Economic Mobility and Entrepreneurship at HBCUs
September 6, 2022
Along with Third Way’s higher education team, I co-hosted a conversation with our colleagues from the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity about the intersection of entrepreneurship and economic mobility at HBCUs.
Event Description:
This fall, over 200,000 students enrolled in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). These institutions play a vital role in their communities, and new research demonstrates how HBCUs serve as a resource for low- and moderate-income background students by providing them a strong return on their educational investment as well as entrepreneurial opportunities. On September 6, 2022, Third Way’s higher education team hosted a conversation in partnership with our colleagues from the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity about the intersection of entrepreneurship and economic mobility at HBCUs. Michael Itzkowitz (Senior Education Fellow, Third Way) presented his research showing that Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, provide their students with high economic returns on their investment. Imani Augustus (Director of Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity) was joined by Dr. Mark Quinn (Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor, Xavier University of Louisiana) and Dr. Yuvay Ferguson (Associate Professor of Marketing, Howard University School of Business) to discuss their experiences as faculty members working with HBCU students interested in entrepreneurship. The trio discussed the unique needs of their students, the importance of experiential learning, and the potential of entrepreneurship to uplift business owners and their families.
