About
In 1977, Baylor became one of the first universities in the nation to create a Center for Entrepreneurship. The Center soon became a focal point for entrepreneurial development at Baylor with the advancement of new curriculum and research.
A milestone for the Center was reached in 1988 when entrepreneur John F. Baugh became one of Baylor Entrepreneurship's first benefactors. The Baugh family financed an endowment for the Center with a subsequent name change to the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship.
In 2013, the Baugh Center’s role expanded to include a focus on conducting and disseminating free enterprise research with the objective of becoming a national leader on issues at the intersection of entrepreneurship and public policy. In recognition of this change, its name changed to the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship & Free Enterprise.
Today, Baugh Center faculty and staff lead a wide range of initiatives, with a concentration on creating and managing programs, activities and events that expand the exposure and impact of the Baylor Entrepreneurship Department outside the confines of the Hankamer School of Business.
While the scope and reach of the Baugh Center has expanded significantly over the years, what has not changed is the commitment to two core objectives:
- To foster the entrepreneurial spirit in all our students by providing the skills needed to create profitable companies, and
- To hold strong in our mission as a Christian University in the belief that entrepreneurs are most inspired by serving a higher purpose, not simply by the pursuit of monetary gain.