Augsburg University is launching the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, dedicated to advancing 
education and support for its students and graduates in the disciplines of innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The center’s focus is on the practice and psychology of innovation and entrepreneurship, especially in relation to design thinking, lean start-up, and agile frameworks. Cory Erickson, of the business department, is leading the innovation center.
The center will launch with a 2020-21 Innovator Series, beginning with a presentation for Augsburg’s community from Jeffrey Cernohous, founder and COO of Interfacial. The September 30th presentation is the first of six for this academic year. The series will feature successful innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders from local companies and organizations.
The center will provide practical education and outcomes for Augsburg’s students and alumni through a variety of activities. These activities include cooperative projects between Augsburg student teams and local companies; support for students who are building organizations that impact social causes through innovation and entrepreneurship; support for student entrepreneurs launching their own companies and organizations; the creation of student teams drawn from the science and business departments to solve problems for new start-ups; student contests offering awards and potential funding for new ventures; the generation of research and scholarship through a think tank; and the promotion of rewarding internships for students in the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Media Contact: Gita Sitaramiah, Director of Public Relations and Internal Communications
Office: 612.330.1476
About Augsburg
Augsburg University, celebrating its 150th anniversary, offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to 3,400 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. Learn more at Augsburg.edu.