Donna Marie De Carolis, Ph.D.

Board Member, "Hand2Paw" @ Hand2Paw

About

Donna Marie De Carolis, Ph.D., is the founding Dean of the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship and the Silverman Family Professor of Entrepreneurial Leadership at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. De Carolis is an innovative leader with a demonstrated record of creating and implementing unique initiatives. Her career itself is entrepreneurial – one of reinvention from consultant to professor to university dean. She characterizes her strong motivation in both her personal and professional life as “small acts of entrepreneurship “– those decisions that require a leap of faith onto a new path. Critical to her success are excellent organizational and people skills. She is adept at executing strategic initiatives by balancing attention to details with a focus on the big picture. Her leadership style rooted in empathy, respect and integrity and optimism. As founding Dean of the Charles D. Close School, the nation’s first dedicated and degree-granting school of entrepreneurship, Dr. De Carolis initiated a pioneering approach to entrepreneurship education. Her vision is to empower all university students with the mindset that they are entrepreneurs – by broadly defining entrepreneurship as an attitude that incorporates innovative thinking and doing in all facets of life, career and profession. De Carolis is an award-winning educational leader. She is the 2015 recipient of the Distinguished Iris Newman Award from the Alliance for Women Entrepreneurs, given each year to a woman business leader who has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping advance women entrepreneurs. She also received the Ph.D. Alumni Leadership Award from Temple University in 2019 and is recognized as a 2019 Hall of Fame recipient of Cardinal O’Hara High School. She is the recipient of the prestigious Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Distinguished Teaching Excellence Award from Executive MBAs. De Carolis’ research has appeared in journals such as the Strategic Management Journal, the Journal of Management, and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. She frequently speaks to companies about leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Country

United States

City

Ambler

Industry

Higher Education

Skill

Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Strategic Planning, Program Management, Research, Higher Education, Management, Public Speaking, Business Strategy, Social Networking, Leadership Development, Teaching, Strategy, Fundraising, Nonprofits, Program Development, Community Outreach, Innovation, Alumni Relations, Non-profits

Experience

Board Member, "Hand2Paw"

Hand2Paw

2024-9 - Present · 2 yrs 1 mo

Hand2Paw provides paid internships working with rescue animals as a way to strengthen connection, compassion, and community for young adults from underrepresented communities, including those experiencing housing insecurity or foster care involvement. As a Board member, I am dedicated to helping with strategy and fundraising for this very worthy non-profit. I am currently Chair of the Nomination Committee

Founding Dean

Drexel University's Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship

2013-1 - Present · 13 yrs 9 mos

Pearlstein Building, 32nd and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA

The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship is the nation’s first freestanding, degree-granting school of entrepreneurship at Drexel University. The mission of the School is to nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the University. The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship is envisioned as the hub of curricular and experiential activities that revolve around innovation and entrepreneurship collaborating with all colleges and schools at Drexel to anchor and create various curricular initiatives. The School puts entrepreneurship at the fingertips of every student at Drexel University, regardless of their major or discipline. In my role as Dean of the School of Entrepreneurship, my focus is on building the School to create curricular and non-curricular academic and related programming. I bring my proven strengths in creative program development and team motivation to sustain and enhance initiatives in innovation and entrepreneurship.

AIM Academy Board Member https://www.aimpa.org/

AIM Academy

2015-6 - 2024-9 · 9 yrs 4 mos

Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, United States

As a board member of AIM Academy, I advised on strategic issues such as scaling services, enrollment, philanthropic development and overall strategic direction..

Board Member, The Barra Foundation https://www.barrafoundation.org/

The Barra Foundation

2014-3 - 2022-12 · 8 yrs 10 mos

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Chair of the Foundation's Audit Committee. Evaluated grant proposals and participated in annual strategic planning.

Board Member "Faith in the Future Foundation

Faith in the Future Foundation

2014-9 - 2021-6 · 6 yrs 10 mos

Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee Board member responsibilities included strategic planning, increasing recruitment, upgrading technology and facilities, philanthropic development

Associate Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship Education

Drexel University

2012-8 - 2013-1 · 6 mos

Previous to my position as Dean, I was the Associate Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship Education at Drexel. In this role, I oversaw the development and coordination of all academic entrepreneurial offerings and student activities.

Associate Dean for Graduate Programs

Drexel University

2012-1 - 2013-1 · 1 yr 1 mo

Greater Philadelphia Area

Oversee the strategic direction of ten graduate and corproate programs in the LeBow College of Business. Major responsiblities include creating the direction of graduate programming and forming educational partnerships with other parts of the University and with the business community.

Management Department Head

Drexel University

2004-9 - 2012-8 · 8 yrs

Philadelphia

Managed one of the largest departments in the LeBow College of Business that included tenure and tenure track faculty, teaching professors and adjuncts. Responsible for curriculum development, faculty and staff evaluations, course scheduling, faculty development and business outreach.

Associate

Howland and Associates

1986 - 1990 · 4 yrs

Education

Temple University

Strategic Management

Dissertation and current research focus on technology commercialization in dynamic environments; social networks and social capital; new ventures, entrepreneurs and leadership