KEENzine5

23 Ann McKenna Professor and Director of Polytechnic School Arizona State University Why is an entrepreneurial mindset important for students? Applying an entrepreneurial mindset helps students maintain the idea that creating value to society is the focus of what we do as engineers. The focus on using engineering knowledge in humanistic ways that advance society excites students and brings meaning and purpose to an engineering curriculum. The entrepreneurial mindset embraces working together to solve complex problems and celebrates the inherent curiosity of students looking to make a difference in the world. How have you benefited from being a leader in KEEN? Being a leader in KEEN has provided me the opportunity to meet new collaborators who are passionate about students and relentlessly focused on the future of engineering education. As we continue to educate the next generation of engineers, it is imperative that we prepare students for the challenges ahead through a curricular experience that not only emphasizes content, but also how students are agents of change in how that content can and should be applied to create value. No one individual or institution alone can make the impact necessary to advance engineering education to reach students and faculty at a national scale. KEEN provides the ready partnerships such that we can collectively work together towards our common goal. Eric Baumgartner Vice President of Academics Milwaukee School of Engineering Why is an entrepreneurial mindset important for students? Companies today are expressly looking for engineering graduates who possess an entrepreneurial mindset. During my time at Ohio Northern University, we studied industry needs through a number of interviews with corporate leaders. Without fail, these leaders recognized the importance of developing engineering graduates who align with student outcomes that are associated with the entrepreneurial mindset. At all of the KEEN schools, we are trying to educate engineers who will be in a position to positively impact the companies for which they work and the communities in which they live. How have you benefited from being a leader in KEEN? Being a part of a network of educators who care deeply about improving undergraduate engineering education has been inspirational both from a personal and a professional perspective. I have enjoyed learning from others in the Network as well as encouraging those that I have the privilege to lead to get involved in the KEEN initiative. I have witnessed remarkable transformations in faculty and students through the changes that have been made both inside and outside the classroom. It has been a tremendous honor to be a part of the KEEN program and to be a part of the community of educators who contribute to the success of the program.