With her appointment earlier this year as executive director of the University of Windsor’s Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre), Francine Schlosser leads its development and growth as a place that promotes and incubates entrepreneurial activities, particularly for students.

“We are in a position to take the lead on regional entrepreneurship initiatives and build a reputation for UWindsor as an entrepreneurial hub in Windsor-Essex and beyond,” says Dr. Schlosser, a professor of strategy in the Odette School of Business.

EPICentre is a joint initiative of the business school and the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, to support the entrepreneurial training, education, programming, mentoring activities to students across the campus and to the broader youth sector in the region.

It provides physical space to support student-led ventures, and involves partners such as faculty and entrepreneurs in the surrounding community, particularly UWindsor alumni. Leasable space is located within the Centre for Engineering Innovation – Industrial Courtyard, within the Innovation Centre – EPIC Innovation, and in the BioTech Courtyard.

Schlosser pledges to pursue internal and external collaborations, funding and mentorships in support of translating ideas into marketable innovations.