Letter From Immediate Past Board Chair, Dr. Sara Cochran

Dear USASBE Members,

As my year as Chairperson of the USASBE Board of Directors comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect with gratitude on the year we have shared together.

Last fall, I wrote to you about USASBE’s rebuilding year and the work underway to strengthen our financial and operational foundation, provide steadiness in a changing higher education landscape, and ensure that our organization remains relevant, productive, and deeply connected to the members we serve. As I look back now, I am proud of the progress we have made together and deeply grateful for the many people who helped move this work forward.

 This has been a year of renewal for USASBE. Together, the Board, our CEO, headquarters staff, committees, SIG leaders, volunteers, partners, and members have helped strengthen the organization in ways that will serve our community well into the future. We have secured a new multi-year partner institution agreement, continued to build clearer governance and communication processes, strengthened our financial management systems, advanced long-range conference planning, invested in member engagement, and taken important steps to support future growth. We have also remained focused on what makes USASBE distinctive: our commitment to being a member-centered organization, shaped by and for entrepreneurship educators, scholars, and leaders.

 One of the most meaningful moments of the year for me was our time together in Salt Lake City. The conference was a powerful reminder of the strength of this community. In conversations, sessions, hallway moments, and shared celebrations, I saw the generosity, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that make USASBE such an important home for our field. At a time when higher education continues to evolve rapidly, coming together in community matters. It helps us reconnect, learn from one another, and collectively shape what comes next.

 Of course, none of this work happens because of one person. I want to express my sincere appreciation to my fellow Board members for their thoughtful leadership, care, and commitment throughout the year. I am also grateful to our CEO and headquarters team for their steady work on behalf of the organization, and to the many members who contributed their time, ideas, energy, and trust. Your engagement is what makes USASBE strong.

As I transition out of the Chairperson role, I do so with confidence in USASBE’s future. The work of strengthening and renewing an organization is ongoing, and there is still much ahead. But we are moving forward from a stronger foundation, guided by a clear sense of purpose and supported by a community that cares deeply about entrepreneurship education and one another.

My closing ask is simple: please stay engaged. Attend events, participate in SIGs, share your ideas, volunteer, invite colleagues into the community, and continue helping USASBE be the organization our field needs. USASBE’s strength has always come from its members, and that will continue to be true in the years ahead.

 Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Board Chair. It has been an honor to support this community, and I am deeply grateful for all you do to advance entrepreneurship education.

Warmly,

Sara L. Cochran, PhD
Immediate Past Chairperson, Board of Directors
(Chair, Board of Directors, 2025-2026)