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KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 22, 2021

Steven Phelan has what he describes as a 鈥渂ias for action.鈥�

Phelan, who joins the Michael J. Coles College of Business in July as the new director of the Michael A. Leven School of Management, Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality, said he enjoys working with people like entrepreneurs who can turn their ideas into action.

鈥淓ntrepreneurship is about making things happen,鈥� Phelan said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no bureaucracy to hide behind. The buck stops with you. It鈥檚 invigorating to interact with people putting everything on the line to make something work.鈥�

Supporting entrepreneurs has been a major part of Phelan鈥檚 career. His previous role was distinguished professor of entrepreneurship at North Carolina鈥檚 Fayetteville State 免费福利一区二区三区, where he once served as interim chair of the Department of Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship. Prior to that, he held positions as executive director for the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Rowan 免费福利一区二区三区 in Glassboro, N.J. and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the 免费福利一区二区三区 of Nevada Las Vegas. Phelan has also published multiple journal articles on entrepreneurship.

At UNLV, Phelan worked with the Las Vegas Business Press and the local angel investment community to cofound the Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition. The event, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, awards the top new business in the area with more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Later, while at Rowan, he organized a mini 鈥淪hark Tank鈥� pitch competition hosted by former 鈥淪hark Tank鈥� host Daymond John.

Outside of his work with entrepreneurs, Phelan has also studied organizational behavior, management strategies, change management, and other critical business concepts.

鈥淭hroughout my work, I鈥檇 say the dependent variable has always been performance,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 always looking for ways to help organizations perform better. Whether it鈥檚 an entrepreneur, a nonprofit, or a large enterprise, it鈥檚 important to understand how we can make their strategy more coherent and get the organization behind it. Having bright ideas is one thing, getting everyone onboard to make something happen is another.鈥�

Originally from Australia, Phelan earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the 免费福利一区二区三区 of Melbourne, a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Monash 免费福利一区二区三区, and a Ph.D. in economics from La Trobe 免费福利一区二区三区. Prior to becoming an academic, he worked as an analyst for Telstra, Australia鈥檚 leading telecommunications company and a member of the Fortune Global 500.

鈥淪teven鈥檚 background in business, his excellent record as an educator, and his immense respect and support for entrepreneurs will no doubt make him an agent of innovation and excellence within the Leven School,鈥� said Coles College Dean Robin Cheramie.

Phelan鈥檚 goals for the School involve demonstrating to the business community why they should be enthusiastic about partnering with the Coles College, and helping the management, entrepreneurship, and newly launched hospitality programs gain national and international recognition.

鈥淭here are so many great things going on at the School,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my job to develop those programs into distinctive competencies for KSU. The first step is to listen carefully to all those with a stake in our success (including students, faculty, staff, and community partners) and create a shared vision for the future. We can then assemble the resources to make that future a reality.鈥�

Also, as a first-generation college student who paid his tuition by working at a gas station during the week and playing keyboard in a Latin band on the weekend, Phelan is eager to work for a university like Kennesaw State where more than one-third of all students are first generation.

鈥淏eing the first person in your family to go to college can be scary,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know what it鈥檚 like because I鈥檝e been there.鈥�

-Patrick Harbin