McMillon Innovation Studio

After an incredible 3.5 years as the Director of the McMillon Innovation Studio and the Master of Science in Product Innovation program at the University of Arkansas, it’s time for my next chapter! In this article, I reflect on some of the highlights—mentoring over 1,000 students, leading life-changing experiences like our Global Business Study Abroad course in Japan, and the growth of the Product Innovation program. It’s been an absolute privilege to work with such talented minds and help shape the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. I’m excited for what’s ahead, both for me and for the incredible teams I’ve been part of! #innovation #entrepreneurship #productleadership #mentorship #highereducation #farewell #nextchapter #buildingfutures

"Jessica's leadership will allow the Studio to continue providing a strong impact to the hundreds of students in their programming each semester." ???? Join us in celebrating Jessica Andrews, who has been named interim director of the McMillon Innovation Studio! An #Arkansas native and University of Arkansas alumna, Jessica joined the Studio in 2022. During her tenure, the Studio has seen a sharp increase in student engagement — growing from 27 teams in 2021 to 48 teams in 2023 — and?recently doubled its footprint?to accommodate the rising number of program offerings.????? Launched in 2016,?the studio serves as an innovation hub?to #UARK students of all majors and works to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact.?? ??? Get connected ?: https://lnkd.in/gk8_DXJw #StartSomethingAR #ArkansasLeaders #ImpactfulInnovation

Bhavya Patel uprooted her life in 2019 when she switched career paths and moved to #NWArk. But taking that risk launched her journey from #UARK student to co-founder of a healthcare startup.????? Patel got involved with OEI, which helped embed her in several programs to kickstart her innovation journey, including the McMillon Innovation Studio and New Venture Development. "I realized that I'm good at (biology), but this is not what I want to do long term," Patel said. "I had a really great interest in business, and I wanted to be connected to this space." ???? Once embedded in NVD, Patel and her classmates formed a startup, Hidalga Technologies, which is revolutionizing oncology care by offering a software solution built on proprietary algorithms to streamline the prior authorization process. "We're all super passionate about growing this company and making an impact in the oncology space," Patel said. "We're going to take it to the next level."????? Read more: https://lnkd.in/g7x5uTeq #StartSomethingAR #HealthTech #StartupJourney

Freshmen phenoms: a multi-disciplinary team of #UARK Walton and Engineering students won $100 for their pitch to help immerse new out-of-state students in #Fayetteville. ???? Their idea, Fay-Day, emerged from Converge: Freshman Innovation Experience, and paired students from the University of Arkansas -- Sam M. Walton College of Business and the University of Arkansas College of Engineering to work in a a collaborative environment. The workshop was led by the McMillon Innovation Studio, OEI's innovation hub for UA, which helped the students harness human-centered design methodology to solve the issues new students face when moving to #NWArk. ????? If you're interested in making a real-world impact, working with some of the largest companies in the country, and collaborating with students from all majors, then join the Studio. Applications close Aug. 28 for the fall 2024 Design Teams! ??? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/g446-zCX #StartSomethingAR #HumanCenteredDesign #StudentSuccess

Thanks to everyone who joined our open house at the McMillon Innovation Studio! What a great way to celebrate A-Week and kick off the fall 2024 semester. ???? Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a community for all disciplines at #UARK. As a part of it, you can: ? Explore cutting-edge innovation spaces ? Network with campus-wide changemakers and visionaries ? Transform your passion into a project, a product, an event, a business, or a noble cause. Let's get connected: https://lnkd.in/eNgfcbj #StartSomethingAR #InnovationUnleashed #Changemakers

Join us tomorrow to enjoy free food and explore the McMillon Innovation Studio, the University of Arkansas' on-campus innovation hub! ???? Launched in 2016, the Studio develops future leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact. ?? RSVP now: https://lnkd.in/gGUEfwAc Students in the studio are given access to valuable mentorship and resources — providing further support to cultivate their creative skills and empower them to deliver impact innovation through organizational, social and entrepreneurial change. Kickstart your innovation journey at the Studio! ?? Get connected: https://lnkd.in/gk8_DXJw #StartSomethingAR #InnovationHub #CreativeMinds