Robert Clouse

R. Wilburn Clouse is Professor Emeritus of Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. He holds a B.A. in chemistry from Lipscomb University (1959), an M.A. in economics from Middle Tennessee State University (1968), and a Ph.D. in educational administration from Peabody College (1977). Clouse joined Peabody College in 1970 as an assistant professor of library science and advanced through the ranks during his 40-year career, retiring in 2008. Following the 1979 merger of Peabody College with Vanderbilt University, he concentrated his teaching on organizational dynamics and entrepreneurial behavior in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations. He also served as associate director of the Corporate Learning Center and contributed to various academic initiatives at the institution.

Recognized as a Coleman Senior Scholar and Sam Walton Free Enterprise Fellow, Clouse offered significant insights into entrepreneurial training and organizational incentives for entrepreneurial behavior. He served on numerous boards of entrepreneurial organizations and edited several entrepreneurial journals. His research specializations include entrepreneurship education, creativity and innovation, problem-based learning, cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship, educational technology, pedagogy, collaborative learning, and humor in learning environments. With 283 citations documented on ResearchGate, his key publications encompass 'Entrepreneurs in Action!: A Problem-Based Learning Environment for Engineering Entrepreneurship' (2005), 'Entrepreneurs in Action: A Team Development Process,' 'Leadership Metaphors: Developing Innovative Teaching Strategies' (2013), 'Humor As a Management Technique: Its Impact on School Culture and Climate,' 'Computer Based At-Risk Instructional Model' (1991), 'Entrepreneurship Education for a Global Economy in the 21st Century' (1994), and 'Creating an Entrepreneurial Culture: Breaking the Disciplinary Boundaries' (2001). Clouse guided dozens of graduate and undergraduate students into productive careers in industry and academia, leaving a lasting impact on education and entrepreneurship fields.

Professional Email: wil.clouse@vanderbilt.edu