Southeast Missouri State University^TM

Dr. James Stapleton joined the faculty in 2006 as Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting and MIS in the Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University. He was transferred in 2009 to the Department of Management and Marketing to continue his work in the entrepreneurship program. He holds a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University. He received a Master of Business Administration and Master of Business Education from Southern New Hampshire University and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management from Friends University.

Dr. Stapleton also serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast. The Center strives to advance the teaching, practice, and science of entrepreneurship so as to stimulate economic growth and development through new venture formation, technology commercialization, and improved competitive performance of entrepreneurial enterprises.

James considers himself a serial entrepreneur, constantly seeking venues to create value from limited resources to make the most of opportunities. He enjoyed 10 years of successful business creation and development experience in retail, apparel design, information technology, and telecommunication industries. He believes that entrepreneurship is a way of life that leads to personal and social success.

His primary research interests include group dynamics, entrepreneurship teaching and capacity building, and online education. He has authored articles in various refereed publications including Delta Pi Epsilon journal, National Association of Business Teacher Educator’s Journal, and the Human Systems Management journal. He also received the Best Research Paper award twice at the National Business Education Research Conference. He will serve as the Editor of the National Association of Business Teacher Educator’s Journal in 2009-2010 and is a member of the National Publications Committee of the National Business Education Association.

He is a member of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, National Business Education Association, and Delta Pi Epsilon.

In his spare time James enjoys spending time with his wife, working in his woodshop, and fly-fishing.