Three students from the College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS) had the opportunity to participate in the Entrepreneurship Health Research Forum which was held in Chicago on October 13 and 14. Event organizers included Tim Michaelisassistant professor of entrepreneurship at the NIU College of Business, who, along with Becca Husarassociate director for innovation and partnership development, provided CHHS with the student tickets.
Karianna Shackelford (Public Health), De’Janae Thrasher (Nursing) and Omobolanle Wunuken (Rehabilitation Counseling) were selected after 
Participate in a CHHS Entrepreneurship Health Research Video Competition in September. Students were invited to submit a two- to three-minute video that addressed the stress and physical and mental health challenges of entrepreneurship and self-employment and how their research training could collect data evidence on these subjects. In addition to a $500 scholarship and an entry ticket to the forum, the winning students received reimbursement for travel, hotel and meal expenses.
For Shackelford, the daughter of an entrepreneur, it was a subject she had seen firsthand.
“My dad has been in his business since I was little,” said Shackelford, whose father is a chef who started Chef Mac Fine Eating in Rockford. “I know my father’s dreams as if they were my own since I sometimes work alongside him (helping him with) his media marketing and helping him in the kitchen.”
Shackelford said attending the Chicago forum and meeting with entrepreneurs was a great learning experience.
“I rarely think about the mental state of an entrepreneur and attending this forum was eye-opening,” Shackelford said. “It goes beyond making a product and selling it; the cost of trying to run a successful business can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle.
CHHS Faculty Lynn Herrmannassociate professor of public health, and Thomas Pavkovdirector and professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, attended the conference with CHHS students.
“The event combined research on health and entrepreneurs with experiences of real entrepreneurs,” Herrmann said. “It was great to see the discussions about what entrepreneurs need and how research can be more relevant and applicable to entrepreneurs. »
Herrmann said students who participated were able to gain insight into a specific research area with passionate professionals who have the entrepreneur’s best interests at heart.
“My take-home message is that healthy entrepreneurs are better entrepreneurs, but there is a certain gap that needs to be bridged between research and entrepreneur behaviors,” Herrmann said. “It’s easy to know that you need to adopt healthy behaviors, but it’s not always easy to act in the healthiest way possible due to the demands and stress entrepreneurs feel.”
Pavkov agreed, adding that opportunities like this are important for today’s students.
“Opportunities like this provide an interesting perspective on health issues – particularly mental health issues – when engaging in entrepreneurship,” Pavkov said. “It also provides students with the opportunity to participate in some research in this area. There was an interesting convergence between family science and business in the conference presentations.
Rachel GordonCHHS associate dean for research and administration, said the college is excited about how this event supports faculty and students.
“(This opportunity) expanded their knowledge and networks on this important topic of physical and mental health among entrepreneurs,” Gordon said. “It also focused on research that can gather evidence and guide changes in systems and the resources to support them.”
Learn more about research at CHHS.
