Judi Eyles is the Director of the Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship program serving students, faculty, and the entrepreneurial community.
Eyles has been with the center since its launch in 1996, following a significant gift to the university from John Pappajohn, a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Iowa State University is ranked #9 in the country for its undergraduate entrepreneurship program by the Princeton Review, was awarded GCEC Entrepreneurial Research award winner in 2024, was named Entrepreneurial University of the Year by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) in 2023, U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Model University Accelerator winner in 2023, Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence in 2022, and USASBE Model Program in 2021. The Center offers an extensive list of cross-campus programs in entrepreneurship and innovation and runs Startup Factory, a business accelerator for tech startups; CYstarters, an immersive accelerator for student entrepreneurs; and CyBIZ Lab student consulting, serving startups as well as global businesses.
Eyles facilitates a cross-campus group of campus leaders under the university brand, Start Something. Prior to joining the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, Eyles was a business consultant for the Small Business Development Center, ran her own small business, and worked as a project manager in the aerospace industry. Eyles has served on the boards of Special Olympics Iowa, The Arc of Story County, All Aboard for Kids, and Campustown Action Association. Eyles has served on the CNBC Disruptor 50 Advisory Council since 2020.