Dale Thomas Eesley

Dr. Dale Thomas Eesley holds the John Morgan Community Chair in Entrepreneurship and serves as a Professor of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)’s College of Business Administration (CBA). He is the Founder and Director of the Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Franchising, leading initiatives like the BigIdea! Pitch Contest and Maverick Business Plan Contest. His service includes roles in the Faculty Senate, founding the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community, and overseeing Stedman’s Cafe, a student-run business.

Educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (PhD in Entrepreneurship & Strategy), Westminster Theological Seminary (MA in Religion), and Gordon College (BA in English & Economics), Dr. Eesley’s research focuses on entrepreneurial behaviors, small business management, and human resource practices. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on improvisation in startups, abusive supervision, and innovation training.

• Teaching: Introduction to Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, and Maverick Startups.
• Service: Adviser to the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (national Adviser of the Year 2017), organizer of the Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference, and member of the Ponca Financial Loan Committee.
• Awards: CBA Alumni Teaching Award (2018), Honors Program Faculty of the Year (2016), and multiple service recognitions.

Dr. Eesley’s work bridges academic research and practical entrepreneurship, emphasizing grassroots innovation and organizational resilience through improvisation.