2019 LYCOMING COLLEGE LC MAGAZINE SPRING

t’s Desk The accelerated pace of change characteristic of the current era has also fueled an enhanced focus within the academy on the concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation. We recognize that those who make contributions to the world need to understand how new ways of doing things are conceived, developed, and executed. At Lycoming College, we have organized our approach to educating students about change around a new program in entrepreneurship. The new program has taken the form of a minor whose core principles encourage students to turn their passion into a profession. Led by the Sloter Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship Marshall Welch III, the program prepares students to create added value in this world. The minor itself is innovative in that it can be combined with any major or primary field of study, not just business. Whether a student aspires to start a new business venture, work within an entrepreneurial organization, or simply contribute in a more innovative manner to any organization, including nonprofits or government, the entrepreneurship minor provides the skills to be change-makers. While the minor in entre- preneurship may be new, the spirit of innovation has long been in the DNA of Lycoming. For many decades, graduates of the College have been innovators and change-makers. They have pursued passion, created new businesses and nonprofits, and driven change in a wide variety of organizations. This issue of the magazine features a few of those many alumni entrepreneurs. The faculty of the College have also been innovators — creating new areas of study, making important contributions to the discovery of new knowledge, and using their expertise to make an impact upon the world. One recent example is found in this issue — the Warrior Coffee Project — led by Caroline Payne, Ph.D., project founder and associate professor of political science. Finally, leaders of the College have been entrepreneurs. The vision and tenacity of the Rev. Benjamin Crever brought the antecedent seminary into being in 1848. President John Long’s passion and his strong partnership with Board Chair Robert Rich provided the impetus for the transformation into a junior college and later a four-year institution. The modern residential campus emerged when President Frederick Wertz inspired the community with an ambitious building program that was executed during the 1950s and 60s. In 2014, the trustees, faculty, and administration sought to continue in the footsteps of our predecessors by adopting the Toward a Greater Lycoming Strategic Plan. In October 2016, we followed with the announcement of the $65 million comprehensive campaign where we challenged ourselves to “ Dare to Dream. Dare to Do. ” Kent C. Trachte, Ph.D. President I invite you to join me in furthering that spirit of innovation by making a gift to the College on April 24 for Lycoming’s Day of Giving. As we enter the final months of 3 www.lycoming.edu