The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ACEI) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business has announced its 2025 cohort of Research and Teaching Fellows programs, interdisciplinary groups of faculty members committed to advancing entrepreneurial thinking through research, instruction and community engagement.
The Research Fellows program, now under the leadership of assistant professor and incoming research director Brian Bergman, supports faculty across campus in pursuing timely, impactful scholarship related to entrepreneurship and innovation. Bergman succeeds Melissa Cardon, who significantly shaped and expanded the program during her tenure as research director while serving as the James A. Haslam II and Natalie L. Haslam Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Clark Family Faculty Fellow. As Cardon prepares for sabbatical, her contributions leave a legacy of academic excellence, cross-campus collaboration and meaningful community engagement upon which the program will continue to build.
“It has been an honor to help create the research director position and serve in this capacity over the past three years,” Cardon shared. “I believe strongly in the power of teamwork, and what we can accomplish together. I am grateful to have been — and continue to be — part of this fantastic team.”
“The ACEI Research Fellows program is centered on convening and supporting world-class scholars from across UT’s campus to conduct timely and impactful research on entrepreneurship or innovation topics,” said Bergman. “Importantly, we believe our work does not stop on the last page of a research article or book, nor the last minute of a class lecture. Instead, we are committed to strengthening Knoxville by making our collective expertise accessible and drawing research inspiration from the community, sharing insights while also identifying information gaps.”
The Teaching Fellows program, launched last year and led by Shawn Carson, ACEI academic director and senior lecturer, connects faculty from a wide range of disciplines to build community and share strategies for cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets in their classrooms.
“After a great start in our inaugural year, I am excited to build on our initial programming,” Carson said. “The Teaching Fellows program at the ACEI is an opportunity for faculty from across the UT campus to share ideas and learn from each other on how to promote entrepreneurial skills in each of their classrooms, building entrepreneurial mindset skills in students from all disciplines.”
The 2025 fellows represent a wide range of colleges and departments from across UT. Their affiliations include:
- Anthropology
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
- College of Communication and Information
- College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
- College of Law
- College of Nursing
- Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research
- Haslam College of Business
- Herbert College of Agriculture
- Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Tickle College of Engineering
Breanna Hale, ACEI executive director echoed the importance of the Research and Teaching Fellows programs. “The programs are a powerful expression of our mission to educate and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders,” she said. “By engaging faculty from across the university, we’re fostering a truly multidisciplinary community of thought leaders and educators who are advancing the academic field of entrepreneurship while preparing students to tackle real-world challenges. This diversity of perspectives not only enriches our collective work but also strengthens Haslam, aligns with UT’s land-grant mission and helps position UT as a national leader in entrepreneurial education and research.”
The full list of 2025 fellows is available online.
About the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, housed in Haslam, is the front door to entrepreneurship at UT, connecting entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage with the resources, networks and expertise needed to solve real challenges. By cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset across campus, connecting entrepreneurs with resources and mentorship they need to grow and collaborating with the UT and regional ecosystem, the ACEI is developing an entrepreneurial culture where Volunteers are empowered to identify unmet needs and take bold action to create value through new ventures.
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