The President of North Dakota State University, Dr. Dean Bresciani, is hitting the stage at 1 Million Cups on Wednesday, November 19, to talk about the role of a university in innovation. He sought this opportunity himself, seeking out Greg Tehven to arrange a time when he could present to the nearly 200 attendees that frequent the Stage at Island Park every Wednesday morning.
Why?
Because, in President Bresciani’s own words, “1 Million Cups has become the most talked about point of connection in our community for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and innovation!”
Such a popular and effective event, which President Bresciani also describes as a “catalyst for out-of-the-box thinking,” is the perfect place to connect two realms that can mutually benefit each other: education and entrepreneurship.
One benefit from this connection is increased community awareness of what a university can do, said Chuck Hoge, Interim Executive Director of the NDSU Research & Technology Park.
“Often times, people do not fully understand the breadth of a University, especially a ‘high research’ land-grant University,” Hoge said. “It is important that people have some understanding of what the university is doing so they may take advantage of that in their business.”
For example, Hoge said, some of the things NDSU does is attract and retain intellectual capital (in the form of bright students and faculty), and forge collaborative relationships with business, industry, non-profits, government, and local and regional communities.
But all these things are made stronger and more meaningful when the community gets involved.
“Universities have, throughout the history of our country, been where much if not most research and development of ideas has taken place,” President Bresciani said. “Connecting universities with the inception and incubation of innovative ideas puts their realization on a fast-track path.”
Turning those ideas into a reality starts through connections made at events like 1 Million Cups. As any attendee can testify, the audience at 1 Million Cups brings together multiple layers of the Fargo-Moorhead community: from high school students, to college undergrads, to corporate execs.
This is what makes it so valuable, Hoge said.
“[1 Million Cups] creates a place that people want to not only belong, but also participate in,” he said.
“The culture encourages doing and helps to create a safety net, so to speak, for failure. With this culture, people, including students, are encouraged to take a chance. They also have all the tools that they need to refine and grow their company to be successful. All of this provides economic development and diversifies our economy.”
It will be interesting to hear President Bresciani’s view on innovation in Fargo, as he himself has been all over the map. He is a California-native, and has held administrative and faculty roles in Nebraska, Arizona, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, California, and North Carolina. He was vice president of student affairs at Texas A&M University in College Station from 2004-2008, and a full professor until 2010. In May 2010, he was named the 14th president of NDSU.
But more importantly than his countrywide engagement is the fact that Dr. Bresciani leaves behind a legacy wherever he goes. Scroll through his biography online, and you’ll come to a list of Awards.
There are fourteen.
Most recently is the 2013 Higher Education Distinguished Alumnus Award from Bowling Green State University, where he got his Master’s degree in college student personnel.
Twenty years ago, in 1984, he was awarded Man of the Year by his alma mater Humboldt State University where he got his bachelor’s in sociology.
Now, he is making his mark in North Dakota.
We can only applaud that President Bresciani is recognizing 1 Million Cups as an integral part of the community; and to show him our appreciation, we want to fill the house tomorrow morning.
So mosey on over to the Stage at Island Park at 9:15 am tomorrow morning for some free coffee, and the opportunity to see how the community can connect with our local universites in the spirit of innovation.
Photos provided by ndsu.edu
[Editor’s note: This article has been edited since its publication to include quotes from an additional source.]
