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About Jeff Thomas
Jeff Thomas, chair and professor in Central Michigan University's Entrepreneurship Department, passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2021, after a battle with cancer. He was 52.
Thomas came to CMU in 2016 as chair of the fledgling entrepreneurship program, coordinating its design, staffing and launch. He recruited nationally recognized scholars and Emmy award-winning entrepreneur Louis Foreman to teach in the program.
He revised the entrepreneurship minor to be accessible to all CMU students and launched an entrepreneurship certificate program for students in other disciplines. He also implemented CMU's Master of Entrepreneurial Ventures degree, ranked No. 1 in the nation by study. com and No. 9 by BestColleges.com. Thomas also was instrumental in building department-level support for the New Venture Challenge and related programming.
"Jeff Thomas had an incredible ability to bring the best out of others," said David Nows, assistant professor of entrepreneurship. "Whether it was a student competing in our New Venture Challenge or a new faculty member navigating the job for the first time, Jeff knew how to inspire confidence in everyone with whom he worked."
Thomas is survived by his wife, Mary, and daughter, Emma, along with extended family, friends and colleagues.
About the Scholarship
This scholarship is established in Jeff Thomas’ honor by his dear friends and fellow Harvard classmates Matt Hong, Alex Potente, Johnathan Robertson and Lee Falck. The scholarship will continue Jeff’s legacy as a visionary leader for those who dream of starting their own venture.
Qualified recipients of the Jeff Thomas Entrepreneurship Scholarship will have a signed major or minor in Entrepreneurship at CMU. The scholarship will be awarded annually by the Department of Entrepreneurship. Preference will be given to students participating in the New Venture Challenge.
Thank you in advance for helping to honor the life and legacy of Jeff Thomas, chair of Entrepreneurship.
Create opportunities for students participating in the New Venture Challenge.
Support Jeff Thomas' legacy with this annual scholarship that helps students.
Make a world of difference for a student majoring or minoring in Entrepreneurship at CMU.