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Mattie Newman Ford Professorship in Entrepreneurship

Description

  • Title of Endowment – Mattie Newman Ford Professorship in Entrepreneurship
  • Date Established – November 19, 1998
  • Purpose of Endowment – Provide support for a professorship within the Gordon Ford College of Business that will provide instructional and program leadership while further promoting the importance of a quality education for management and business professionals.
  • College/Department where housed – Gordon Ford College of Business
  • Status – Filled
  • Date Occupied – August 2001
  • Occupant information:
    • Name –Dr. Leo Simpson
    • Degree held – BS in Chemical Engineering, NC State University; MBA University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D. Entrepreneurship, University of Colorado
    • Major Publications - Published in Academy of Management Journal, Journal of -Small Business Management, and numerous professional conference proceedings. Delivered more than 50 talks at professional meetings and more than 75 professional seminars to business and industry. Conducted more than 500 business analyses and more than 200 business plans.

 Program Information

  • Major Responsibilities:
    • 1. Design and implementation of entrepreneurship program at WKU,
    • 2. Design and teaching of entrepreneurship courses,
    • 3. Enhancement of community interface between WKU and community.
  • Areas of Expertise:
    • 1. Classes in business analysis that develop student teamwork skills and analyzecompanies in the community providing the business with 50-100 page analyses of their company.
    • 2. Entrepreneurship courses in which students develop business plans-also growth analysis for companies desiring growth and productivity enhancement.
    • 3. Supervisory development and internal efficiency analysis for local firms.
  • Other Areas: - Dr. Simpson has started a student organization in the college, Students in Free Enterprise, as well as being a mentor to one of the Mills' twins (they are on full entrepreneurship scholarships) as they continue to develop their internet business and take classes at WKU.

    The Ford Professorship also provided funding that enabled several Management faculty members to attend a conference concerning entrepreneurial activities.