Chris Tisdel has been named director of the McMillon Innovation Studio, the campus innovation hub at the University of Arkansas.
The studio is overseen by the UA’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a division of the Sam M. Walton College of Business. The studio’s mission is to “develop future leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact,” according to a university press release.
A Texas native, Tisdel’s background includes architecture, consulting, higher education, sales and project management. He founded Ruckus Innovation Consulting in 2009, serving as president and CEO of the boutique consulting firm that assisted clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Tisdel earned a master’s degree in architecture from Texas Tech University, but said Arkansas “may be one of the few places on Earth that can tempt a Texan to move from Texas.”
He called the McMillon studio a “launchpad for driven, innovative students who will become the young professional heartbeat of existing and new companies around the world.”
“I feel like McMillon, OEI and the University of Arkansas are all quickly becoming innovation magnets for students, faculty, and businesses that will shape the world,” Tisdel said. “As [the studio] evolves, I would look to a future where it is serves as an innovative hub within the state of Arkansas while becoming a globally recognized center for innovation and entrepreneurship.”
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