Rama Yelkur, Dean, Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship -Texas Woman’s University

Invest: sat down with Rama Yelkur, dean of the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship at the Texas Woman’s University, about the institution’s mission, growth, and recent achievements. Yelkur discusses the college’s commitment to educating primarily women in business and healthcare, its new $30 million naming gift, and its role in fostering student entrepreneurship and innovation.

Could you please provide an overview of the College of Business, its mission, and what role it plays in the North Texas region?

The Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business is at an exciting stage, and we’re on a growth trajectory. Our mission is to educate, primarily women, to be leaders in business and healthcare and to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. We attract a special type of student — one who is talented but may not have the means to be successful in the workplace. Our goal is to provide a holistic business education and produce top-notch graduates who can excel in all business fields.

Interestingly, the timing of our interview coincides with some exciting developments. We recently received a $30 million naming gift, the largest ever for a business school in the DFW area. This significant contribution will enable us to further enhance our programs and resources. We are a young College of Business, recently accredited by AACSB, and we’re already considered on par with top business schools. Now, with these additional resources, we can better serve our students by offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various business fields.

One unique aspect of our business school is that we also offer programs in healthcare administration. This aligns perfectly with Texas Woman’s University’s (TWU) focus on Health Sciences, STEM, and educating women in these areas. The business education we provide complements TWU’s mission by preparing women to become leaders in finance and investment, equipped with cutting-edge knowledge. With this new $30 million gift, we’re also expanding into student entrepreneurship. The Merrilee Alexander Kick Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will support student entrepreneurs and help create more women-owned businesses which is closely aligned with our mission of empowering women to succeed in the economy.

With this focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, how do you envision this transforming the college?

The college’s name has been slightly altered due to this gift; it is now called the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Merrilee Alexander Kick, one of our MBA graduates, developed a product idea during her capstone project, which later turned into a successful business. We aim to offer similar support to our current students, helping them bring their ideas to fruition. 

Through the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we’ll be able to offer extensive support, including entrepreneurship classes, mentoring from entrepreneurs-in-residence, and guidance through challenges like intellectual property, patenting, regulatory compliance, packaging, supply chain management, and marketing. This institute will be a game-changer for us, and it’s incredibly gratifying to know that we can provide such comprehensive support for student entrepreneurship and create more women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

This gift will allow us to attract top-notch faculty and students, nationally and globally, enhancing our reputation and academic quality. Our ability to innovate will enable us to explore new and emerging fields, ensuring our students receive a top-tier education that prepares them for success.

What strategies are you using to attract and retain both students and faculty in this competitive region?

Faculty are drawn to us because we offer high-quality, accredited programs that are well-known. Additionally, they are often passionate about our mission, which focuses on educating primarily women and having a broad societal impact. Our motto, “Educate a woman, empower the world,” resonates with many faculty and staff who join us. 

As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), we attract students who are looking for a sense of belonging and a supportive environment. Our students come from diverse backgrounds, and they seek a community where they can thrive, not just academically but holistically. We are also proactive in integrating cutting-edge technologies into our curriculum. For example, we are already incorporating AI and data analytics, fields in which we have recognized faculty expertise.

Companies today often look for specific skills over traditional degrees. To meet this demand, we offer certificate and badging programs that can lead to degree programs, providing flexible and accessible pathways for students. This approach not only attracts students but also aligns with what employers are looking for, ensuring that our graduates are ready for the workforce.

How does the university ensure that education remains affordable while maintaining high quality?

We work hard to make sure education isn’t a financial burden on our students. TWU is known for providing a high-value education with a strong return on investment. We actively seek scholarships and financial aid to support our students. For instance, we have a zero-tuition guarantee for Pell Grant recipients and offer extensive financial aid from various sources, including federal and regional grants, as well as donor funded scholarships.

We treat every student with care and attention. If a student faces financial challenges, we strive to find solutions to support them. Our goal is to make sure that students not only start their education at TWU but also finish it and find employment in their chosen fields.

How is the College of Business fostering diversity, and what impact do you believe this will have on the future workforce?

We are naturally a diverse student body. We don’t need to highlight our diversity explicitly because our students experience it firsthand. We are a university that primarily serves women, with 88% of our students being female. As a Hispanic-serving institution, we also attract students from various backgrounds who are looking for a place where they feel they belong. This sense of belonging is central to our culture at TWU, and it’s something we foster continuously.

We are committed to creating a supportive environment where students can thrive. Our diversity is recognized by national rankings, like those from U.S. News & World Report, which consistently name us as one of the most diverse universities based on our student population. Our partnerships with local industries and businesses also emphasize the value of diversity. These collaborations provide real-world opportunities for our students, ensuring they are prepared to contribute meaningfully to a diverse workforce.

What skills and certifications are most in demand from your local industry partners?

Our industry partners are looking for flexible, online, and hybrid learning formats, which is exactly what we provide for our graduate degrees, including the MBA and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). There is significant demand for healthcare administration, especially in regions like DFW and Houston. Our dual-degree MBA/MHA program is particularly popular because it offers a comprehensive education that includes both business and healthcare leadership, providing graduates with a distinct advantage in the job market. We are also the only AACSB accredited Business School in Texas that offers both an MBA in Women in Leadership and a graduate certificate in Women in Leadership.

Areas like technology, data analytics, and healthcare finance are also in high demand. For example, our STEM-focused Master of Science in Accounting is being developed to meet industry needs. Healthcare finance, in particular, is a complex and growing field where our expertise can provide valuable education for professionals.

We are committed to increasing women’s participation in fields like investment and finance, which traditionally have low female representation. By offering specialized programs and certificates focused on women in leadership and finance, we aim to empower more women to succeed in these industries.

As we think about the Dallas-Fort Worth area, what makes it an ideal location for TWU and the College of Business?

Dallas-Fort Worth is a hub for healthcare, life sciences, finance, and technology—sectors in which our students excel. The region is home to numerous hospitals, research institutions, biotech companies, and major financial firms. Companies like Baylor Scott & White Health, Tenet Healthcare, and McKesson play vital roles in this area. The financial sector here is robust, with many firms moving their headquarters to North Texas, sometimes referred to as “Y’all Street” instead of Wall Street.

DFW’s growing tech scene offers significant opportunities. Our focus on business analytics and entrepreneurship aligns perfectly with the needs of this market. The regional startup ecosystem is thriving, and our new Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will help us contribute more women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to this vibrant community.

What is your vision for the College of Business over the next two to three years?

Our primary goal is to offer cutting-edge, innovative programs that keep pace with evolving technology and industry demands. This means continually reimagining our curriculum to prepare students for future challenges. We want to be leaders in fields like finance, technology, and business analytics, while also maintaining strong programs in traditional business areas such as human resource management.

The dynamic nature of business means that today’s cutting-edge technology could be obsolete tomorrow, so our curriculum needs to be adaptable. By focusing on innovation and preparing our students with the tools they need to succeed, whether in existing companies or new startups, we can ensure they are well-equipped for the future.