Dear friends,
We have a unique opportunity and an important role—preparing students for the real world and providing them with skills and grit that come not only from the classroom, but from practical experiences and unique learning opportunities that equip them for their lives and careers.
In keeping with our land-grant mission, we are focused on providing a well-rounded education that sets students up to become the future leaders the business community needs to remain competitive. But this isn’t enough on its own. To be successful in their overall development, students need skills—an understanding of creative discovery, a global mindset, and financial literacy—that will support them both personally and professionally.
In this issue you will read several stories on students’ entrepreneurial efforts that will likely amaze you as you realize the potential value their innovations could bring to Washington state and beyond. A standout example is the feature on BeeToxx, a team of students who competed in the WSU Business Plan Competition and have gone on to secure high placings and awards at regional competitions. Their winning innovation, a bee food additive that protects bees against the harmful effects of encountering pesticides during pollination, could improve beekeeping practices worldwide by helping to prevent colony collapse.
A follow up feature on team Kulé’s progress with a digital thermometer that improves milk pasteurization practices among the Maasai will transport you to rural Africa, where the team’s efforts are one step closer to saving lives. The team coached the Maasai on properly using the thermometer, storing milk, and cleaning containers to reduce dangerous pathogen and bacteria transmission.
Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and mindset across campus is the focus of the article on WESKA, a new, immersive entrepreneurship program designed for WSU graduate students from scientific, nonbusiness disciplines, and WSU partners interested in learning about entrepreneurship and developing their own ventures. This new program is in lock step with our goals of providing business education across the University, being recognized as a regular contributor of influential research to academic disciplines, and being recognized by business and policy communities as the leading source of research-based insights and critical thinking about business.
Additionally, as part of this issue’s focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, I hope you enjoy the feature on Assistant Professor Alex Kier’s research that measures the value of imaginativeness in entrepreneurial success.
In our Stay Connected section, a feature on Marla Meyer, our newly hired Moss Adams accounting career advisor, demonstrates how industry support can make a difference in the quality of education we are able to provide our students. Similarly, the feature on David Kurz illustrates the impact of scholarship support on a student’s ability to achieve academic and entrepreneurial goals.
As we kick off fall semester, we are looking forward to seeing you at some of the Carson College events you’ll see listed on the Stay Connected calendar, such as the Power Breakfast on September 27, Celebrate Carson College! on October 25, and Homecoming on September 28-29.
Go Cougs!
