Samantha Steidle

Assistant Professor

Management, Dept of

Phone:: (540) 831-6927
Address:: Kyle Hall B121
Box 6954
Email:: ssteidle@radford.edu

Biography

I build things. Over the past two decades, that has meant co-launching seven entrepreneurial spaces, including an incubator, FabLab, and coworking hubs (CoLab and Business Lounge), and tech and life science accelerator (RAMP). It’s also meant helping states deploy capital strategically through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's $10 billion State Small Business Credit Initiative. Today, I serve as Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Strategy and AI Sandbox Director with Radford University's Davis College of Business and Economics.

I teach Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Applied Venture Lab, courses built around design thinking, the Lean Startup methodology, and real-world consulting projects. As AI Sandbox Director, I lead a generative AI learning ecosystem that has connected students, faculty, and regional partners through hundreds of enterprise AI memberships, industry certifications, and applied AI programming, all in service of graduates who can think critically, apply AI strategically, and lead with integrity in an AI-powered but human-first economy.

My research looks at how entrepreneurial leadership and generative AI intersect with business education, workforce readiness, and community and economic development. My doctoral work at Old Dominion University explored how academic institutions can address complex, wicked problems through multi stakeholder collaboration, and that thread runs through my current research on AI literacy, curriculum design, learning science and, societal impact in business schools. My work has appeared in journals including the Journal of the Knowledge Economy and the Journal of the International Council for Small Business, and I regularly present at venues such as AACSB's Dean's Conference and the Academy of Management Annual Conference.

What I love most about Radford and DCOBE is the chance to build something new alongside students and colleagues, whether that is the AI Sandbox, a student consulting project, or a partnership with a regional organization like the Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council. I am proud to have been named a Google and GSV Higher Ed Leader Fellow and Radford's Highlander MVP this year, and I’m energized every day by watching students turn an idea into something real and lean into leadership opportunities themselves.

View Samantha Steidle, Ph.D. on LinkedIn

Education

Ph.D. in Community College Leadership, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
MBA, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI
BBA in Accounting, Radford University, Radford, VA

Special Projects - Entrepreneurship & Innovation

AI Sandbox

Director, AI Sandbox (2025-2026). Established and scaled the DCOBE AI Sandbox as an applied AI learning ecosystem for students, faculty, and regional partners.

● Grew the program to 800+ enterprise AI access and 100+ industry certifications.

● Delivered 600+ AI Week activities and 200 AI Ambassador office hours.

● Developed 25+ AI literacy modules and faculty development programming.

● Founded and led the AI Club and served as Co-Chair of the AI Task Force.

● Presenter & Host, AI Week - AI Olympics & AI Sandbox Ribbon Cutting (2026).

● Supervised two work-study students supporting AI Sandbox operations.

Venture Lab

Director, Radford Venture Lab (2021-2025). Led the college's entrepreneurship hub, building programming, mentorship, and community partnerships that connected students with alumni, industry leaders, and regional organizations.

● Truist Innovation Challenge, Lead and Co-Organizer (2022-2024).

● Developed a Startup Incubator Pilot for student ventures.

● Co-authored a competitive $250,000 Truist Foundation grant application.

● Hosted 10+ Fireside Chats with alumni and business leaders, engaging 500+ students.

● Developed and mentored a Brand Ambassador Program of 20+ students.

● Co-Lead, National Entrepreneurship Week (2023) and IdeaFest Poster Presentation (2024).

● Co-Organizer, DCOBE Speed Networking (2023-2025).

Recent Research and Engagement

Bryant, S., Means, T., Murthy, U., & Steidle, S. (2025, February). AI tools for teaching, research, and administration. Presentation at AACSB’s Dean’s Conference.

Steidle, S. (2024, November). GenAI-powered research: 10 tools for academic, policy, corporate, and entrepreneurial leaders. Presentation at RBTC’s DisruptUp Conference.

Steidle, S. (2024, October). AI tools to revolutionize research. Presentation at AACSB’s America’s Accreditation Conference.

Krueger, N., Guerrero, M., & Amoros, J. E. (2024, August). Entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem communities: Purpose, policies, profession, publication. Facilitated session at the Academy of Management Annual Conference.

Steidle, S., & Rice, M. (2024, July). Generative AI: Board of Visitor perspective. Presentation at Radford University Board of Visitors Annual Retreat. (3.5-hour session)

Steidle, S., Henderson, D. A., Rice, M., & Childers, J. S. (2024, March). Better understanding rural entrepreneurs: Comparing rural startup differences between Italy and Appalachia. Paper presented at the Appalachian Research in Business Symposium, Marshall University.

Childers, J. S., Rice, M. L., Steidle, S. B., & Henderson, D. A. (2024, January 12). The P-ESG: A better strategic decision-making framework for rural entrepreneurs. Paper presented at USASBE 2024, Forging the Future Together, Virtual/Birmingham, AL.

Steidle, S., & Henderson, D. A. (2023, March 31). Mapping rural America's entrepreneurial ecosystem: A post-COVID perspective. Paper presented at the Appalachian Research in Business Symposium.

Bryant, S., Jack, E., Mathieu, R., & Steidle, S. (2022, April). On our way to solving wicked problems. Presentation at the AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting.

Courses Taught

ENTR 240, Social Entrepreneurship

ENTR 250, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

ENTR 390, Applied Venture Lab

MGNT 101, Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship

MGNT 472, Independent Study

Publications - Journals

Childers, J. S., Rice, M., Steidle, S., & Henderson, D. A. (accepted). Maria's journey: Can you go home when “home” changes? Small Business Institute Journal.

Steidle, S., & Biermeier-Hanson, B. (2025). Changemaker challenge: Proposition crafting and canvas mapping. Management Teaching Review, 10(3), 275-288. https://doi.org/10.1177/23792981251331962

Steidle, S. B., Glass, C., Rice, M. L., & Henderson, D. A. (2024). Addressing wicked problems (SDGs) through community colleges: Leveraging entrepreneurial leadership for economic development post-COVID. Journal of the Knowledge Economy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-01890-4

Steidle, S., Henderson, D. A., & Machin, J. (2024). Aligning strategy, curriculum, and research for societal impact: Designing an actionable framework for business schools globally. Journal of the International Council for Small Business, 5(2), 148-168. https://doi.org/10.1080/26437015.2023.2246033

Steidle, S., & Henderson, D. A. (2023). Operationalizing societal impact. AACSB Insights.

Publications - Chapters

Steidle, S. (2023). Strategic startup in the modern age: Cybersecurity for entrepreneurial leaders. In G. D'Anna & Z. A. Collier (Eds.), Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs (pp. 93–103). SAE International.

Speaking Engagements

Steidle, S. B. (2026, November). Welcome to AI Sandbox. AI Community of Practice - Monthly Meeting, CITL, Virtual.

Steidle, S. B. (2026, November). Future-proof your career, today. AI Community of Practice - AI Week Planning & CITL Collaboration Meeting, CITL & AI Sandbox, Virtual.

Steidle, S. B. (2025, November). AI-powered networking: Build your career roadmap. Presented to the Radford University Department of Management in partnership with Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke, VA.

Steidle, S., & Liska, L. I. (2025, October). From prompt to prototype: Building with custom GPTs and AI agents. Emerging Technology Conference, Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), Roanoke, VA.

Steidle, S. B. (2025, October). Building the business around the game: Entrepreneurs in the sports ecosystem. The Business of Sports Forum, Radford University Davis College of Business and Economics.

Steidle, S. (2025, June). GenAI tools for community colleges. Professional development session presented at New River Community College.

Steidle, S. (2025, April). Generative AI tools for enhancing teaching and research in STEM. Professional development session presented at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Bryant, S., Means, T., Murthy, U., & Steidle, S. (2025, February). AI tools for deans: Teaching, research, and administration. AACSB Dean's Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Steidle, S. (2024, November). GenAI-powered research: 10 tools for academic, policy, corporate, and entrepreneurial leaders. RBTC DisruptUp Conference, Roanoke, VA.

Steidle, S. (2024, October). AI tools to revolutionize research. AACSB America's Accreditation Conference, Denver, CO.

Krueger, N., Guerrero, M., & Amoros, J. E. (2024, August). Entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem communities: Purpose, policies, profession, publication. Academy of Management Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Steidle, S., & Rice, M. (2024, July). Generative AI: Board of Visitors perspective. Radford University Board of Visitors Annual Retreat.

Steidle, S., Henderson, D. A., Rice, M., & Childers, J. S. (2024, March). Better understanding rural entrepreneurs: Comparing rural startup differences between Italy and Appalachia. Appalachian Research in Business Symposium, Marshall University.

Childers, J. S., Rice, M. L., Steidle, S. B., & Henderson, D. A. (2024, January). The P-ESG: A better strategic decision-making framework for rural entrepreneurs. USASBE 2024 Forging the Future Together, Virtual/Birmingham, AL.

Steidle, S., & Henderson, D. A. (2023, March). Mapping rural America's entrepreneurial ecosystem: A post-COVID perspective. Appalachian Research in Business Symposium, Radford University.

Bryant, S., Jack, E., Mathieu, R., & Steidle, S. (2022, April). On our way to solving wicked problems. AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.

Honors and Awards

Google & GSV Higher Ed Leader Fellow, Cohort 4, Google & GSV, 2026-2027

Highlander MVP (Most Valuable Professional), Radford University Davis College of Business and Economics, 2026

Distinguished Creative Scholar - Nominee, Radford University, 2025

Small Business Advocate of the Year, Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center, 2014

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