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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 underway for student affairs vice president

      by User Not Found

      Central Michigan University President Bob Davies has appointed a committee to begin the search for the important position of vice president for student affairs. The vice president is responsible for the management, development and coordination of services, programs and activities vital to student success and the student experience at CMU. 

      Interim Associate Vice President Shaun Holtgreive currently leads the student affairs division, reporting directly to the president, following the retirement last year of Associate Vice President Tony Voisin.

      Shawna Patterson-Stephens, vice president and chief diversity officer, serves as chair of the search committee. The committee is charged with vetting candidates and providing valuable input in determining the selection of finalists for the position. Other committee members are:

      • Jonathan Glenn, associate athletic director/student leadership, athletics.
      • Addison Hoekstra, undergraduate student.
      • Eltaro Hooper, civil rights and Title IX investigator, Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity.
      • Anne Hornak, faculty, educational leadership.
      • Kate King, undergraduate student and president, Student Government Association.
      • Laura Martinez, officer, CMU Police Department.
      • Eric Pouncil, graduate student.
      • Erik Rodriguez, public relations manager, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
      • James Span Jr., executive director, Student Inclusion and Diversity.
      • Ayeba Wilson, graduate student.
      • Kyle Pybus-Jerome, ceremonies and events coordinator, President’s Office (Admin Support/Human Resources representative).

      DHR Global, an international consulting firm, is assisting the search committee.

      Events

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      Entrepreneurship News

      Questions?

      Contact the team