St. Thomas taps entrepreneurship chief as next dean of Opus College of Business
Laura Dunham, an entrepreneur-turned-professor, has been named dean of the Opus College of Organization at the University of St. Thomas, the 2nd-premier small business school in Minnesota.
Dunham for the final five decades has been affiliate dean in charge of the Schulze University of Entrepreneurship within just the organization faculty. She succeeds Stefanie Lenway, who led the Opus Faculty of Small business considering that 2014.
“The Opus College or university demands an entrepreneurial chief, who will carry on to make a society of innovation in all corners of the college or university,” Lenway stated in a statement. “Laura is this entrepreneurial leader with deep encounter building plans in the Schulze University that have acquired nationwide recognition.”
With Dunham at the helm, the Schulze College grew virtually three moments in measurement as measured by the variety of majoring college students and all round credit rating hours taught. Entrepreneurship is now the fifth-major important at the University of St. Thomas.
In that time, the Schulze School went from unranked to No. 23 on the Princeton Review’s checklist of undergraduate entrepreneurship courses. Dunham aims for St. Thomas to be among the the top-ranked Catholic organization colleges.
“We have a truly great school and workers who are committed to educating our pupils and supporting our group,” Dunham mentioned in an job interview. “What is terrific about the rankings is that they permit individuals know about our function.”
Dunham joined St. Thomas 19 decades in the past following co-founding a studio theater as a youthful grownup. She aided generate interdisciplinary experiences at the St. Paul-primarily based college, together with a workshop for 1st-12 months college students that matches, for occasion, engineering learners with finance majors on assignments.
Dunham worked with some of the university’s top benefactors, including Greatest Get founder Dick Schulze and Liquid Investments CEO Ron Fowler, to produce four business competitions that reward learners with scholarships and seed capital.
Far more a short while ago, she served the Schulze College acquire relationships with the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Economic Enhancement Center and some others to make much more alternatives for prospective pupils and organization leaders of color in Minnesota. As a result, Opus University commenced to entice a much more diverse pool of candidates to scholarship plans and boost school variety.
“We are genuinely committed to making an natural environment that attracts a extra various established of learners,” Dunham reported. She noted that the Twin Towns location, like much of the nation, faces a shortage of expertise and a populace that is significantly numerous.
“We need to have to make absolutely sure every person is acquiring access to educational prospects,” she stated. “It truly is a moral very important and an financial crucial.”
Lenway will remain at the Opus School, turning into a faculty fellow in its Business in a Electronic Globe initiative.