Laura Dunham, PhD, is the dean of the Opus College of Business and an associate professor in the Entrepreneurship Department at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.
Dunham joined St. Thomas in 2003 from the University of Virginia, where she earned her PhD and MBA from the Darden School of Business. She teaches undergraduate, graduate and executive programs on innovation and entrepreneurial strategy.
Dunham’s research focuses on the managerial and ethical challenges involved in innovation and new business start-up and development. Before her doctoral studies, she worked as a management consultant in the strategy division of Renaissance Worldwide, helping clients such as Oracle, IBM, Lucent and GTE identify, evaluate and develop new growth initiatives.
- Jensen, K., Byers, T., Dunham, L.C., Fjeld, J. (2021). Entrepreneurs and the truth. Harvard Business Review, July/August
- Dunham, L. C. (2018). Solome Tibebu: Evaluating possible business models. Case Research Journal, (38)(4).
- Freeman, R. E., Dunham, L. C., Fairchild, G. B., & Parmar, B. L. (2015). Leveraging the creative arts in business ethics teaching. Journal of Business Ethics, (131)(3), pp. 519-526
- Dunham, L. C. (2011). Solome tibebu and entrepreneurial beginnings. (written case with instructional material)
- Dunham, L. C. (2011). House of talents. (written case with instructional material)
- Dunham, L. C. (2011). Anxiety in teens. (written case with instructional material)
- Dunham, L. C. (2010). From rational to wise action: Recasting our theories of entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Ethics
- Dunham, L. C. (2010). Sr. Rosalind Gefre schools and clinics of massage. (written case with instructional material)
- Dunham, L. C., McVea, J. F., & Freeman, R. E. (2008). Entrepreneurial wisdom: Incorporating the ethical and strategic dimensions of entrepreneurial decision-making. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, (6)(1), pp. 8-19
- Dunham, L. C., & McVea, J. F. (2007). The ethical dimensions of creative market action: A framework for identifying issues and implications of entrepreneurial ethics. (26)(1/4),
- Dunham, L. C., Freeman, R. E., & Liedtka, J. (2006). Enhancing stakeholder practice: A particularized exploration of community. Business Ethics Quarterly, (16)(1), pp. 23-42
- Dunham, L. C., & Freeman, R. E. (2001). There is business like show business: Leadership learnings from the theater. Organizational Dynamics
- Freeman, R. E., Dunham, L. C., & McVea, J. F. (2007). Strategic Ethics. Strategy, wisdom and stakeholder Theory: A pragmatic and entrepreneurial view of stakeholder strategy Ch 8 (pp. 151-178).
Books and Chapters
- Dunham, L. C. (2021). A Theater Perspective on Humanizing Business. In: Freeman, R.E., Dion, M. and Dmytriyev, S. (eds) Humanizing business: What the humanities can say to business. Springer
- Academy of Management
- Society for Business Ethics
- Journal of Business Ethics, Reviewer
- Loaves and Fishes Meal Program, Other
- Associate Dean, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2017 - 2022)
- Associate Professor, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2010 - present)
- Department Chair, Entrepreneurship, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2013 - present)
- Assistant Professor, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul / Minneapolis (2004 - 2010)
- Visiting Instructor, University of Virginia - Darden Graduate School of Business, Charlottesville (2005 - 2006)
- Guest Lecturer, University of Virginia - McIntire School of Commerce, Charlottesville (2002 - 2003)
- Instructor, University of Virginia - McIntire School of Commerce, Charlottesville (2000 - 2000)
- Consultant, Renaissance Worldwide, Boston (1996 - 1998)
- Senior Consultant, Renaissance Worldwide, Boston (1998 - 1998)
- Senior Account Executive, Siddall, Matus and Coughter Advertising, Inc., Richmond (1992 - 1994)
- Director, Studio Theatre of Richmond (Small Business Founder/Manager), Richmond (1987 - 1992)
- Account Executive, Lawler Ballard Advertising / The Paxton Group, Richmond (1985 - 1987)
- Assistant Account Executive, Lawler Ballard Advertising / The Paxton Group, Richmond (1983 - 1984)
- Press Secretary, Congressman, Jerry M. Patterson, Washington (1981 - 1983)