×
On Air Now
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Nebraska Wesleyan University Launches New Entrepreneurship Major

By Chase Porter Feb 21, 2024 | 2:29 PM

Nebraska Wesleyan University has announced the launch of a one-of-a-kind new major program to breed the next generation of Nebraska innovators to help diversify the region’s economy and strengthen workforce development.

This fall, NWU students will have the opportunity to be the first class to enroll as a Innovation and Entrepreneurship major. Traditionally, this type of curriculum is exclusive to business majors, but this new program will be uniquely open to all students in any field of study. The program is designed to equip them with skills to refine ideas, start businesses, and tackle complex, societal issues.

“We want and need to be a part of the solution to the state’s brain drain issue,” says NWU President Darrin Good. “Our innovation and entrepreneurship program will prepare our students to be successful in the workforce and help them keep their talents in Nebraska, which is where the vast majority of our graduates stay.”

“We often think about entrepreneurship and innovation as being solely in the domain of a business program,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science Zachary Baumann. “Our state and nation are constantly changing. Our students need to think about novel solutions to big problems that extend well beyond business alone and into the worlds of public policy, the arts, sustainability, biotechnology and so much more.”

The program is made possible by a $2 million gift from Lincoln business owner and NWU alumnus Philip Mullin. He served in multiple roles with Garner Industries before purchasing the company in 1992 and transformed it into a world-class manufacturer.

The Philip S. Mullin Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program is designed to enhance the value of several focus areas:

  • Business, marketing and sports
  • Creative design and the arts
  • Policy and justice
  • Science and technology
  • Sustainability and environment

NWU has launched a search for its program director with entrepreneurial experience who can connect students to new insight and opportunities.