ABOUT US
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
OUR MISSION
The McMillon Innovation Studio serves as an innovation hub to students across the University of Arkansas campus. The studio’s mission is to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact. Students in the studio are given access to valuable mentorship and resources – providing further support to cultivate their creative skills and empower them to deliver impact innovation through organizational, social, and entrepreneurial change.
WHAT WE DO
DESIGN TEAMS
PRODUCT TEAMS
DIGITAL PRODUCT ACCELERATION
COLLABORATIONS
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe those who have the best future ahead of them as innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs have the greatest chance of success by learning from doing. Those skills come in the form of:
Understanding Problems
Creative Thinking
Variable Design
Learning how to fail
Communication
OUR TEAM
JUSTIN URSO
Prior to joining the McMillon Innovation Studio, Justin was a full-time entrepreneur who built several start-ups and small businesses in the Northwest Arkansas community. During that time he learned the importance of innovation and hustle. His experience includes being an MBA graduate from the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business, working in the headquarters of three consumer packaged goods companies, and having been a full-time dad and educator during the height of the covid pandemic. Justin is passionate about education, innovation, finding the next great innovators and entrepreneurs, solving problems, and spending his free time with his family exploring the outdoors.
JESSICA ANDREWS
Associate Director
In her role at the McMillon Innovation Studio, Jessica facilitates opportunities for students and the community to solve problems using human-centered design. She also leads the studio’s Design Teams program and the undergraduate certificate in Organizational Innovation. Prior to joining the University of Arkansas, she spent nearly 10 years working in the nonprofit sector, most recently as the Chief Executive Officer at 7hills Homeless Center. Jessica has an MBA and MPS from the University of Arkansas. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling, reading fantasy and science fiction, and experimenting with art and design.
COURTNEY ULRICH SMITH
Design Teams Facilitator
REAGAN HERRMANN
Studio Manager
NAMRATA ANAND
Senior Project Manager
JACK NORRIS
Dev Consultant
JARRETT HOBBS
Dev Consultant
WILSON STRANGE
Graduate Assistant