The Center for L.I.F.E. (Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship)
The Center for L.I.F.E., housed within the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship at the Farmer School of Business, is a pioneering academic center dedicated to exploring the vital intersection of faith and entrepreneurship. The center has grown into a recognized center for research, teaching, and dialogue at the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship. Our mission is to serve students, teachers, and researchers by creating academically rigorous and practically relevant knowledge and experiences that advance understanding and practice at the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship.
Center for L.I.F.E.
2025
USASBE (United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship) Emerging Model Program Award
2025
GCEC (Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers) Specialty Entrepreneurship Award
Why Faith and Entrepreneurship?
For billions of people worldwide, faith is not just an isolated, religious activity—it is central to their identity. Yet, the intersection of belief and venture creation is often overlooked in higher education.
Global Prevalence
Over 80% of the global population claims a faith tradition.
Deep Relevance
For many entrepreneurs, faith is a primary driver of motivation, ethics, and resilience.
Bridging the Gap
L.I.F.E. provides the research-backed insights that faith-driven entrepreneurs have been missing.
Pillars of Impact
For Students: Faith and Entrepreneurship at Miami University
We prepare the next generation of leaders to bring their whole selves to their careers.
- ESP 361 Leading the Integration of Faith and Entrepreneurship: Each Spring and Fall, we offer students at Miami University a class focused on faith and entrepreneurship.
- Based on post-graduate surveys of LIFE course alumni:
- 100% of alumni would recommend the course.
- 94% of alumni found the course relevant to their life post-graduation.
- 83% of alumni expressed that the course helped them take steps to integrate faith into their work.
- Beyond the Classroom: We provide students each summer the opportunity to meet faith-driven entrepreneurs through a partnership with CEF.
- L.I.F.E. Student Chapters and Resource Hub: We provide teachers and students at universities across the country with content, training, and events to build L.I.F.E. student chapters.
For Researchers: Defining a Field
The Center for L.I.F.E. is building the academic foundation for faith and entrepreneurship.
- Producing Top-Tier Research: We convene a network of leading scholars and work to catalyze a movement of scholarship targeting top-tier journals (Financial Times Top 50) to legitimize this area of study.
- L.I.F.E. Research Conference: Each April, we host the premier gathering for scholars in the field.
- Publishing and Fellowships: We support postdoctoral fellowships and guide Ph.D. students through annual gatherings at the Academy of Management.
For Teachers: Catalyzing the Classroom
We empower faculty to bring faith and entrepreneurship to the classroom.
- Curriculum Development: We share syllabi, classroom modules, and best practices.
- L.I.F.E. Teaching Conference: Each November, we host the premier gathering of faculty focused on sharing best practices.
- L.I.F.E. Student Chapters and Resource Hub: We provide teachers and students at universities across the country with content, training, and events to build L.I.F.E. student chapters.
For Entrepreneurs: Translating Academic Research Into Action
We serve a growing movement of faith-motivated entrepreneurs by translating academic research into practical action.
- Research to Practice: We partner with national organizations to distribute academic research on faith and entrepreneurship to founders.
- Real-Life Stories: We share stories of impact from Miami University alumni who are using their education to positively impact their communities.
The Center for L.I.F.E. is a game-changer for entrepreneurship – advancing research, teaching, and co-curricular activities across higher education.
Dr. Don Kuratko, Executive Director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Indiana University
I’ve been able to unite my finance, social entrepreneurship, and faith background in a unique and beautiful way. I don’t think I would have had the courage to do that had I not been surrounded by the L.I.F.E. program.
Evan Moody, '26
The L.I.F.E. conference is an event we will look back on as the creation of a new subfield of entrepreneurship research.
Ted Baker, George F. Farris Chair in Entrepreneurship, Rutgers University
Perhaps the biggest lesson that I learned in this course is that no matter what type of work I go into, it will always be more than work for me so I really need the guardrails of my faith to build into how I work and why I work.
Bennett Clark, ‘23
Looking into my post-grad life and beginning my career, I am certain that I will be implementing much of what we have learned throughout this course, and frequently referring back to the resources we have been provided each week…Practically every topic we have discussed over this semester is something that I fully intend to implement into my post-grad life.
Julia Dodd, ‘21
The Center for L.I.F.E. has grown into a recognized center for research, teaching, and dialogue at the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship.
2026
- Created Faith + Entrepreneurship SIG at USASBE
- Launched FDE partnership to distribute research to entrepreneurs and investors
- Raising $5 million for expansion of team
- Published special issue on Faith + Entrepreneurship in E&RD
- 6th L.I.F.E. Research Conference
2025
- Won the USASBE Emerging Model Program Award
- Raised $1.5 million for expansion efforts
- Re-launched L.I.F.E. Student Group model
- Received GCEC Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Award
- 5th L.I.F.E. Research Conference
2024
- Launched 1st L.I.F.E. Teaching Conference
- Established $1 million L.I.F.E. Research Chair
- 3rd L.I.F.E. Ph.D. Seminar
- 4th L.I.F.E. Research Conference
- Created partnership with CEF
2023
- Established Center for L.I.F.E.
- $10 million endowment for the Center
- Created Faith + Entrepreneurship Syllabus Exchange
- 3rd L.I.F.E. Research Conference
2022
- 1st L.I.F.E. Ph.D. Seminar
- 1st L.I.F.E. Postdoctoral Program
- 2nd L.I.F.E. Research Conference
2021
- 2nd publication on Faith + Entrepreneurship – 1st FT50 publication
- $1 million gift to L.I.F.E.
- Launched 1st L.I.F.E. Research Conference
2020
- $300k gift to LIFE Program
- Piloted L.I.F.E. Student Group
2019
- 1st PDW on Faith + Entrepreneurship at SE Research Conference at Indiana University
- 1st publication on Faith + Entrepreneurship in JBVI
- Offered 1st class in Faith + Entrepreneurship
2018
- Launched L.I.F.E. Research Lab
- $100k to start LIFE Program
L.I.F.E. in the News
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Farmer School of Business Department of Entrepreneurship
2078 Farmer School of Business
800 East High Street
Oxford, OH 45056
