The Jim Moran Visiting Scholars Program aims to foster innovative research collaborations between Florida State University entrepreneurship faculty and an expansive, interdisciplinary network of scholars from around the world. This program aims to support research collaborations in the areas of entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurship ecosystems, entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial orientation and resilience, entrepreneurship under conditions of adversity, family business, social and/or sustainable entrepreneurship, and the nexus between entrepreneurship and public policy.
The main objectives of this program include:
- Encouraging the initiation of novel, collaborative entrepreneurship research projects between JMC faculty and a broad array of scholars, including those from non-business fields or those based outside of the United States.
- Promoting the creation of impactful research aimed at publication in premier entrepreneurship journals.
- Supporting research translation through dissemination of key findings to JMI’s practitioner audiences – there must be some form of deliverable tied to each (e.g., a talk or presentation, a short form article geared towards practitioners, engagement in a podcast session).
Through generous support from the Jim Moran College and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, up to four scholars each year are provided financial support and access to Florida State University's extensive entrepreneurship research resources through this program.
Tatyana Tsukanova, PhD
EHL Hospitality Business School, Switzerland
Dr. Tatyana Tsukanova is an experienced researcher, educator, and professional specializing in entrepreneurship, strategy, and internationalization. Through her research, she explores how companies and new ventures navigate the complexities they encounter and leverage resources to attain success. Dr. Tsukanova received her PhD in Economics from the University of Tartu and was a visiting doctoral student at HEC Paris. She worked as an assistant professor at a triple-crown international business school before joining EHL to lead the research team. Dr. Tsukanova is a regular contributor to leading academic journals and media publications, a frequent speaker at international conferences and other events, and an active member of several professional associations. She teaches courses and gives lectures on entrepreneurship, strategy, research, innovation, and sustainability and works on various research projects, collaborating with international academics, experts, entrepreneurs, and executives to develop new solutions. She is committed to inspiring innovation, fostering sustainable growth, and driving positive change.
Visiting Scholar Term: 2024-2025
Diego Matricano, PhD
Università degli studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy
Dr. Diego Matricano is Associate Professor at the Department of Management of the Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Capua, Italy, where he teaches “Management of Innovative Startups” and “Innovation Management and Business Modeling”. He was a visiting scholar at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he also participated in a research project at the Sol. C. Snider Entrepreneurship Research Center directed by Prof. Ian MacMillan. His research focuses on entrepreneurship and innovation, startups and digitalization of firms. Presently he chairs the Entrepreneurship special interest group at European Academy of Management (EURAM). Dr. Matricano’s primary home is in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, a town near his native city of Caserta, in the charming countryside in the south of Italy. He holds a PhD from Jönköping International Business School, Sweden.
Visiting Scholar Term: 2024-2026
Grant Wilson, PhD
University of Regina, Canada
Dr. Grant Wilson is an Associate Professor at the Hill and Levene Schools of Business, University of Regina, Canada. His research focuses on marketing, strategy, and innovation. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in top management journals such as Technological Forecasting & Social Change, Journal of Small Business Management, Research-Technology Management, and Journal of Business Strategy. Dr. Wilson’s research has been featured in the National Post, The Globe & Mail, and by the World Economic Forum. Dr. Wilson is also the Principal of Stratalytics, a boutique consulting firm that helps organizations make empirically based decisions for enhanced competitiveness and performance.
Visiting Scholar Term: 2025-2026
Michael H. Morris, PhD
University of Notre Dame
Dr. Michael Morris has worked to bring entrepreneurship empowerment to those operating under conditions of adversity, and this commitment is reflected in his research, teaching, and community engagement efforts. At Notre Dame he launched the Global Partnership for Poverty and Entrepreneurship, a resource-sharing consortium for scholars, educators, and community leaders, and the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative, which helps low-income members of urban communities develop their own businesses. Morris also coordinates the Entrepreneurship Empowerment in South Africa Program, which enables students to work with historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs in Cape Town, South Africa. On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023, Morris was honored with a mayoral proclamation from South Bend Mayor James Mueller and the City of South Bend for his work leading the South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program, which has graduated more than 200 participants. Morris is a past president of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE). He has been awarded the Edwin & Gloria Appel Prize for contributions to entrepreneurship and also the Academy of Management’s Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award. A former Fulbright Scholar, Morris was named a Top 20 entrepreneurship professor by Fortune Small Business and received the Leavey Award from the Freedoms Foundation for impacting private enterprise education. He received the 2021 Legacy Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers and was recognized by the USASBE as Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year in 2012. He earned a PhD in marketing from Virginia Tech in 1983.
Visiting Scholar Term: Fall 2024
Mary Beresford, BA (Hons)
Manchester Fashion Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Mary Beresford is a dedicated Technical Specialist in Fashion Innovation at the Manchester Fashion Institute, part of Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. In her role, she manages key facilities, including the Textile Testing Lab, Body and 3D Scanning, and the Non-Sew Innovation Zone, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technological advancements and research methodologies.
Mary holds a bachelor's degree in Fashion Design & Development from the London College of Fashion and brings extensive experience from the fashion production industry. She collaborates closely with academics, offering technical expertise and support for research initiatives, as well as assisting with the maintenance and operation of cutting-edge equipment. Her mission is to advance the institute's research agenda by serving as a vital link between people and technology, fostering strong relationships between technicians and academics.
Mary is actively involved in staying ahead of emerging trends, consistently scanning the horizon for new technologies and innovative methodologies that could enhance the institute's research capabilities. She maintains an extensive network within and beyond the university, playing a key role in securing funding for new initiatives and ensuring that equipment acquisitions align with the institute's strategic goals.
Keen to further her academic career, Mary plans to embark on an MRes, building on her commitment to advancing the field of fashion innovation.
Visiting Scholar Term: Fall 2024