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Dr. Rob Mathews is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Center and Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute and an Assistant Professor of Leadership at Ball State University. During his time with the center, it has earned various accolades, such as U.S. News & World Report national rankings, 2013 United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship National Model Program Award, 2013 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education Award, the #1 ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 special issue on Most Impactful Classrooms on the Outside World, and the US Department of Defense Federal Laboratory Consortium Outstanding Technology Transfer Award.

Mathews earned his undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship and management and his MBA in entrepreneurship and management of information systems. He completed his doctorate in Adult, Community, and Higher Education with a cognate in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from Ball State University. His research focuses on ideation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Rob is the co-author of Entrepreneurship the Disney Way and Design-Centered Entrepreneurship and creator of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Instrument. He is a certified trainer, facilitator, and consultant in the Simplexity Complex Problem Solving and Innovation Process and the FourSight Innovation Process. He is also a certified Gallup Clifton StrengthsFinder and Builder Profile-10, MBTI, DiSC, Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile, Maxwell Leadership, Jon Gordon Master of Learning and Teaching, Basadur Innovation Profile, FourSight Innovation Profile, LEGO® Serious Play®, and IDEO Design Thinking coach, consultant, trainer, and facilitator.

Mathews is a serial entrepreneur, having been involved with several ventures over the last two decades. Rob has also coached and led successful training programs with numerous clients over the years. He enjoys his family, golf, softball, attending sporting events, and church activities. Rob and his wife, Julie, have been married for 28 years, and have two children, Nate (18) and Lindsey (16).

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