Yi Yang

Yi Yang serves as Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, and Director of the Jack M. Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship at UMass Lowell's Manning School of Business. She joined the institution in 2006 after completing her doctoral studies and currently chairs the Department of Marketing Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Her educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Business Administration (2006), Drexel University
• M.A. in Business Administration (2000), Nanjing University
• B.A. in Economics (1997), Nanjing University

Professor Yang's research program centers on entrepreneurship and strategic management with specialized expertise in corporate venturing, organizational learning, and technology management. Her methodological approach frequently employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to examine strategic decisions and sustainability applications. This work addresses critical business challenges in venture capital, innovation ecosystems, and resource allocation.

Her publication trajectory reveals evolving focus from foundational corporate venturing studies toward contemporary issues including social media's role in business signaling, university entrepreneurship, and sustainable operations. Recent work increasingly examines ecosystem dynamics and interdisciplinary connections between technology, strategy, and organizational structure.

Her scholarly impact is recognized through multiple awards:

• Academy of Management Best Paper Awards (2018, 2011)
• Emerald Literati Highly Commended Award (2018)
• Eastern Academy of Management Best Paper (2018)
• UMass Lowell Teaching Excellence Award (2014)
• Drexel University Best Dissertation Award (2007)

As an educator, she previously directed the PhD program (2014-2017) and mentors student teams, including guiding a third-place national wind competition finish (2013). Her research is supported by significant grants:

• US Army SLIMMER Projects (2021, Co-PI)
• NSF I-Corps Sites Grant (2021, Co-PI)
• UMass Lowell Social Network Research Grants (2009-2011, PI)

Through the Jack Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship, she actively cultivates startup ecosystems and regional economic development initiatives while maintaining active roles in the Donahue Center for Business Ethics and professional associations including the Academy of Management.