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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.

      Search begins for next University Communications leader

      by Ari Harris

      President Neil MacKinnon has appointed university and community members to a committee to lead a national search for Central Michigan University’s next vice president of University Communications and chief marketing officer.

      Jefferson Campbell, dean of the College of the Arts and Media, and Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president of Student Recruitment and Retention, will co-chair the search committee. Other committee members are:

      • Concha Allen, faculty member, Department of Marketing, Hospitality and Logistics
      • Abigail Dean, deputy chief marketing officer, University Communications
      • Ari Harris, executive director, University Communications
      • Nick Hussein, faculty member, Department of Marketing, Hospitality and Logistics
      • Jeremy Mishler, deputy chief/advancement and campaign strategies, Advancement
      • Praise Oyimi Omare, student representative, appointed by SGA president
      • Kaleb Patrick, interim vice president, Innovation and Online
      • Heather Polinsky, chair, School of Communication, Journalism and Media
      • Erik Rodriguez, public relations director, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
      • Chris Walker, deputy athletic director/external operations, CMU Athletics
      • Amy White, director of creative media, University Communications

      Cali Clark, director of employment services, will serve as the human resources representative. Jennifer Blake, administrative assistant to the vice president of Student Recruitment and Retention, will provide administrative support to the search committee. Greenwood Asher and Associates, an executive search firm with expertise in higher education, also will support the search committee.

      The position description has been posted on the senior officer search webpage and CMU careers webpage. The search will begin later this month and will be conducted through the spring semester.

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      Questions?

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