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Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
We are a dedicated institute for student entrepreneurs across campus and beyond. We aim to maximize your success by fostering your entrepreneurial mindset, promote inter-disciplinary collaboration and provide support for the creation and development of your new ventures. Jumpstart your ideas and get involved today!
Tune in for excitement!
Passion. Potential. Pitches. Don't miss any of the 2025 New Venture Challenge excitement.
Tune in Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for great ideas and fierce competition. Then, join the judges, mentors, spectators and teams as they see who is going home with thousands of dollars in venture financing. The awards broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. and one team will walk away as the overall best venture.
Start your entrepreneurial journey
Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration is the home of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and the first Department of Entrepreneurship in the state of Michigan. We are a student-centric hub where experiential, curricular, and external entrepreneurial opportunities intersect.
Our mission is to maximize student success by fostering a campus-wide entrepreneurial mindset that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of new ventures.
We aim to create innovative programming, boost cross-campus and ecosystem collaboration and provide a comprehensive mentoring program.
Our institute provides extracurricular opportunities and is open to all undergraduate and graduate CMU students.
Student opportunities
- Meet experienced alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and other business and political leaders.
- Learn practical skills, innovative thinking, and connect with mentors and entrepreneurial resources.
- Attend skill-building workshops and compete in pitch competitions and Hackathons.
- Take part in special scholarship programs and travel experiences.
- Pitch your venture at our signature New Venture Challenge event and compete for up to $20,000 in cash awards.
Find your path
Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur?
Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.
Bridging nutrition education with practical skills in the kitchen
by
Kathleen Hodgkins
Mount Pleasant, MI – On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, students in HPE 223 Basic Health Concepts, led by Professor Michelle Woodbridge, joined Nutrition and Dietetics student Erika Cheney and Dr. Jeff Fisher for an engaging and educational healthy cooking class. The event took place in Central Michigan University’s Allen Foundation Culinary Nutrition Center, located in Wightman Hall.
The hands-on activity allowed students to apply their knowledge of nutrition in a real-world setting by preparing hummus and pita, a staple Mediterranean dish known for its rich nutritional profile. Hummus, made from chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and seasonings, is packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and essential vitamins, making it a nutritious addition to any diet.
“The opportunity to engage in experiential learning is invaluable,” said Professor Fisher. “Students not only gained a deeper understanding of the nutritional benefits of the foods they prepared, but they also had fun in the process. It’s experiences like these that help bring classroom concepts to life.”
Students enjoyed collaborating in the kitchen and experiencing firsthand how simple, wholesome ingredients can be transformed into a delicious and healthy meal. The event reinforced the importance of practical skills in nutrition education, encouraging students to make informed food choices in their personal and professional lives.
For students interested in further developing their culinary skills, CMU offers NDS 160 Introduction to Cooking, a course designed to build fundamental cooking techniques and enhance understanding of food preparation principles. This class provides a great foundation for anyone looking to improve their confidence in the kitchen while learning about nutrition and meal planning.
To learn more about the Nutrition and Dietetics program and course offerings, please contact program director Dr. Najat Yehia at yahia1n@cmich.edu. For information about the Nutrition minor, please contact Dr. Jeff Fisher at fishe2jj@cmich.edu.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
