Entrepreneur Faculty Development 
COURSE (RE) DESIGN Summer Institute 

The 2027 Faculty Entrepreneur Faculty Development COURSE (RE) DESIGN Summer Institute will be held May 10-14, 2027 

Applications will open in March 2027. If you would like to be added to a list to receive an alert when applications open, email innovation@tulane.edu.

Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Entrepreneur Faculty Development Course (RE)Design Summer Institute, hosted by the Tulane University Center for Engaged Learning & Teaching and the Tulane Innovation Institute.

Over four days in May 2026, faculty from across the university engaged in hands-on sessions exploring entrepreneurship frameworks, pedagogical strategies and practical tools for direct classroom use. The program emphasized translating entrepreneurial thinking into cross-disciplinary course design, focusing on developing entrepreneurial mindsets, leveraging ecosystems to support student success, and creating engaging, impactful syllabi. Participants received a $1,000 stipend for successfully (re)designing a syllabus for a course offered in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The institute was led by Eric Liguori, Jim Moran Professor and associate dean at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, whose expertise in entrepreneurship education guided participants in reimagining how entrepreneurial skill sets can be integrated across fields of study.

Summer 2026 faculty graduates represented the School of Liberal Arts, A.B. Freeman School of Business, School of Science and Engineering, School of Architecture and Built Environment, School of Medicine, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the School of Professional Advancement and the School of Social Work.

Guest speakers included New Orleans ecosystem experts Tim Williamson (Nieux Society) and Evie Poitevent Sanders (Greater New Orleans Inc.); startup founders Amanda Martin (Studyville) and Vincenzo Caronna (Thrivvy); and Tulane faculty member Michelle Jackson, a graduate of the Summer 2025 cohort. Their contributions brought practical perspectives and real-world insights to the four-day experience.

PHOTOS FROM THE 2025 SUMMER INSTITUTE

In the fall of 2024, Tulane University students can engage in innovative learning through courses designed to integrate creativity and practical problem-solving into their studies. These courses include opportunities to use robotic 3D clay printers for climate change adaptation in the new Tulane Digital Ceramics Lab and leverage the Tulane Film Festival as a case study for entrepreneurial ventures. 

The Tulane University Innovation Institute (TUII) leads this movement with the newly introduced Faculty Innovation Grants. These grants were designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the curriculum at all ten Tulane schools. Each grant provides up to $2,500 for faculty members who applied in the spring of 2024. The Tulane Innovation Institute Faculty Innovation Council, composed of faculty experts and innovators, reviewed the grant applications and selected the grant awardees.  

The Faculty Innovation Council will also work with TUII to develop workshops and offer faculty development grants in FY25, in partnership with the Center for Engaged Learning & Technology (CELT), to support faculty interests in innovation and entrepreneurship best practices. This initiative is part of a broader effort to deepen an innovation mindset with traditional academic frameworks.

Faculty Innovation Grant classes will be offered across six Tulane schools. Notably, Rob Lalka, of the A.B Freeman School and author of the recently released book "The Venture Alchemists: How Big Tech Turned Profits into Power," will collaborate with Matthew Escarra of the School of Science and Engineering and a recent Tulane Innovation Institute Proof of Concept awardee for his groundbreaking solar technology, to teach a course on ethical technology practices. The "Tech Ethics" course will explore strategies for mitigating the risks associated with technological advancements.

“We are excited to partner with faculty in the classroom on these inaugural innovation grants,” said Kimberly Gramm, Tulane Innovation Institute David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer. “These grants empower our faculty to offer forward-looking learning experiences to equip our students to become the innovators of tomorrow.”

The Tulane Innovation Institute proudly announces the recipients of these inaugural grants and their respective courses:

    •    Alissa Bilfield, A.B. Freeman School of Business: Social Venturing for a Sustainable Future  
    •    Matthew Escarra and Rob Lalka, School of Science and Engineering and Freeman School of Business: Tech Ethics  
    •    Saad Hassan, School of Science and Engineering: Human-Computer Interaction  
    •    Amanda Hill and Evan Nicoll, School of Liberal Arts: The Mythology and Reality of Leadership  
    •    Adam Marcus, School of Architecture: Ecological Tectonics: Ceramic Assemblies for Climate Adaptation  
    •    Muira McCammon, School of Liberal Arts with Courtesy Appointment in Tulane Law: Emerging Technologies & Internet Law
    •    Jolene Pinder, School of Liberal Arts: Film Festivals  
    •    Richard Priore, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: Managerial Economics for Public Health Leaders  
    •    Andrew Ward, School of Liberal Arts: Introduction to International Development

The Faculty Innovation Grant initiative underscores the Tulane Innovation Institute's dedication to advancing an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative outlook across the university. To learn more about the Tulane Innovation Institute’s upcoming programs and opportunities, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.