Establishing the I+E initiative

In response to President Wintersteen’s charge to Innovate at Iowa State and building upon Priority 1c. of the College of Design’s strategic plan – “Develop and support innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives” – we appointed a director of innovation and entrepreneurship and formally launched our “I+E” programming, including our Start Something programming for students.

The Foutch Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund has enabled the College of Design to implement a comprehensive approach to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. This includes leadership development; faculty, staff, and student engagement programs; curriculum enhancements; and special events that showcase innovative thinking. By integrating I+E principles across various aspects of college life, we are creating an ecosystem that nurtures creativity, problem solving, and entrepreneurial mindsets among our students and faculty.

As we look to the future, the College of Design is committed to expanding and deepening our I+E initiatives. These future initiatives reflect our commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that empowers our students, faculty, and staff to make a positive impact on the world through design. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and invite our supporters to join us on this continuing journey of innovation and transformation.

We aim to create more opportunities for interdisciplinary projects and courses that bring together students from the Departments of Architecture, Art and Visual Culture, Community and Regional Planning, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture.

We will seek out more collaborative opportunities with other colleges to tackle complex, real-world challenges that require an array of expertise.

We plan to increase our engagement with local communities, businesses, and government agencies to apply design thinking to regional challenges and opportunities.

Building on successes like the Lobitos for Care charrette, we will pursue more international partnerships to give our students a global perspective on design and innovation.

We will strengthen our ties with university-wide initiatives, such as the Student Innovation Center and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, to provide our students with even more resources and opportunities.

We are committed to staying at the forefront of design education by integrating emerging technologies and innovative teaching methods into our curriculum.

We plan to develop more robust mechanisms to support the development and launch of design-driven startups and social enterprises.

We aim to involve more faculty and staff in our I+E initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the entire college.

We will create comprehensive assessment tools to better understand and communicate the impact of our I+E initiatives for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

We will actively seek additional partnerships and funding sources to support our I+E programs.

Spectrum of Innovation

I+E Fellows Program

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I+E) Fellows Program is an initiative that empowers faculty to serve as leaders in driving innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. As fellows, faculty members design and implement impactful activities, including the creation of innovation spaces, organization of experiential events, engagement with students and communities, and development of new curricula. Each project aligns with one of the two key focus areas outlined below, offering meaningful opportunities for student involvement and contributing to the enhancement of their educational experiences.

The 2025 cohort of I+E Fellows will play a pivotal role in coordinating the Dean’s Charrettes centered on these two key areas, hosting the annual Spectrum of Innovation Symposium, and fostering cross-college collaborations to amplify the impact of innovation across disciplines.

2025 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellows

The 2025 Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I+E) Fellows Program encompasses faculty members from all seven departments within our College of Design. These fellows will play a pivotal role in advancing innovation and fostering entrepreneurial thinking, with a focus on two key areas: Digital Innovation and Civic Entrepreneurship. Each fellow will engage in a one-year appointment, with the possibility of extension depending on the progress of their projects and available funding.

Digital Innovation Fellows: 

  • Yongyeon Cho, associate professor, interior design
  • Mike Macri, associate professor of practice, community and regional planning
  • Subinay Malhotra, assistant professor, industrial design
  • Virginia Melnyk, assistant professor, architecture
  • Nick Senske, associate professor, architecture

Civic Entrepreneurship Fellows:

  • Austin Dunn, assistant professor, landscape architecture
  • Patrick Finley, assistant professor, graphic design
  • Rob Pfaff, assistant professor, community and regional planning
  • Anna Segner, assistant teaching professor, art and visual culture, and Core Design Program co-coordinator

Faculty and Staff Fellows:

  • Diane Al Shihabi, associate professor, interior design
  • Leila Ammar, associate professor of practice, architecture
  • Roman Chikerinets, associate teaching professor, architecture
  • Jen Hogan, director of international programs
  • Ingrid Lilligren, university professor, art and visual culture
  • Dan Neubauer, associate teaching professor, industrial design
  • Tina Rice, assistant teaching professor, graphic design
  • Julie Stevens, associate professor, landscape architecture

Faculty Scholars:

  • Patrick Finley, assistant professor, graphic design
  • Jiwnath Ghimire, assistant professor, community and regional planning
  • Raluca Iancu, assistant professor, art and visual culture
  • Daejin Kim, assistant professor, interior design

 

Dream the Future October 2022-Large Group

Start Something

The College of Design’s vision for innovation and entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in our commitment to empowering students with the skills and mindset needed to address complex challenges in an ever-changing world. We believe that by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, we can prepare our students to Start Something, becoming leaders in their fields and contributors to positive change in society.t