vibrant and growing ecosystem, and it was fun to highlight our community. USASBE is focused on building and supporting entrepreneurship education, so it is a wonderful event to be associated with. It was also a valuable opportunity to work with other schools across the state. It’s always fun to join in conversation and collaboration with those on the cutting-edge of education, so it was a great week.”
¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. ¼«ÀÖ½ûµØ fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.
