Inside Higher Ed
Overview
Position Title Director, Spelpreneur The Spelpreneur Director is responsible for leading the strategy, design, and implementation of Spelpreneur, a Spelman College co-curricular entrepreneurship initiative. The Director is a dynamic leader with proven entrepreneurial experience, and serves to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of Black women entrepreneurs. The Director will manage innovative programming, build strategic partnerships, and mentor students, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders, Spelman Alumnae and Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Spelpreneur Director reports to the Executive Director of the Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE). Spelpreneur is a critical component of the comprehensive entrepreneurial support that the CBE provides to Spelman students. The mission of The Center for Black Entrepreneurship is to create a well-equipped cohort of Black entrepreneurs with skills and talents to better navigate the gap between entrepreneurs and capital and commercial markets. The CBE aims to instill entrepreneurial thinking in all students at Spelman College and Morehouse College and to create a community of business practitioners with a lifelong commitment to achieving social and economic progress through innovation. The CBE approach to developing the entrepreneurial mindset is broad and encompasses both the undergraduate minor (across both campuses) and an online offering for adult learners. For students interested in launching or investing in ventures, the CBE offers a suite of co-curricular programs, events, and other resources including fellowships. This is a grant-funded position. Responsibilities
Internal and External Collaboration Program Operations Research and Evaluation Additional Responsibilities of Spelpreneur Director Program Leadership and Strategy Develop and execute a strategic annual plan to increase student exposure to entrepreneurial fundamentals. Oversee the implementation of core program components: EDUCATE Series – 10–12 weekly instructional sessions on foundational business concepts. INSPIRE Series – Entrepreneur Chats, Speed Mentoring, and curated Road Trips. EMPOWER 10-Day Startup Competition – Manage contractor production, mentor recruitment, judging process, and outcomes. Ability to work evenings and weekends, as needed, to support events. Student Engagement and Development Recruit and mentor students throughout their entrepreneurial journey. Foster a supportive, inclusive environment with programming tailored to Black college women. Identify and manage incentives to increase student participation and satisfaction. Coordinate with Spelman’s Communications, Spelman Technology Services (STS), Institutional Advancement, and Alumnae Engagement teams for logistics, promotion, and support. Partner with the Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab and academic departments to extend classroom learning into business ventures. Coordinate co-curricular programs with the CBE Student Program Manager and Director of Morehouse Student Initiatives to synergize offerings. Cultivate relationships with external entrepreneurship organizations (e.g., Create-X, ATDC, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs). Recruit and supervise Spelpreneur Intern(s) for communication and administrative support. Direct creation of promotional materials in collaboration with graphic designers. Manage and track program budget, registration, attendance, and incentives. Continuously assess national best practices in entrepreneurship education, particularly related to women and minority entrepreneurs. Evaluate program outcomes using student feedback and engagement metrics. Prepare an annual program report highlighting impact and opportunities for growth. Attend weekly CBE team meetings and monthly AUC entrepreneurial ecosystem meetings. Provide support for the broader Spelman entrepreneurship ecosystem including the AUC Summer Accelerator and TILE programs. Qualifications
Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required, with preference for Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Innovation, or related field. Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in entrepreneurship, business development, innovation management, or related field. Proven success in founding, launching, or scaling a for-profit venture or leading an entrepreneurial enterprise. At least 2–3 years of experience in program management, student development, or higher education administration, preferably in a college/university or youth development setting. Experience working with diverse communities. Proven ability to build partnerships with external organizations (e.g., accelerators, investors, startups). Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree is strongly preferred, particularly in Business Administration (MBA), Higher Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or related discipline. Passion for advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Familiarity with innovation and product development tools, platforms, and ecosystems. Ability to work evenings and/or weekends when needed to support programming. Certifications, Licenses, Restrictions None Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, use hands to handle office supplies, operate computer and other office equipment, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, stoop, climb, taste and smell, and lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Shift
Days % Travel Required:
0% Full Time/Part Time Full-time Work Location/Schedule:
This position requires onsite work and is not eligible for remote work. FLSA Exempt Number Of Vacancies 1 Posting Number SC0816P Posting Open Date 08/01/2025 Open Until Filled No EEO Statement Spelman College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are a smoke-free campus.
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Position Title Director, Spelpreneur The Spelpreneur Director is responsible for leading the strategy, design, and implementation of Spelpreneur, a Spelman College co-curricular entrepreneurship initiative. The Director is a dynamic leader with proven entrepreneurial experience, and serves to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of Black women entrepreneurs. The Director will manage innovative programming, build strategic partnerships, and mentor students, working collaboratively with internal stakeholders, Spelman Alumnae and Atlanta’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Spelpreneur Director reports to the Executive Director of the Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE). Spelpreneur is a critical component of the comprehensive entrepreneurial support that the CBE provides to Spelman students. The mission of The Center for Black Entrepreneurship is to create a well-equipped cohort of Black entrepreneurs with skills and talents to better navigate the gap between entrepreneurs and capital and commercial markets. The CBE aims to instill entrepreneurial thinking in all students at Spelman College and Morehouse College and to create a community of business practitioners with a lifelong commitment to achieving social and economic progress through innovation. The CBE approach to developing the entrepreneurial mindset is broad and encompasses both the undergraduate minor (across both campuses) and an online offering for adult learners. For students interested in launching or investing in ventures, the CBE offers a suite of co-curricular programs, events, and other resources including fellowships. This is a grant-funded position. Responsibilities
Internal and External Collaboration Program Operations Research and Evaluation Additional Responsibilities of Spelpreneur Director Program Leadership and Strategy Develop and execute a strategic annual plan to increase student exposure to entrepreneurial fundamentals. Oversee the implementation of core program components: EDUCATE Series – 10–12 weekly instructional sessions on foundational business concepts. INSPIRE Series – Entrepreneur Chats, Speed Mentoring, and curated Road Trips. EMPOWER 10-Day Startup Competition – Manage contractor production, mentor recruitment, judging process, and outcomes. Ability to work evenings and weekends, as needed, to support events. Student Engagement and Development Recruit and mentor students throughout their entrepreneurial journey. Foster a supportive, inclusive environment with programming tailored to Black college women. Identify and manage incentives to increase student participation and satisfaction. Coordinate with Spelman’s Communications, Spelman Technology Services (STS), Institutional Advancement, and Alumnae Engagement teams for logistics, promotion, and support. Partner with the Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab and academic departments to extend classroom learning into business ventures. Coordinate co-curricular programs with the CBE Student Program Manager and Director of Morehouse Student Initiatives to synergize offerings. Cultivate relationships with external entrepreneurship organizations (e.g., Create-X, ATDC, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs). Recruit and supervise Spelpreneur Intern(s) for communication and administrative support. Direct creation of promotional materials in collaboration with graphic designers. Manage and track program budget, registration, attendance, and incentives. Continuously assess national best practices in entrepreneurship education, particularly related to women and minority entrepreneurs. Evaluate program outcomes using student feedback and engagement metrics. Prepare an annual program report highlighting impact and opportunities for growth. Attend weekly CBE team meetings and monthly AUC entrepreneurial ecosystem meetings. Provide support for the broader Spelman entrepreneurship ecosystem including the AUC Summer Accelerator and TILE programs. Qualifications
Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required, with preference for Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Innovation, or related field. Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in entrepreneurship, business development, innovation management, or related field. Proven success in founding, launching, or scaling a for-profit venture or leading an entrepreneurial enterprise. At least 2–3 years of experience in program management, student development, or higher education administration, preferably in a college/university or youth development setting. Experience working with diverse communities. Proven ability to build partnerships with external organizations (e.g., accelerators, investors, startups). Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree is strongly preferred, particularly in Business Administration (MBA), Higher Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or related discipline. Passion for advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Familiarity with innovation and product development tools, platforms, and ecosystems. Ability to work evenings and/or weekends when needed to support programming. Certifications, Licenses, Restrictions None Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, use hands to handle office supplies, operate computer and other office equipment, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, stoop, climb, taste and smell, and lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Shift
Days % Travel Required:
0% Full Time/Part Time Full-time Work Location/Schedule:
This position requires onsite work and is not eligible for remote work. FLSA Exempt Number Of Vacancies 1 Posting Number SC0816P Posting Open Date 08/01/2025 Open Until Filled No EEO Statement Spelman College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are a smoke-free campus.
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