Reflecting on Sharon Alpi's Legacy

SAEE 2025 Conference: Plenary "Sharon Alpi on Transforming Entrepreneurship Education Across Disciplines"

Written by Jada Wyatt

What I witnessed seemed like the crowning achievement in a life dedicated to higher education - the thing all higher ed professionals can only hope for. It’s not a particular role, it’s not even attribution or recognition. It’s realizing that, in your pursuit of discovery and connection, you inspired many other leaders to believe in their intuition, to challenge fixedness, and to make their mark.

To know that you’ve imprinted on and empowered incredible, remarkable people - wow. What else is there?

To maintain an intellectual connection, a passion-based comradery, with those students and fellow educators. Why else would one make a career in higher education?

I sincerely appreciated every word Sharon shared. Thank you, Andy Heise , for this treat.

“ Sharon Alpi was a trailblazer in entrepreneurship education, championing cross-disciplinary approaches that empowered artists, creatives, and students across fields to think and act as entrepreneurs” (SAEE).

She is the Retired Founding Director of the Millikin University Center for Entrepreneurship. There, she introduced entrepreneurship principles into Arts education and inspired many other current SAEE leaders to do the same.

Notably, Andy Heise, Managing Director at UMKC Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and host of this year’s SAEE conference, is one of those leaders who has been deeply inspired by Sharon. During their Fireside Chat, he shared several heartwarming stories about his time working for and alongside Sharon before joining the team at Regnier.

Others chimed in, sharing the impact that Sharon had on their career success and personal growth. Julienne Shields , former CEO of USASBE and newly instated President of SAEE, shared how Sharon welcomed her- like she did many- with the most precious gift: her time.

Sharon is celebrated for her presence. Despite her endless to-do list, revolutionary ambitions, and responsibilities that seeped far beyond her job description, she took the time to listen, to be present, to care.

I was deeply moved by the high regard for Sharon in the room. Overcome with emotion, I thought, “That’s it. That’s everything that success could ever be.” I’m inspired. Thank you, Sharon, for all the things you have done and all the people you have impacted. Surely, your influence will be in everything we do.