Francine Schlosser is determined to put UWindsor on the map as an entrepreneurial university. In addition to her international entrepreneurial outreach research, she’s part of a larger group that helped open UWindsor’s Research and Interdisciplinary Learning, Entrepreneurship, Practice and Innovation Centre or EPICentre.

“This is the time to be an entrepreneur and a UWindsor student,” says Dr. Schlosser.

Dr. Schlosser, a faculty member in the Odette School of Business, is heavily involved in the EPICentre, which offers young entrepreneurs space to develop their own viable businesses with support from business mentors, university sponsored workshops and an environment that encourages the entrepreneurial spirit. She also helps the university develop and maintain strong connections to the community.

“I do research in entrepreneurial outreach and entrepreneurial relationships are about being part of the community,” said Schlosser. “That could mean talking to small business owners about what they want or need, or considering career transition to self-employment.”

Schlosser’s community connections extend far beyond the campus or Windsor’s city limits. She is also a UWindsor Golden Jubilee Professor in Business with funding that allows her to conduct research with academic communities across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

She says that on a recent trip to Oxford, England, where she was part of an entrepreneurial leadership program, she met a number of university provosts, vice chancellors and directors of research who were united in their goal of having their own universities expand entrepreneurial research and outreach.

“There’s a huge push to exchange information, build knowledge and become more innovative,” said Schlosser. “It’s great to bring back best practices that are already working elsewhere and incorporate them into our programs.”

She says her goal is to continue to grow relationships and work cooperatively with all faculties and departments across campus to expand entrepreneurial opportunities.

For more information on Dr. Francine Schlosser’s research tune into CJAM radio’s Research Matters Wednesday February 11 at 4:30 pm on 99.1FM for her half-hour chat with host Sara Elliott.