Arkansas Tech University faculty members Cass Capen-Housley and Dr. Julie Mikles-Schluterman earned awards at the 2025 EDGE Summit, which took place Nov. 18-19 at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
EDGE stands for Education to Develop and Grow Entrepreneurs. The ACC Capital Foundation launched the annual event in 2023. According to information from the EDGE Summit website, the conference is designed to “connect teaching faculty from institutions of higher education across Arkansas” and “share best practices in entrepreneurship education, foster collaboration and develop programs that inspire and support student-led startup ventures.”
Capen-Housley, instructor in the ATU College of Business and Economic Development, won first place in the faculty elevator pitch competition at the 2025 EDGE Summit. She sold judges on a concept entitled IdeaRoots Collective, an outreach program to rural high schools that would provide resources such as mentors, college students, business leaders and economic development agencies so that underserved, creative and innovative students could launch their business idea.
Mikles-Schluterman, professor of sociology and director of the ATU Center for Community Engagement and Academic Outreach, received the EDGE Summit educator innovator award. She was recognized for her ongoing efforts to help establish and develop the AR-NETWORK (Arkansas Nexus for Excellence in Technology, Workforce, Outreach and Research Knowledge) through a collaborative partnership with colleagues from across Arkansas.
Additional ATU representatives who attended the 2025 EDGE Summit included Dr. Mohammad Amjadi, assistant professor of mechanical engineering; Dr. Jeff Aulgur, professor of organizational studies; Dr. Michael Bradley, dean of the ATU College of Research and Graduate Studies; Dr. Jeffrey Cass, dean of the ATU College of Arts and Humanities; Dr. Nate Chapman, associate professor of sociology and criminal justice; Tracy Cole, dean of the ATU College of Business and Economic Development; Dr. David Eshelman, head of the ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies and professor of communication; Melanie Ewing, interim director of research and sponsored programs; Jim Guhl, director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center regional office at ATU; Justin Keller, grants coordinator; Dr. Jeanine Myers, professor of mathematics; Dr. Dana Tribble, assistant professor of student affairs administration; Dr. Jason Warnick, professor of psychology; Susan West, associate professor of tourism; and Dr. Xinli Xiao, associate professor of mathematics.
The EDGE Summit is a component of the AR-NETWORK, an initiative led by the Arkansas Research Alliance and funded by the National Science Foundation.
Learn more about the EDGE Summit at https://accedge.my.canva.site/accedgesummit.
