About the Leadership
Leadership
Enriching lives with feedback and connection
Dr. Arthur Sherwood
David Cole Professor of Entrepreneurship/Director, WWU’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programs
Dr. Arthur Sherwood is the David Cole Professor of Entrepreneurship and Founding Director of Western Washington University’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Academic Programs. As the Cole Professor, he also leads The Entrepreneur-Innovator-Changemaker’s’ Story Projects, a university-wide scholarly initiative that involves academic research, practical application and curricular innovations.The project unites his fascination and love of human flourishing, cross-cultural storytelling, the natural world and of course, entrepreneurship, innovation and changemaking.
Dr. Sherwood is active in the local and global E&I ecosystem as a board member of Recreation Northwest in Bellingham Washington, USA and as an affiliated faculty team member for the Centre for Executive Education at the United Nations Established University for Peace in Costa Rica where he supports and coaches social innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders from around the world. He has served as a WWU Community Engagement as well as Sustainability Fellow and is an affiliated faculty member with the WWU Institute for Energy Studies and the Ostrom Workshop at Indiana University. He is an experienced entrepreneur and certified executive coach who is co-founder of Reimagine by Design, LLC and member-owner of Columinate, a cooperatively owned consulting business.
Meg Weber
Director of Community Engagement
Dr. Meg is a holistic entrepreneur developer and a certified coach, specializing in supporting students and fostering community growth through peer-based encouragement and support. Her expertise extends into business counseling, coaching, technology, and conducting impactful research on impostorism, making her a versatile and empathetic figure in academic and entrepreneurial circles.
In her role, Dr. Meg champions the development of students and her broader mission to empower entrepreneurs to overcome challenges, including those related to impostor syndrome, through practical, research-backed strategies.
Her leadership extends to serving as the Chair Elect on the board of the US Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Minority and Women’s Special Interest Group (SIG), where she works to create inclusive and supportive environments for budding entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, as President of the Technology Alliance Group, Dr. Meg focuses on building communities that celebrate diversity, creativity, and innovation.
Dr. Meg's research on impostorism is particularly relevant to students and community members grappling with feelings of self-doubt and perceived fraudulence. By integrating her findings into coaching and mentorship, she offers tailored guidance that addresses these challenges head-on, fostering a culture of belonging, courage, and resilience.
Professor Lara Merriam-Smith
Instructor, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program, Western Washington University
Professor Lara is an entrepreneur, innovator, and educator who has spent her career exploring how ideas take shape and evolve into real-world solutions. Her professional journey spans business development, innovation strategy, authorship, and education, each informed by a hands-on, problem-solving approach to navigating complex challenges.
Before transitioning into entrepreneurship two decades ago, Professor Lara worked as a Geography Professor, where she developed a deep appreciation for systems thinking, spatial analysis, and how environments—both physical and economic—shape opportunities. This foundation, combined with her real-world experience launching businesses and mentoring startups, informs her approach to teaching. She brings a practitioner’s lens to the classroom, ensuring students gain not just theoretical knowledge but the applied skills needed to adapt, create, and lead in uncertain and evolving markets.
As the former Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Services at NWIRC, she coached hundreds of entrepreneurs through the complexities of launching and scaling businesses, led workshops on human-centered design, and developed just-in-time learning frameworks that equip founders with the right knowledge at the right time.
Beyond the classroom, she applies her entrepreneurial mindset to storytelling, writing novels that explore the intersections of technology, innovation, and the human experience. With a career shaped by interdisciplinary learning and practical experience, Professor Lara is passionate about helping students bridge ideas with action, develop resilience in the face of uncertainty, and bring bold ideas to life.