Contact Us
Breaking News...The Entrepreneurship Major is now here!
Click here for the brochure then call Dr. Simpsom, Mr. Schell, Dr. Marvel or Ms. Torger to find out how you can be one of the first to graduate WKU with a Major in Entrepreneurship.
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well at Western Kentucky University. We're committed to promoting homegrown economies by providing programs, services, and environments that support entrepreneurs, assist existing businesses, and encourage the growth of businesses that will stimulate the economy in the region.
The Center links WKU students to private business and community development. The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation provides the flexibility and support needed for WKU to respond quickly to the changing needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Center is a critical component of the WKU's efforts to advance entrepreneurship in the region.
We are committed to the economic well-being of our region, our state, and our nation. We realize the entrepreneurship manifests itself in many ways.
We want everyone at WKU who has an entrepreneurial idea to feel comfortable pursuing that idea with the assistance of our Center. The Center is available for students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. If we can't help you, we will make sure that we point you in the right direction of someone who is able to assist you.
You can reach us by phone at (270) 745-1906 or click here to contact a specific faculty or staff member.
Click the topics below to learn more about us.
Our Mission
The mission of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Western Kentucky University is to promote and support entrepreneurial understanding and ventures among students, faculty and the community at large.
Our Purpose
The primary purpose of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation includes: 1) educating students, prospective business owners and employees about starting and growing a business. Such enterprises create jobs, increase work force skills and employability; and add to the economic base. A spirit of enterprise is encouraged and skills and knowledge acquired which fosters entrepreneurship; and 2) fostering entrepreneurial understanding, education and the creation of new ventures.
The Center is an interdisciplinary program and its success depends on its ability to draw on the talent and expertise from faculty and staff within the entire campus community. The benefit in this organizational positioning ensures that the entrepreneurship program is truly an integrated program among all the colleges within the university, raises the visibility of the entrepreneurship program, and increases the likelihood of involving faculty across the various disciplines.
The Center is an interdisciplinary program and its success depends on its ability to draw on the talent and expertise from faculty and staff within the entire campus community. The benefit in this organizational positioning ensures that the entrepreneurship program is truly an integrated program among all the colleges within the university, raises the visibility of the entrepreneurship program, and increases the likelihood of involving faculty across the various disciplines.
Our Structure
The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s primary focus is on educating students through classroom curriculum, experiential learning and research.
Although the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is physically located in and reports directly to the Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business, to fulfill its potential as an integrative and collaborative program, the Center works with all disciplines within Western Kentucky University.
The Center’s success depends on its ability to draw on the talent and expertise from faculty and staff within the entire campus community. The benefit in this organizational positioning ensures that the entrepreneurship program is truly an integrated program among all the colleges within the university, raises the visibility of the entrepreneurship program, and increases the likelihood of involving faculty across the various disciplines.
The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has multiple audiences:
Although the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is physically located in and reports directly to the Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business, to fulfill its potential as an integrative and collaborative program, the Center works with all disciplines within Western Kentucky University.
The Center’s success depends on its ability to draw on the talent and expertise from faculty and staff within the entire campus community. The benefit in this organizational positioning ensures that the entrepreneurship program is truly an integrated program among all the colleges within the university, raises the visibility of the entrepreneurship program, and increases the likelihood of involving faculty across the various disciplines.
The Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has multiple audiences:
- Potential and active entrepreneurs within the WKU students, faculty, and staff.
- WKU faculty and staff who need entrepreneurial minded students that can transform intellectual property into commercial opportunities.
- Elected officials and policymakers who are exploring public strategies to support entrepreneurs.
- Existing entrepreneurial organizations in the region who would like to network with WKU for mutual benefit.