Contact: Emily Daniels
STARKVILLE, Miss.— The Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach is announcing Michael Lane as program coordinator for MSU’s new Idea Shop.
Lane, who graduated from MSU in December with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, will be responsible for MSU’s new downtown makerspace and retail storefront. Launched in late 2018, the Idea Shop is located at 114 E. Main Street in Starkville and houses the Turner A. Wingo Maker Studio and the Retail Product Accelerator, which are operated by MSU’s College of Business and School of Human Sciences.
“I grew up around tools and spent time working on construction sites with my dad,” Lane said. “I realized how important it is for people who design to actually know how to build what they are designing. That’s why I decided to get involved in the makerspace and give people the opportunities that I had growing up: to use tools, build what they want, and be a part of projects.”
During his undergraduate career, Lane became a champion of the maker movement at MSU. The Amory native was a founding member of The Factory, a student organization launched in 2014, and he helped grow the organization to more than 200 active members. Lane traveled to more than 10 universities and conferences around the country to benchmark MSU against other institutions and help inform the university’s strategy to grow the maker movement.
In 2016, Lane was selected to represent MSU by attending a kickoff meeting hosted by President Barack Obama’s administration at the White House as part of the first National Week of Making. The national gathering brought together distinguished individuals who led efforts to inspire creative problem-solving and support opportunities for those from all backgrounds to tinker and make.
“Michael has built a remarkable reputation as a thought-leader in the maker movement across Mississippi and the country,” said Eric Hill, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach. “We are beyond fortunate to have him on the Bulldog team and excited to have his help accelerating the growth of our resources for entrepreneurs downtown.”
The Idea Shop will have a grand opening this spring and be open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 1-9 p.m., and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more on the MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, visit http://ecenter.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.