EpicenterU Regional Lead & Adjunct Lecturer

Reports To:

Program Director, EpicenterU

Position Type:
Part-Time, approximately 10 hours per week

Summary

Epicenter delivers high-impact resources to entrepreneurs using innovation to solve challenges across Memphis and the Delta Region. Through EpicenterU, we connect higher education, entrepreneurship, and regional industry to help students develop the skills, relationships, and opportunities needed to build venture-scalable companies and contribute to the Delta's innovation economy.

The EpicenterU Regional Lead & Adjunct Lecturer will serve as the primary local representative, ecosystem builder, and classroom instructor for EpicenterU's Students to Startups initiative in Arkansas or Mississippi. This role will deliver Epicenter's entrepreneurship curriculum while building strong relationships across universities, corporations, philanthropy, local leadership, investors, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Instruction & Student Development

Serve as the formally appointed University Adjunct Lecturer responsible for delivering the designated EpicenterU course.

Deliver EpicenterU's entrepreneurship curriculum with consistency and a focus on venture-scalable business development.

Teach students design thinking, customer discovery, capital readiness, and other frameworks designed to support high-growth entrepreneurship.

Guide students in understanding the differences between traditional small business models and venture-scalable opportunities.

Manage syllabus progression, grading, student engagement, and mentorship throughout the course.

Provide office hours and individualized guidance to support students as they develop and validate their ideas.

Regional Ecosystem Development

Serve as EpicenterU's primary local presence and relationship builder within the assigned state.

Build and maintain relationships with university leaders, Chambers of Commerce, municipal leaders, corporate partners, philanthropic organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors.

Strengthen Epicenter's visibility and credibility within the local entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

Identify opportunities for EpicenterU to connect students with regional resources, mentors, investors, customers, and industry leaders.

Participate in weekly EpicenterU ecosystem meetings and provide updates on local relationships, opportunities, challenges, and developments.

Maintain consistent engagement with regional partners to ensure momentum continues throughout the year.

Talent, Capital & Customer Development

Develop a strong regional pipeline of relationships and opportunities across EpicenterU's Talent, Capital, and Customers framework.

Talent:
Identify high-potential student founders, experienced mentors, and prospective Entrepreneurs-in-Residence who can support the EpicenterU community.

Capital:
Cultivate relationships with angel investors, family offices, corporate sponsors, philanthropic partners, and public funding sources.

Customers:
Identify opportunities for student founders to access potential customers, pilot opportunities, enterprise feedback, and supply chain partnerships.

Build relationships with leaders across key Delta industries, including healthcare, logistics, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing.

Track and communicate high-priority relationships and opportunities to the Program Director during weekly ecosystem meetings.

Student Recruitment & Program Operations

Partner with university departments, faculty, and campus leaders to recruit ambitious undergraduate students for the EpicenterU course.

Coordinate local workshops, classroom activities, and other on-campus EpicenterU programming.

Recruit and coordinate guest speakers, mentors, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from the local community.

Support the planning and execution of local capstone showcases and other student-facing events.

Coordinate with the Memphis-based Epicenter team to ensure local programming is delivered effectively and consistently.

Qualifications

Master's degree or higher in entrepreneurship, business, or a related field, such as an MBA, required to meet university accreditation guidelines for adjunct instruction.

Direct experience operating within a venture-backed startup or equivalent experience evaluating venture-scalable businesses through angel investing, venture capital, or a related field.

Demonstrated understanding of venture-scalable entrepreneurship, customer discovery, design thinking, and capital readiness.

Established and respected…