Jana Szostek

Jana Szostek is the Director of the Center for Professional Development and Director of the Business Academy at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, Indiana. She also teaches legal courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Jana holds a Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law and a Master’s degree in Personnel and Human Resource Development from Illinois Institute of Technology. She has been an educator for over 30 years, a business coach for over 10 years, and has owned and operated three businesses. As the Director of the Center for Professional Development, Jana manages the school’s certification programs, which are offered to students as well as community members. Jana’s approach to developing these programs is to focus on a foundational level, thereby providing participants an opportunity to explore a career before investing considerable time, money, and energy in a career they ultimately do not like nor enjoy. In addition, a focus on foundations enables students to earn credentials that set them apart from others. In addition to certification programs, the CPD provides consulting and training services to local businesses. These projects provide an opportunity for faculty to bring their expertise to the community. These programs support the professional growth and development of the workers in the Northwest Indiana Region. As the Director of the Business Academy @IUN, Jana develops and manages a variety of programs designed to assist and support student and community entrepreneurs. These programs involve guest speakers, workshops, the Small Business Clinic, the Lake County SEED Program, and the Student Business Academy. The Small Business Clinic provides one-on-one and small group consulting using an open-door availability approach. The Lake County SEED Program, offered in collaboration with the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative at Notre Dame, provides intensive training and support for entrepreneurs with limited resources. This 11-month program provides considerable assistance to help these entrepreneurs launch their businesses. The Student Business Academy brings the resources of the Business Academy @IUN into programs specifically geared to IUN entrepreneur-students. This includes guest speakers and clinics of their own, as well as a collaborative workspace. All of these programs strive to support and encourage entrepreneurship and business growth in the Northwest Indiana Region.