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Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
We empower entrepreneurial thinkers—whether you’re launching a venture, building a family business, creating social impact, or driving innovation inside an organization. Turn ideas into action.
Start your entrepreneurial journey
At Central Michigan University, the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship is more than a program—it’s where students from every major turn ideas into real impact. As Michigan’s first Department of Entrepreneurship, we’re a hub for hands-on learning, innovation, and mentorship.
Here, you’ll:
- Build an entrepreneurial mindset that sets you apart in any career path—launching ventures, shaping social missions, advancing family businesses, or driving innovation inside established companies.
- Collaborate across disciplines to create projects that matter.
- Learn from alumni, faculty, and industry leaders who’ve built their own paths.
- Gain real-world experience through workshops, hackathons, and pitch competitions.
- Compete in the New Venture Challenge, where students win up to $10,000 in cash and grants to grow their ideas.
Whether you want to start something new or transform what already exists, the Institute is your launchpad.
Take the next step!
When you’re ready to get started, stop by Grawn 164 to join the team or visit the Idea Den in Grawn 166—your space to brainstorm, build, and take the next step.
Questions?
Anja Mueller, a chemistry professor at Central Michigan University, noticed a bit of a snag in her classes. Some students seemed like they were zoning out, leading to not-so-great grades and some no-shows. But instead of shrugging it off, Anja decided to shake things up a bit.
Teaming up with CMU colleagues who were already involved in the new InSciTE program – folks like Wiline Pangle, Mark Francek, Itzel Marquez, Doug Lapp, and Shasta Sabo – she aimed to make her classes a place where everyone felt valued.
Now, what's this InSciTE program all about for faculty? Well, in one way it's like a community of educators that model inclusive teaching methods. InSciTE provides a support system for all faculty that may want to try out new techniques to make STEM education more inclusive – InSciTE offers workshops, training on equity, professional development retreats. The result is a community where every student’s voice matters.
Mueller's teaching game plan? Being super inclusive and tuned in. She made sure to embrace her students' diverse backgrounds and tailor her teaching to fit their needs. With active participation, group projects, and flexible assessments, she created an environment where everyone felt included. And she wasn't stopping there – Anja was all about learning her students' names, beefing up communication, and adding diverse perspectives into the mix.
And guess what? Mueller's efforts paid off big time. By ditching the old-school lectures and diving into interactive learning, her students’ grades were improving, and they were actually remembering what they learned. Amped up by her success, Anja is determined to keep fine-tuning her teaching style, ensuring every student felt like they matter when they left her class.