Judi Eyles Receives Prestigious GCEC Legacy Award

Calgary, Alberta, Canada (October 6, 2025) — On Saturday, October 4, Judi Eyles, director of the Iowa State University Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, received the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Legacy Award, honoring her nearly 30 years of visionary leadership in entrepreneurship education and her lasting impact on students, faculty, and entrepreneurs.

The Legacy Award, one of GCEC’s highest distinctions, recognizes individuals whose work has created enduring, transformational impact in advancing entrepreneurship within universities. Eyles received the honor at the 2025 GCEC Conference, hosted by the University of Calgary, in front of more than 500 entrepreneurship leaders from around the world.

Eyles has been a cornerstone of Iowa State University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem since 1996, when she joined the newly founded Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship. In 2017, she became director, guiding the Center’s evolution into a globally recognized hub for entrepreneurial learning and innovation.

Eyles (’93 BBA), a native of Algona, Iowa, shared the following as she reflected on receiving the Legacy Award, “I am deeply honored to be recognized among our GCEC peer institutions, and I am touched beyond words that the Pappajohn Center team, and the many people who supported this nomination, chose to pursue this award on my behalf. I am truly grateful to Iowa State University for the opportunity to collaborate with partners and leaders across campus to grow entrepreneurship and innovation. This work has been profoundly rewarding. While we don’t do this for personal recognition, it is gratifying to know our efforts are making a difference for the students, faculty, and community entrepreneurs we serve.”

Members of the Pappajohn Center attended the GCEC Conference alongside Judi Eyles to help her celebrate this award.

Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen celebrated the recognition, noting, “This recognition is a testament to Judi’s extraordinary leadership of the Pappajohn Center and her lasting impact on innovation and entrepreneurship at Iowa State University. Her unwavering commitment and visionary guidance have been instrumental in advancing our shared mission. I am deeply grateful for all she’s done to support and elevate our university’s innovation ecosystem. Her work inspires students, faculty, and the broader community alike.”

Eyles’ philosophy, shaped by her longtime mentor John Pappajohn, is simple yet powerful: believe in people before they believe in themselves. Her mentorship and leadership have empowered thousands to launch ventures, grow businesses, and pursue bold ideas.

Beyond Iowa State, Eyles has been an active GCEC member for more than 25 years and has served on national boards including the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) and USASBE.

As she approaches her 30th year at Iowa State in 2026, Eyles’ impact continues to grow. From shaping entrepreneurial curriculum to building experiential programs, her work has fundamentally changed the way students at Iowa State – and beyond – think about innovation, risk-taking, and possibility.

Congratulations, Judi, on this well-deserved acknowledgement!