TO:                 Deans, Department Heads, Directors, and Purdue Faculty

FROM:            Dr. Joseph Pekny, Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Interim

                       Director of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship

DATE:             Spring 2015

RE:                 Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy 

The Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship in Discovery Park is pleased to announce faculty development opportunities supported by the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. 

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy is a professional development program aimed at mid-career or senior faculty who have entrepreneurial interests.  These interests may include understanding the commercialization possibilities for some aspect of their research program including development of a nonprofit entity, exploring opportunities to involve graduate students in entrepreneurial activities, identifying strategies to introduce undergraduate students to entrepreneurial projects, or considering the synergies among large interdisciplinary research centers and entrepreneurial activities.  The program also introduces faculty to the leadership skills required of entrepreneurs.  The program encourages collaboration as a path to innovation.  The Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy provides faculty with networking opportunities and resources for understanding how to incorporate entrepreneurial concepts into high impact university programs and realize the potential for commercial opportunities emerging from these programs.  Participants meet with distinguished administrators and leaders to discuss topics critical to the development and support of leadership and entrepreneurial skills. 

The intended audience for the Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy is strongly motivated, tenured or soon to be tenured, faculty.  This year, clinical and research faculty are invited to apply.  Applicants should have an interest in: leading project centers; leading large interdisciplinary research teams; leading innovation in discovery and learning; developing and commercializing new technology; developing new strategies for Purdue University to influence and impact the state, nation, and world; and/or, honing their leadership and entrepreneurial skills to pursue administrative leadership positions.   While commercialization interests are encouraged, faculty do not need to have a technology to commercialize to participate in this program.  Past projects include: the development of computer tools for interdisciplinary research sites; the creation of strategic business plans for core research facilities at Purdue; the development of a business plan that will facilitate the submission of large-scale research proposals; the expansion of interdisciplinary centers; the creation of student courses and projects; creation of a sustainable not-for-profit entity; as well as progress on the licensing of a technology or starting a company. Project descriptions for prior and present year participants can be viewed at: http://www.purdue.edu/dp/entrepreneurship/ela809.php 

To extend the impact of this program, Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy faculty fellows each receive a development award of $5000.00 and the opportunity to utilize Discovery Park, the Purdue Foundry, and Office of Technology Commercialization staff and capabilities.  Faculty in this program may be assigned a Krannert M.B.A. student to assist them with some aspect of their project.  Faculty are encouraged to use the monetary award to develop high impact projects, and to foster entrepreneurial leadership in their students.  Additionally, two Academy participants from the previous year will be selected as an Entrepreneurial Faculty Scholar based on their year of Entrepreneurship Leadership Academy activities.  The Entrepreneurial Faculty Scholars are provided with $15,000 of support to continue work on his or her project.   

To nominate faculty from your college or school, please submit: (1) a three-page bio of the faculty member (use the National Science Foundation style as a standard); (2) a 1-2 page statement written by the faculty member regarding interest in this opportunity and expected impact of participation; and (3) a signature of endorsement from the department head and dean. These materials should be submitted by April 10.  Faculty will be selected to begin participation in the Leadership Academy for fall 2015, beginning August 2015.  Approximately ten faculty will be chosen to participate in the program. 

Please submit applications to:  Bambrah Walker    e-mail: bambrah@purdue.edu