Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s New Director: ‘Every Duke Student Is an Innovator’

Jamie Jones looks to scale I&E’s education, programs, and network

Jamie Jones speaking at Duke I&E event
New I&E director Jamie Jones says a move to the Fuqua School of Business will help grow the program’s offerings across Duke.

Anyone who has exchanged emails with Jamie Jones knows from her signature signoff – “To Impact” – that her mission is to support meaningful change.

Taking the reins as Director of (Duke I&E), Jones leads the organization at a time when demand is higher than ever, with growing enrollment in Duke I&E certificate programs for undergraduates and graduate/professional students as well as its co-curricular offerings such as Melissa & Doug Entrepreneurs.

Last summer Duke I&E became a collaboration between the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies and The Fuqua School of Business; the partnership brought Duke I&E from its downtown Durham location to Fuqua and expanded the organization to include the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which Jones previously led as its executive director.

Duke I&E will continue working closely with all of Duke’s schools and units to ensure that students throughout Duke have access to programs and resources that fit their interests and goals.

To Jones, Duke I&E is all about impact. “We’ve done so much in our first decade,” she said. “Now, being based in a world-class business school, we have even more opportunity to harness the strength of Fuqua faculty research in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as to scale our high-quality programs for all Duke students.”

Duke students, Jones says, understand the growing importance of an entrepreneurial mindset and skillset – even for those who don’t have immediate plans to be founders or entrepreneurs.

“Whether students want to start a company, translate their research, change the world with a social innovation, create a work of art, go into industry or academia, or pursue any number of other paths, we see what a difference it makes for them to be empowered with creativity, curiosity, a bias for action, empathy, resilience, and the business tools to bring ideas to life,” Jones said.

So much of entrepreneurship is about those sparks that fly when people are talking to each other and generating new ideas – particularly when those from different backgrounds and disciplines collaborate and share their unique perspectives. We’re excited to have a place where Duke innovators and entrepreneurs can gather and work together to have a greater impact.

Jamie Jones

A Track Record of Realizing Change

Jones brings to the position deep experience and a record of innovation in curricular and co-curricular development, extensive entrepreneurial and investing experience, and a passion for leading social and environmental change through entrepreneurship.

Formerly executive director of the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Rice University, she also co-founded Impact Engine, an investment firm with a mission to bring more capital to a market where financial returns are linked to positive social and environmental change​.

In a previous role as innovation advisor at RTI International, a leading North Carolina nonprofit research institute, she supported companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations in their quest to commercialize technology-driven new products. ​

Looking to the Future

“I&E provides tremendous opportunities for academic inquiry, collaborative learning, and community building,” said Interim Provost Jennifer Francis. “As a university-wide resource, I&E empowers students from all programs, at all levels of study, to be innovators.”

“Through I&E,” added Ed Balleisen, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies, “hundreds of Duke students are learning how to identify problems and then conceptualize, implement, and evaluate plans to address those problems, whether in business, social entrepreneurship, the arts, or other contexts. This approach requires interdisciplinary perspective, a willingness to learn from failure and committed teamwork.” 

“Innovation and entrepreneurship play a central role in realizing the promise that business offers to address today’s toughest societal challenges and greatest opportunities,” said Fuqua Dean Bill Boulding. “I am inspired by Jamie’s passion and eager to see how she will leverage the world-class research of Fuqua faculty, the entrepreneurial passion of our students, and the wisdom and experience of our alumni partners to serve the broader Duke community.”

A new space for Duke I&E is being constructed in a centrally located and vibrant part of Fuqua. Jones envisions this space serving as a hub for innovators and entrepreneurs across Duke.

“So much of entrepreneurship is about those sparks that fly when people are talking to each other and generating new ideas—particularly when those from different backgrounds and disciplines collaborate and share their unique perspectives,” Jones said. “We’re excited to have a place where Duke innovators and entrepreneurs can gather and work together to have a greater impact.”

To learn about upcoming opportunities and events for Duke innovators, for the Duke I&E newsletter, follow Duke I&E on , , , and , and join the broader Duke entrepreneurship community on the .