KEEN at Iowa

The word "engineering" etched into a building

KEEN at Iowa

"Creating value is at the core of our work in the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Through our membership in KEEN, we will enhance our connections to build on the entrepreneurial mindset of our faculty, staff, and students who are using their curiosity to develop ground-breaking and life-changing research which will steward our environment, improve healthcare delivery, and deploy smart technology systems throughout Iowa, around the country, and across the globe."

— Ann McKenna, Dean, College of Engineering

About KEEN

Founded in 2005, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) is a nationwide partnership of universities dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset in engineering education. KEEN’s mission is to equip engineering students with the skills to identify opportunities, create value, and become innovative problem-solvers. KEEN and its partners promote entrepreneurially minded learning through curriculum development, collaborative research, and national conferences and events.

Engineering Unleashed, powered by KEEN, is an online community of engineering faculty, staff, and administrators who share educational resources.

KEEN at the University of Iowa

Iowa Engineering became a KEEN partner in August 2024, marking an exciting new chapter in our commitment to enhancing engineering education and creating an opportunity to connect with other engineering programs in the network, leverage resources, engage in collaborative projects, and identify other synergies.

This partnership will enhance education and teaching by integrating entrepreneurial mindset (EM) outcomes into curriculum, student immersive experiences, and a broad spectrum of co-curricular or extra-curricular programs. KEEN will complement the college’s ongoing focus on improving written and oral communication skills and discovering and confronting ethical and societal dilemmas.

Iowa KEEN Initiatives

We are actively implementing KEEN principles through a variety of programs and activities:

Lunch & Learn Series

People listening to a presentation while eating lunch

Our Lunch & Learn series provides faculty with opportunities to explore ways to integrate the entrepreneurial mindset into their courses. Each session features discussions on innovative teaching strategies, curriculum development, and success stories from other KEEN institutions.

View the full Lunch & Learn schedule

National KEEN Conference

At the beginning of each spring semester, University of Iowa faculty and staff attend the KEEN National Conference, engaging with peers from across the country to share best practices and bring new ideas back to our campus. Our participation strengthens our ability to foster entrepreneurial thinking in our students and faculty.

Faculty Development Summer Workshops

Each summer, faculty attend national Entrepreneurially Minded Faculty Development (EUFD) Workshops designed to support faculty in incorporating KEEN principles into their teaching. These workshops offer hands-on guidance, peer collaboration, and practical resources to help participants explore ways to embed curiosity, connections, and value creation into their courses.

Faculty from all engineering disciplines—and beyond—are invited to attend, whether they’re new to KEEN or looking to deepen their integration of the entrepreneurial mindset.

Mini Golf Design Challenge: Engineering for Fun

As part of our KEEN efforts, we are sponsoring the Mini Golf Challenge, where student, faculty, and staff form teams to design creative and interactive mini-golf holes. This initiative promotes hands-on learning, problem-solving, and teamwork while encouraging students to think entrepreneurially about design and user experience.

Explore the Mini Golf Challenge

Faculty Funding for KEEN Initiatives

Screenshot of the Engineering Unleashed website

To support the integration of the entrepreneurial mindset in engineering education, we have launched a Faculty Funding Initiative. This initiative provides financial support for faculty to:

Incorporate Entrepreneurial Mindset (EM) into a Course – Faculty can apply for funding to redesign or enhance their courses with KEEN principles.
Develop a KEEN Card for Engineering Unleashed – Faculty can create and share an innovative teaching approach with the broader KEEN network.
Host a KEEN-related Workshop, Book Club, or Lunch & Learn – Funding is available for faculty who wish to run workshops or book clubs that promote KEEN principles in engineering education.

Learn more about faculty funding opportunities

Get Involved

We invite faculty, staff, and students to be part of the KEEN initiative at the University of Iowa. Whether through curriculum development, research collaborations, or hands-on activities, there are many ways to engage with and contribute to this exciting effort.

For more information, contact the KEEN at Iowa leadership team.