The director of Ball State University's nationally rankedentrepreneurship program will resign in January to work for IndianaUniversity's Kelley School of Business.
Donald Kuratko, director of the entrepreneurship program and theMidwest Entrepreneurial Education Center, said in an IU Web releasehe was excited about taking on a leadership position at IU.
"I am extremely excited and proud to have this dream opportunityat a prestigious Big Ten institution," Kuratko said in the release.He could not be reached for comment.
Kuratko will take over as the executive director of the JohnsonCenter for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IU on Jan. 1.
Kuratko started the entrepreneurship program when he arrived atBall State in 1983 and has been credited with the program'ssuccess.
In the 2004 report, U.S. News and World Report ranked BallState's entrepreneurship program fourth in the nation and first ofpublic universities.
"He's been a major part of those rankings," Jeff Hornsby,distinguished professor of marketing, said.
Dan Smith, interim dean of IU's Kelley School of Business, saidhe hopes Kuratko will also increase IU's entrepreneurshipranking.
"Dr. Kuratko's goal is nothing short of No. 1, and we think heis the person to take us there," Smith said.
U.S. News and World Report ranked the Kelley School of Business11th in the nation and the entrepreneurship program seventh, Smithsaid.
Lynne Richardson, dean of the Miller College of Business, saidKuratko wanted to work for a top 20 business school.
"People who have known Don for a long time know that this is hisdream," Richardson said.
IU also named the Jack M. Gill Chair in Entrepreneurship, adistinguished professor position. Kuratko's responsibilities willinclude curriculum development and innovation, and involvement inoutreach programs that work with Indiana and national businesses,Smith said.
"This is a professor who's done an outstanding job here who'sbeen given a dream job," Hornsby said.
IU first contacted Kuratko with the position in May and made afinal job offer about two weeks ago, Smith said.
"We wanted the best person we could find," Smith said. "He's aman of extraordinary character and vision, and he has justboundless energy.
"He has an incredible commitment for students and growth."
Richardson found out Kuratko was leaving Tuesday morning anddoes not know how his replacement search will be handled, shesaid.
The university will do a national search, Richardson said, andshe hopes to find someone nationally known.
Though she will miss what Kuratko brought to Ball State,Richardson believes the program will continue to be successful, shesaid.
"We believe the program is solid and not just built around oneperson," Richardson said.
Kuratko's leaving will most likely not hurt the entrepreneurshipprogram's rankings because the ranking are usually based onreputation, she said.
Hornsby, who works with the Midwest Entrepreneurial EducationCenter, hopes to carry on the tradition of a nationally rankedprogram, he said.
"There's a good quality team here in place that he's assembled,"Hornsby said.
Ball State will need to provide support to the program, though,if it is to remain nationally ranked, Hornsby said.
President Jo Ann Gora said in a letter that Kuratko's energy andtalent helped establish the program's ranking.
"That's an achievement we absolutely plan to build upon, and wewill aggressively search for the right person to carry thisnationally renowned program forward," Gora said in the letter.
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