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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.

      National search to begin for the dean of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions

      by Erica Peters

      Central Michigan University Provost and Executive Vice President Nancy E. Mathews has announced the national search for the university’s next dean of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions.   

      Mathews has appointed a search committee co-chaired by Dr. René Shingles, Professor of Athletic Training in the School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences in the College of Health Professions, and Dr. George Kikano, Dean of the CMU College of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs. The search committee will play a crucial role in the selection of the next dean. Members of the committee include: 

      • Ray Allen, Department Chair, Physical Education and Sport

      • John Andraka, Faculty member, Physical Therapy 

      • Karmen Fox, Executive Health Director, Nimkee Clinic, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe

      • Kate Hodgkins, Director, Carls Center for Clinical Care and Education 

      • George Kikano, Dean of the CMU College of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Committee Co-Chair 

      • Dawn Nelson, Faculty member, Communication Sciences and Disorders 

      • April Osburn, Executive Director, Mid-Central Regional Area Health Education Center 

      • Erica Peters, Executive Assistant to the Provost  

      • Anthony Rentzel, Exercise Science-Kinesiology Major, Peer Mentor/Health Professions Residential College 

      • Naveen Sharma, Division Director, School of Health Sciences 

      • René Shingles, Faculty member, School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences, Committee Co-Chair 

      • Emily Webster, Faculty member, School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences   

      The dean of the College of Health Professions is responsible for all operations of the college and provides leadership regarding research and graduate and undergraduate education both on- and off-campus. “The new dean will advance interprofessional education and interdisciplinary collaborations with the CMU College of Medicine, while working collaboratively with faculty and staff to grow the college’s enrollment”, Provost Mathews said.

      Dr. Greg Zimmerman is the Interim Dean of the College, a role he has held since July 1, 2024. The search for the next permanent dean will be conducted over the course of the Fall 2024 semester and will be assisted by Dr. Jim Johnsen and Dr. Ann Baily with Greenwood/Asher & Associates.  

      Several listening sessions have been organized with Johnsen and Bailey to allow stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts about the qualities and attributes of the next dean, challenges and opportunities they may encounter in this role, future accomplishments of the college, and points of pride about CMU and the surrounding community. Listening session details are listed below and are available on the Provost’s website.

      Listening sessions will be held in 2255 Health Professions. For those interested in attending virtually, please use the following login information

      Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84056966194

      Meeting ID:  840 5696 6194

      Sessions on Wednesday, Sept. 4: 

      • 9:00-9:45 – Staff 

      • 10:00-10:45 – Students 

      • 2:00-2:45 – Faculty  

      Sessions on Thursday, Sept. 5: 

      • 10:00-10:45 – Open session

      • 11:00-11:45 – Open session 

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