Opus College of Business
The Opus College of Business provides a business education that develops entrepreneurial, resilient leaders ready to create meaningful impact in business and society.
The Opus College of Business provides a business education that develops entrepreneurial, resilient leaders ready to create meaningful impact in business and society.
At a time of accelerating change and deep global challenges, the world needs business leaders who can deliver more than workplace performance — they must lead with purpose, ethics, and entrepreneurial thinking.
The Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas is uniquely positioned to help students meet this moment. With a foundation built on applied learning, entrepreneurial education, and principled leadership rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, we have long emphasized critical thinking, ethical decision-making and leadership for the common good.
Students today want more than credentials — they want relevance, agency, and impact. At Opus, they gain the skills to lead with principle, make data-informed decisions, and apply entrepreneurial thinking to create both economic and social good.
This is what business education reimagined looks like. Rooted in purpose, shaped by real-world experience, and built to meet the needs of a changing world.
Have questions or want to make a bigger impact? Contact a gift officer to learn more.
Senior Director of Development, Opus College of Business & Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
(651) 962-6912
Student Access: Access to a high-quality business education should not be determined by financial circumstances. Scholarships are critical to ensuring that talented, motivated students — regardless of background, can pursue their aspirations at The Opus College of Business. By investing in undergraduate and graduate scholarships, we not only remove financial barriers but also attract high-achieving students and support their ability to persist and thrive, strengthening our commitment to accessibility and to forming future business leaders dedicated to making a lasting impact in their industries and communities.
Entrepreneurial Thinking: Entrepreneurial thinking extends beyond starting businesses. It is a mindset that fosters creativity, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex challenges. Philanthropic support will fuel initiatives that instill this way of thinking in all students — whether they aspire to launch startups, lead corporate innovations, or drive social change. By expanding programs such as The Fowler, hackathons, and mentorship-driven accelerators, we empower students to develop the skills, networks, and resources needed to transform ideas into real-world impact.
Leading with Purpose, Innovation, and Impact: The Opus Way integrates our Catholic mission, commitment to ethical leadership, and emphasis on the common good with forward-thinking strategies that redefine business education. At its core, The Opus Way builds on our strengths: small, relational classrooms where students engage deeply with faculty and peers; experiential learning that connects theory with practice; and a strong foundation in applied learning that equips students to solve real-world challenges with clarity and purpose. Philanthropic support for The Opus Way ensures students don't just learn in the classroom — they gain hands-on experience that prepares them to contribute on day one in the workforce.
To drive our vision forward, we seek support that uplifts the St. Thomas mission and the Opus Way.
We aim to attract and retain top talent from future entrepreneurs and remove financial barriers to access.
Expanding hands-on opportunities to bridge the classroom and the business world.
Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
At the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, your support helps students cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset — resilience, creativity, and problem-solving — that goes far beyond startups. This way of thinking empowers graduates to lead in any field and create positive change in their communities and the world.
Opus Distinguished Chair
Opus Distinguished Chair Laura Dunham became the dean of the Opus College of Business on July 1, 2022.
Prior to her dean appointment, Dunham served as the associate dean of the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, capturing national attention as the school rose to become a top-25 undergraduate entrepreneurship program in the country. Dunham's focus on principled leadership, which has defined her career, led her to form a consortium with entrepreneurship professors at Stanford and Duke to train scholars and business leaders on better addressing the ethical challenges entrepreneurs face due to the pressures of engaging and persuading investors.
Dean Laura has been actively engaged in advancing equity and inclusion on campus and across society. She has been instrumental in developing new partnerships between the Schulze School and local organizations to combat racism and expand entrepreneurial opportunities to emerging business leaders of color.
As the dean of the Opus College of Business, her focus is on generating outstanding educational experiences for students, producing meaningful scholarship and thought leadership, and supporting the community through engaged service.
When you make a gift to the Opus College of Business, you're investing in an applied education that connects learning to real-world experience. Your support gives students the opportunity to tackle complex challenges, engage with industry and community partners, and develop the entrepreneurial mindset, skills, and confidence to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.
