The University of Cincinnati’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business and Saint Ursula Academy (SUA) are happy to announce that the University of Cincinnati Distinguished Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy Dr. Charles Matthews will teach the new RDI Essentials in Entrepreneurship course at Saint Ursula Academy. It’s part of a new initiative to supply SUA students with college-level coursework in entrepreneurship and the opportunity to earn College Credit Plus (CCP) credits. 

 

The program begins at Saint Ursula this fall for juniors and seniors. More than 80 girls are signed up for this groundbreaking new course. 

 

Dr. Matthews has deep experience in entrepreneurship education. In 1997 he founded UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship, then known as the Center for Entrepreneurship Education and Research. Matthews’ research interests lie in entrepreneurship, strategic decision-making, corporate venturing, and family firm succession.

 

“Saint Ursula Academy is honored to have a professor of Dr. Matthews’ distinction teaching our students this fall,” said Saint Ursula Academy Principal Kathy Restle. “This allows us to provide an exciting new option for our students while maintaining the standard of excellence SUA is known to offer.”

 

“This innovative initiative amplifies our collaboration with a focus on entrepreneurship and our shared passion for developing rising women leaders,” said Lindner dean Marianne Lewis, PhD. “Professor Matthews is a remarkable example of our faculty going above and beyond in their service to students.” 

 

Program participants, including those who do not enroll in the entrepreneurship course, will have the opportunity to engage with UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as Lindner co-curricular activities concentrated on uplifting women in business and women in entrepreneurship. Activities include business pitch competitions, venture capital programming, Lindner Women in Business’ Empowerment Day, Lindner Summer Institute, as well as access to Lindner and UC alumni, UC Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and Center for Entrepreneurship student mentors. 

 

Saint Ursula Academy’s portion of the program was made possible by a funding gift from locally based RDI Corporation, an IT and contact center provider with close family ties to Saint Ursula. 

“This new partnership gives students at Saint Ursula a collegiate-level experience in a growing subject area,” said SUA President Lelia Keefe Kramer. “Dr. Matthews’ deep knowledge will provide an experience that will open many doors for our students in the future. We are grateful to Lindner and UC for thinking outside of the box with us, and to the people of RDI for the generous gift that made all this possible.”

 

Lindner and SUA are each dedicated to empowering female students as the next generation of business problem solvers.