The Beswick Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations for the Beswick Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty opening in Entrepreneurship at the level of associate professor or professor, to commence on or about August 15, 2009.

 

Expectations and Qualifications: The person we seek will contribute to the strategic direction of WPI’s entrepreneurship and innovation programs, including curriculum, outreach, and scholarship.  S/he will be expected to generate support from diverse stakeholders to convert vision into viable programs that are nationally prominent and become a key element of WPI’s goal of becoming the Innovation University, a charge initiated by President Dennis Berkey and supported by the Board of Trustees.  To facilitate success, we offer outstanding support for research and teaching, outstanding students (median traditional SAT 1300), great relations with the business community, and an innovative and collegial educational environment.

 

 

It is critical that the Beswick Professor be credible with faculty, students, and the wider business community.  In that regard we seek one who holds a PhD in business, engineering, or science; has significant teaching experience in an area of entrepreneurship; and has a research record that includes publications in top refereed journals.  Experience as an entrepreneur, top manager, or officer in a technically-oriented, entrepreneurial firm is highly desirable.

 

 

Questions and Consideration: For a confidential conversation about the position, please contact our search committee chair, Prof. Chick Kasouf (chick@wpi.edu; 508.831.5548), or Prof. Mac Banks (macb@wpi.edu; 508.831.5965).  To be considered, interested parties should submit a letter of application, current C.V., and contact information for five professional references.  Other supporting materials are welcomed and will be helpful to the committee.  Send all materials via email to margeg@wpi.edu or via mail to:  Beswick Professor Search, Department of Management, WPI, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA  01609-2280.

 

The Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Our entrepreneurship center has been ranked in the top 10 programs among colleges and universities with an entrepreneurship emphasis.  We serve about 1200 students and about 2400 entrepreneurs/investors/ service providers annually through our many programs and events, including the very active WPI Venture Forum.  In addition to its monthly meetings, and other outreach efforts, the WPI Venture Forum hosts a weekly radio show that is #1 in its time slot.  Additionally, we are active participants in the new Boynton Angels and are proximate to the second largest pool of Venture Capital in the U.S. 

 

Our Department: The Beswick Professor will be a member of the Department of Management, WPI’s business school.  Our focus is developing innovative and entrepreneurial leaders for the technological world.  We offered the first technology entrepreneurship minor in the U.S. and we are presently designing other undergraduate and graduate opportunities.  Among the entrepreneurship and innovation faculty members are McRae Banks, previously chair of the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management and chair-elect of the Entrepreneurship Division of the American Society for Engineering Education; Chick Kasouf, previously a chair of the Entrepreneurial Marketing Interest Group (EMIG) of the AMA; Erwin Danneels, one of the bright stars in innovation research in the U.S.; and Jerry Schaufeld, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, founder of three angel groups, and co-founder and first chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum. 

 

 

The Department has a strong national reputation in technology-related business disciplines and fields.  Our part-time MBA program, accredited by AACSB, has earned several top-10 rankings, including #1 in the Northeast and #9 in the

by BusinessWeek.  Our faculty members have often been recognized externally for their outstanding research and internally for outstanding teaching.  They have also received numerous grants from the NSF, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, U.S. AID, and the U.S. Department of Education.

 

 

Our University: WPI is a selective private university with an innovative curriculum centered on engineering, science, technology, and business.  Ranked highly by US News & World Report among national comprehensive universities, WPI enrolls 2900 undergraduates and 1000 graduate students.  WPI enjoys close working relationships with many corporations.

 

 

Our Location: Worcester, the second largest city in New England, is approximately one hour from
Boston
, and is home to, and surrounded by, many cultural, social, and athletic amenities.  For dual career families a significant attraction is the many scientific and technology employers, and colleges and universities, in the immediate area.