CRAIG WATTERS

School of Entrepreneurship
Associate Clinical Professor and Executive Director, School Entrepreneurship

343 BUSINESS BLDG
STILLWATER, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-7546

craig.watters@okstate.edu

Biography

Craig Watters joins the School of Entrepreneurship as the Norman C. Stevenson Chair in School of Entrepreneurship in Entrepreneurship, beginning Fall 2011. Craig is an accomplished scholar, educator, entrepreneur, manager, and economic developer. He comes to OSU from the top-ranked entrepreneurship program at Syracuse University, where he has led of portfolio of educational and community engagement initiatives. He has worked with faculty across an array of disciplines on curriculum development and outreach programs related to creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Craig helped conceptualize and launch the highly successful South Side Entrepreneurial Connect Project, which has contributed to the transformation of an economically-challenged inner city community. He has served as assistant dean for advancement in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse, and director of its economic stimulus center, the I-Launch Pad. His research and community work led to his nomination for an economic development award from Senator Hillary Clinton in 2003 and travel to Ireland as part of Clinton's trade mission in 2002.

A former manager at General Electric and the Syracuse Research Corporation, Craig has extensive experience in project management and contracts administration. In addition to his corporate experience, Craig has launched two successful ventures. His recent publications include "Inner City Engagement and the University: Interaction, Emergence & Transformation," Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, (2011). Craig holds bachelor's, master's of science and Ph.D. degrees from Syracuse University. His dissertation examined the impact of infrastructure on economic development in rural areas.

Education

• Ph D, Syracuse University, Social Science, 2005
• MS, Syracuse University, Information Resource Management, 1993
• BA, Syracuse University, Economics/English, 1983

Publications

• Matthew W. Rutherford, Craig Watters, and craig W Edwards. (2023). "Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs". Gainesville, FL: Advancements in Agricultural Development . (4), 3, 54-65.
• Stephen C Mukembo, Michael C Edwards, and Craig E Watters. "Development of Livelihood Skills through SAPs integrating Youth-Adult Partnerships". College Station, TX: JIAEE (Forthcoming). (December 27(4)),
• Jawed A Qureshi and Craig Watters. (2021). "The Strategic Role of Stakeholders in Healthcare Management of HIV/AIDS in Africa – Insights from Savior of Mankind". Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry (TOJQI), 12(9), 6972-6984. .
• and Craig Watters. "A Phenomenological Study of Individual Strategies for Rebuilding Food Production Ability in Resource-Poor Post Conflict Farming Communities in Myammar". JAIAEE 28(3).
• , , and Craig Watters. (2021). "Interpreting the Impact of a Professional Development Program: Views of Entrepreneur Fellows from Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda One year Later". .
• , , , Craig Watters, , , , , and . "Experts Views on the Potential of Luxury Niche Agricultural Products for Rural Economic Development in Mexico and Other Nations with Similar Needs: A Delphi Study". JAIAEE 28(3).
• and Craig Watters. "The Strategic Role of Stakeholders in Health Management of HIV/AIDS in Africa- insights from Savior". Proceedings, Green Computing and Engineering Technologies.
• , , and Craig E Watters. "JAIAEE 28 (3)". JAIAEE 28(3).
• Stephen Mukembo, Michael C Edwards, and Craig E Watters. (2020). "Journal of International Agriculture and Extension Education". Stillwater: .
• Craig Watters. "African Entrepreneurs’ Perceptions on the Mentoring Provided by a Cross-cultural Professional Development Experience: Implications for Future Programs (2019-1281), JIAEE". JIAEE (Forthcoming).
• Craig Watters. (2017). "Evaluation of an International Entrepreneur Exchange Program: Impacts, Lessons Learned, and Implications for Agricultural Development, Watters et al, Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education Volume 24, Issue 2, 2017". JIAEE (Forthcoming).
• Craig Watters, Tony Kang, and Choo. (2014). "Design for experiencing: Participatory design approach with multidisciplinary perspectives". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences.
• Craig Watters. (2014). "Designing entrepreneurial learning around an emerging approach to development: Econutrition as a food systems innovation, Association for International Agriculture and Extension Education Poster Submission, Cobb, Edwards Robinson and Watters". .
• Craig Watters, Choo, and Kang. (2014). "Evaluation of an International Entrepreneur Exchange Program: Impacts, Lessons Learned, and Implications for Agricultural Development, Watters et al, Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education Volume 24, Issue 2, 2017". New Orleans, LA: Environmental Design Research Association.
• Craig Watters. (2014). "“Design for experiencing: Participatory design approach with multidisciplinary perspectives,” Kang, Choo, Watters. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences". .
• Michael H. Morris, Craig Watters, and M. Schindehutte. (2011). "Inner City Engagement and the University: Mutuality, Emergence, & Transformation". Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.
• Craig Watters. (2006). "“The Dilemma of Growth: Understanding Venture Size Choices of Women Entrepreneurs,” Morris, Miyasake, Watters, Coombes; Journal of Small Business Management, 2006". Journal of Small Business Management.

Presentations

• Peruvian Ancient Groups and Oklahoma Native Americans
  USASBE
  Oklahoma State.University
  Virtual - January 21 2021
• Assessing Impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for Entrepreneurs from Sub-Saharan Africa: A Phenomenological Study”
  AIAEE Conference
  Trinidad and Tobago - 2019
• The Failure of Mentoring
  GCEC
  Nova Scotia, Canada - October 2017
• What Did Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs in Nicaragua Recognize as Business Opportunities? - Using Photovoice as a Data Collection Tool
  AAAE
  2016
• Opportunity Recognition
  OSU Research Symposium
  2016
• Social Entrepreneurship through Service Learning and case Example in Latin America
  US Assn for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference
  USASBE
  San Diego, CA - 2016
• Using Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory to Teach Social Entrepreneurship Concepts through an Appropriate Technology Relevant in Developing Countries
  US Assn for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference
  USASBE
  San Diego, CA - 2016
• Sources of successor commitment to take over: Exploring family resilience
  International Family Enterprise Research Academy
  Bogota, Columbia - June 2016
• Assessment of a Professional Fellows Program to Empower Entrepreneurs for Success on Sub-Saharan Africa
  Association for International Agriculture and Extension Education Annual Conference
  2015
• Entrepreneurship: A GEM of an Idea
  National Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education 2015
  Oklahoma City, OK - 2015
• Microfinance: Teach It
  US Assn for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference
  USASBE
  Tampa, FL - 2015
• Designing entrepreneurial learning around an emerging approach to development: Econutrition as a food systems innovation
  Association for International Agriculture and Extension Education
  2014
• Design for experiencing: Participatory design approach with multidisciplinary perspectives
  2014
• Participatory design: Multidiscipline co-design by graphic design, interior design and entrepreneurship students
  Environmental Design Research Association
  New Orleans, LA - 2014
• Entrepreneurship in the World
  University of Technology Conference
  University of Technology
  Jamaica - 2014