Published on January 31, 2024 by Morgan Black
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McDermott, Carson, Brown, Lohrke, Mazzei and McCombs represented ϳԹas panelists during the USASBE 2024 conference.
Throughout the three-day event, ϳԹfaculty 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.
ϳԹfaculty 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 ϳԹbusiness majors. Authors on this manuscript include Matt Mazzei, interim chair of the entrepreneurship, management and marketing department and ϳԹStartup 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 ϳԹStartup 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 ϳԹfaculty and former faculty was titled “Reflections on Student Entrepreneurship: 10 Years of the ϳԹStartup 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 ϳԹStartup 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.”
ϳԹis 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, ϳԹis the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. ϳԹenrolls 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. ϳԹfields 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.
