Cornell University traces its origins to the vision of an entrepreneur and an educational innovator, Ezra Cornell and Andrew D. White, who saw the opportunity to create a new kind of university for America. Today, Cornell continues this legacy by integrating entrepreneurial teaching and learning into all aspects of the university experience.

As an active participant in the university-wide Entrepreneurship@Cornell program, the College of Human Ecology has a range of courses, events, and experiential learning activities designed to help students begin their journey of business creation and success in any discipline.

Relevant Courses

DEA 1110 Making a Difference by Design
DEA 4040 Professional Practice, Ethics and Entrepreneurship
FSAD 6500 Fashion, Media, and TechnologyPADM 5410: Nonprofit Finance and Management

Academic Research

Textiles Nanotechnology Lab -  understanding complex phenomena at the nanoscale that are of fundamental relevance to Fiber, Textiles and Polymer Science.
Design Diversions - a curated series of design-related events started in 2010, which serves as both a research platform and an educational and community resource.

Alumni Success Stories

Neal Gottlieb, '99, co-founded Three Twins Ice Cream in 2005. Now a national brand. Neal Gottlieb has a bachelor's degree in consumer economics and housing, which merged into Policy Analysis and Management. 

The Laundress founders, Gwen Whiting '98 and Lindsey Boyd '98, honor Kay Obendorf, MS '74, PhD '76.

A Fiber & Textile Science major, Meghan Cross, '08, is the Managing Director of Red Bear Angels, an active network of 345+ angel investors and startup enthusiasts supporting companies founded or led by Cornell alumni, students or faculty.

Student Success Story

Justin Cheng, PAM '17, is a project manager in the Cornell Venture Capital Club. The club provides Cornell undergraduates with the unparalleled opportunity to learn about the venture capital industry by working directly with leading VC firms and their portfolio companies.