Dushan Nikolovski named Director of Valparaiso University’s Innovation Hub

Dushan Nikolovski has been named the inaugural director of the Innovation Hub (IHub) at Valparaiso University. The IHub will provide not only Valparaiso University students, but also members of the Valparaiso community and Northwest Indiana business sector with a dynamic space to connect, explore best practices and innovations, and strengthen regional industries through meaningful interactions, connections, and programs. 

“The IHub will be a resource for everyone in the region,” said Professor Nikolovski. “I am excited to connect and collaborate with students, faculty, and members of the community.” 
Among the initiatives available to students and community members at the IHub will be startup accelerator and commercialization programs, business networking socials, and guest speakers from regional businesses. Free and low-cost community workshops and classes will address the topics today’s professionals need to understand to stay current and relevant while student consulting programs will address the needs of regional businesses and industry leaders — ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders and innovators are prepared to usher in an even brighter future. 

Professor Nikolovski, who will also serve as a clinical associate professor of entrepreneurship, brings over 30 years of startup business experience to the table. This, combined with his 29 years of experience in teaching at Purdue University Northwest, make him uniquely qualified to bring out the maximum potential of the IHub’s impact on students, members of the community, and businesses across Northwest Indiana.

“Professor Nikolovski will lead a collaborative effort to bring together students, faculty, community members, and business owners from Valparaiso and throughout Northwest Indiana,” said Niclas Erhardt, dean of the College of Business. “Under his leadership, the IHub will serve to enhance workforce development in the region.”

The IHub is made possible through nearly $1.4 million received from the estate of the late Deborah “Deb” A. Tschetter ’71 Spannraft, as well as Stewart G. McMillan and Kathryn H. McMillan, who donated the building that houses the facility: Clyde H. McMillan Hall, named in memory of Stewart’s father and founder of Task Force Tips, Chief Clyde H. McMillan. The space provides a synergistic environment with open, comfortable work spaces to promote collaborations and idea generation. 

To learn more about the opportunities the IHub will bring to students, the Valparaiso community, and the Northwest Indiana businesses sectors, visit valpo.edu/innovation-hub.