The Algur H. Meadows Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

Brother Paul Goelz, S.M., Ph.D., followed his passion for education and entrepreneurship by devoting his life to teaching free enterprise at St. Mary's University and helping entrepreneurs succeed. He established the Algur H. Meadows Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in 1981 with a grant he obtained from the Meadows Foundation of Dallas, which later was supplemented by a gift from the Gulf Oil Foundation.

Through the Meadows Center, Goelz built a strong relationship with South Texas business professionals who engaged in entrepreneurial activities. In 1986, he developed the Forum on Entrepreneurship Breakfast Series. Each year, the Forum hosts four breakfast meetings that feature prominent entrepreneurs who share their experiences and insights.

Goelz's successor, Brooke R. Envick, Ph.D. was appointed director of the Meadows Center in 2002. Under her leadership, the Center continues to be successful in advancing the awareness of entrepreneurship. In 2003, a second program began to emanate from the Center, the Entrepreneur Scholars Program (E-Scholars Program). The E-Scholars Program is a yearlong certificate program that includes academic and extra-curricular activities to help manage business ventures of undergraduate students from all disciplines and majors.

The academic programs in entrepreneurship here at St. Mary's University focuses on the career preparation of students who plan to initiate and operate their own businesses rather than enter the corporate world of large companies in a line or staff position. In fall of 2006, the Center began to offer the Executive Speaker Series. The Executive Speaker Series is part of a course entitled, "Exploring Entrepreneurship: Profiles of Successful Entrepreneurs and Senior Executives." Students enrolled in this class have the rare opportunity to hear autobiographical speeches from nationally known entrepreneurs and senior level executives about their "road maps" to success. Students read biographies of well known entrepreneurs, analyze prospective success patterns, and contribute to the class through verbal and written projects.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies is made possible by grants from the Meadows Foundation and the Chevron Foundation. The academic programs in entrepreneurship focus on the career preparation of students who plan to initiate and operate their own businesses rather than enter the corporate world of large companies in a line or staff position. The Center conducts symposia, researches the entrepreneurial history of the Southwest, and publishes the Entrepreneurial Commentary.

Two additional activities emanate from the Meadows Center. The Goelz Family Institute for Studies in Ethics and Social Responsibility has the mission to invite guest lecturers, conduct symposia, supplement salaries of professors, engage in research, and provide for related publications. The focus is ethical and social responsibility issues primarily oriented toward Business and Economics. The Vincent and Charlotte Sauget Institute for Family Business was endowed by Charlotte J. Sauget in memory of her husband Vincent, an alumnus of St. Mary's University. The mission of the Institute is to address organizational, administrative and entrepreneurial issues as they relate to family businesses.

Brooke R. Envick, Ph.D.
Research Awards

• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 2006
• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Free Enterprise Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 2003
• "Honorable Mention", Research Award, Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Reno, NV, April 2002
• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 2001
• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 1999
• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 1998
• "Deirdre Harkins Richard Professor in Free Enterprise," St. Mary's University, 1997
• "Showcase Paper Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Maui, HI, October 1996
• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Maui, HI, October 1996
• "Distinguished Research Award," Academy of Entrepreneurship Conference, Las Vegas, NV, October 1995

Journal Publications on Entrepreneurship:

• "A 21st Century Model of Entrepreneurship Education: Overcoming Traditional Barriers to Learning," accepted for publication, Journal of Entrepreneurship Education
• "Beyond Human Capital: The Importance of Positive Psychological Capital for Entrepreneurial Success," Entrepreneurial Executive. Vol. 10, 41 – 52, Fall 2005
• "An Interdisciplinary Approach to Entrepreneurship Education: The Cross-Course Project," with Madison, T. and Priesmeyer, R., Journal of Entrepreneurship Education. Vol. 6, 1-10, Fall 2003
• "The Big-Five Model of Personality: Comparing Male and Female Entrepreneurs," with Langford M., Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal. Vol. 9(1), 1-10, Fall 2003
• "The Most Important Finance Skills for Entrepreneurs: Differing Views Among Finance Professionals," with Roth, G., and Anderson, R., Entrepreneurial Executive, Vol. 7(2), 35-44, Spring 2002
• "Understanding the Financial Educational Needs of Entrepreneurs: A Survey of Entrepreneurs and Financial Advisors," with Roth, G., and Anderson, R., Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, Vol. 7(2), pp. 111-118, Spring 2002
• "Disposition of Control Among Managers and Entrepreneurs: Gender and Job Role Comparisons," Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, Vol. 6(2) pp. 77-86, Fall 2000
• "The Five-Factor Model of Personality: Assessing Entrepreneurs and Managers," with Langford, M., Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, Vol. 6(1), pp, 5-16, Fall 2000
• "Entrepreneurship Programs Versus Traditional Business Programs: Understanding Different Needs," Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, Vol. 2, pp. 2-10, Fall 1999
• "Behaviors of Entrepreneurs: A Gender Comparison," with Langford M., Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship, Vol. 10, pp. 106-115, Spring 1998
• "Strategic Decision-making Processes in Opportunistic Situations: Are Entrepreneurs More Comprehensive than Managers?" Entrepreneurial Executive, Vol. 2(1), pp. 45-49. Fall 1996
• "Researching the Behaviors of Entrepreneurs: An Idiographic Approach," with Luthans, F., Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, Vol. 1, pp. 1-17, Fall 1995
• "The Development of Entrepreneurial Competencies," with Anderson, R., The Art & Science of Entrepreneurship Education, Vol. 3, pp. 53-61, Spring 1995