A course taught by LMU Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship Jason D’Mello has advanced to the finals for the USASBE (United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship) 2020 Excellence in Pedagogical Innovation Award. Jason will present his course, “Entrepreneurial Acquisitions,” at the annual conference in New Orleans this January.
“USASBE awards are tough to place in the finals let alone win,” said Dayle Smith, dean of LMU College of Business Administration. “Our entrepreneurship program continues to gain national attention because of faculty like Jason who are doing innovative things in and out of the classroom.”
The course, co-developed by LMU alumnus Ryan Nurnberger ’06, teaches entrepreneurship students about the emerging opportunity to become entrepreneurs through small business ownership via acquisition (inspired by Ryan’s career and Jason’s work with Concerned Capital in DTLA). The course is offered to both undergraduate and MBA students and brings in over 20 guest speakers and business owners to participate each year.
“Ryan has been incredible to work with and has been very generous with his time and personal network,” said Jason. “We plan to continue to work together in the classroom and through co-authoring literature to bring awareness and interest to this important part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem – succession and transition of ownership for small businesses.”
Jason and Ryan have built a friendship around sailing, so as part of the class, office hours are held one day per semester on a boat. The sailing trip gives students a different perspective of Los Angeles, and is an opportunity to bond with each other and share projects updates outside of class.
“I appreciate the support LMU has given me over the past three years to develop this course,” said Jason. “I’m so grateful to be a part of an organization that thrives through collaboration and embraces innovation in the classroom.”