Jason S. Entsminger, Ph.D.

Biographical Statement

Jason S. Entsminger, Ph.D. joined the University of Maine in September, 2022, with a joint appointment between the Maine Business School and UMaine Cooperative Extension. As Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation within MBS, Dr. Entsminger engages in research and academic teaching on topics related to innovation, value creation, new venture startups, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. These activities integrate with his role as the State Extension Specialist for Small Business, through which he supports Maine’s businesses and communities via applied research, outreach education programming, and sharing of expertise across other Extension program areas. Much of Dr. Entsminger’s expertise is in the realms of agriculture and food businesses and rural community economic development – particularly via rural entrepreneurship.

Prior to joining UMaine, Dr. Entsminger was Associate Director of the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development – one of four such regionally-focused centers established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to coordinate research and Extension activities across Land- and Sea-Grant Universities and other stakeholders that built the prosperity of rural communities and small-towns. As Associate Director, he led the Center’s Extension-focused efforts, and was appointed as Assistant Research Professor at Penn State University and Assistant Extension Professor at the University of Connecticut. He has also previously held research, teaching, and Extension roles within the McQuinn Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Missouri, the Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland, the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, and Nevada Cooperative Extension at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Dr. Entsminger is originally from Reno, Nevada. He has lived and/or worked in eight U.S. states and three foreign countries. He enjoys travel, hiking, working on his partner’s farm, volunteering for the LGBT+ community, film, and refinishing old furniture.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agricultural and Applied Economics specializing in Managerial, Behavioral, and Organizational Economics. University of Missouri. Columbia, Missouri. 2020.
  • International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) with Greatest Distinction (summa cum laude). L’Università degli studi di Pisa (Italy); École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes- Agrocampus Ouest (France); Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany). 2013.
  • Master of Science (MS) in Food and Resource Economics. University of Florida. Gainesville, Florida. 2012.
  • Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agricultural and Applied Economics with Distinction (with a minor in Applied Statistics). University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, Nevada. 2010.
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Affairs with Distinction and specializing in Law, Diplomacy and Comparative Political Organization. University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, Nevada. 2010.
  • Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature with Distinction (with a minor in Italian Studies). University of Nevada, Reno. Reno, Nevada. 2010.

Research Interests

  • Entrepreneurial Networks
  • Minority Entrepreneurship
  • Organizational Theory, particularly Organizational Evolution
  • Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, particularly rural enterprise development support structures
  • Sectoral emphasis: food value chains (value addition before or beyond the farm gate)

Teaching and Instructional Interests

  • Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation (MGT 344)
  • Small Business Management (MGT 342)
  • Food industry business and management
  • Case study development and exploration
  • Applied business research
  • Organizational theory

Extension and Outreach Education Interests

  • New venture formation planning
  • Entrepreneurial opportunity recognition
  • Innovation and design thinking
  • Small business management
  • Community entrepreneurial environments

Social Platforms and Other Profiles

To learn more about research and scholarly activities:

To learn more about Extension and outreach education activities:

To learn more about my professional background and connect: