Going Big! with Kevin Gentry
Episode: Rethinking Higher Ed with a First-Gen College Dean
Guest: Dr. Scott Beaulier, Dean, University of Wyoming College of Business
Airdate: December 22, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on the transformative journey of Dr. Scott Beaulier, the first in his family to attend college, who rose from humble beginnings in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to become a leading voice for innovation and inclusion in higher education. Host Kevin Gentry engages Dr. Beaulier in a wide-ranging conversation about grit, mentorship, mobility, fieldwork in transition economies, and the urgent need to rethink the purpose and promise of American colleges, especially for first-generation and rural students. Dr. Beaulier shares deeply personal stories, actionable leadership lessons, and bold ideas for the future of business education.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Roots: Resilience & Grit in the Upper Midwest
- Growing up in Iron Mountain, MI (1980s–90s):
- A once-booming mining town in decline; hard winters and tougher prospects (04:51).
- Raised in a low-income, single-parent household with a strong work ethic.
- Primary focus growing up: just get a job, not career planning.
- “You’re resilient. It’s cold there seven months of the year, and you just...you don’t complain.” — Scott (05:22).
- Work at McDonald’s:
- Started working at 16; promoted to store manager while in college (07:23).
- “I bleed ketchup now...Many of my management principles today come from trying to figure out a drive thru line that’s 20 cars deep and how to get people their fries quickly.” — Scott (08:45).
- Emphasized the value of entry-level work as a springboard for opportunity.
2. The Power of Mentorship
- Mentor: Professor David Prochytko, Northern Michigan University
- First in Scott’s life to see his potential and encourage him to stretch beyond his original expectations (11:50).
- “He was probably the first professional in my life who said, you have talent and you should really not underestimate yourself.” — Scott (12:19).
- Importance of humility, curiosity, and showing up.
- “If a student came to my office and said, ‘do you have time to work with me?’ Yeah, I’ve got like 15 minutes in two months. I just caught someone absolutely beautiful and generous with his time.” — Scott (15:20).
3. Academic Trajectory & Global Perspective
- Transition to George Mason University for PhD Economics:
- Drawn to real-world economics with mentors like Tyler Cowen and Pete Boettke (18:35).
- Mason’s unique, applied approach expanded his vision of what economists could do.
- Fieldwork in the Czech Republic & Botswana:
- Studied economic transitions after the fall of communism (Czech Republic) and strategies for breaking the “resource curse” (Botswana) (21:00, 25:00).
- Insight: Markets and entrepreneurship blossom when people are given opportunity.
- “Prague today is like Disneyland…it was this emergence of a lot of market activity. And what a time to be there.” — Scott (23:15).
- Botswana’s extraordinary growth due to strong institutions, rule of law, and prudent leadership.
- Comparison of neighboring Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation and Botswana’s stability (27:49).
- “You have this country that’s bucking the trend, and it has to do with good institutions and good governance.” — Scott (26:25).
4. Leadership in Higher Education—Mobility, Disruption, & Mission
- Career Moves:
- Multiple posts across the U.S.—Wisconsin, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, North Dakota, Wyoming—each an opportunity for growth and bold change (28:53).
- Mobility problem in America: Most people now prefer to stay put. Scott intentionally chased challenges, aligning with his restless drive for impact (29:37).
- “People generally don’t move much at all...we’re pretty complacent...That is not me.” — Scott (29:11).
- Identifying Leverage Points for Change:
- Innovation often starts where systems are clearly broken or stagnating.
- Advocates a return to the core mission: access and opportunity for students.
- “The most obvious ones [opportunities for change] are when something is broken and everyone’s banging their head into the wall...Often it’s like do the opposite of what you’re doing.” — Scott (31:13).
5. Driving Change: When to Persevere or Move On
- Change Management:
- The importance of team alignment and collective belief in the mission (33:39).
- When direction becomes muddled or support wanes, it’s time to hand off leadership.
- “When you’re reduced to your direct boss has your back but your team doesn’t…that ambiguity…can be evidence we don’t have a clue where we’re going.” — Scott (34:06).
- Choosing Future Challenges:
- Attracted to Wyoming for its unique opportunities serving first-gen, rural students.
6. Defining "Educational Entrepreneur"
- Not complacent; seeks “unstable” environments to catalyze progress (36:14).
- “If it’s not unstable, it’s really boring.” — Quoting Michael Crow (36:40).
- Continual push against higher ed’s tendency for inertia, aiming for forward momentum.
7. Building Partnerships & Fundraising
- Major Gifts:
- Success came by building big visions oriented around abundance and shared values, not just institutional survival (39:07).
- Tells story of swiftly pulling together a $50M institute at North Dakota State with donors who wanted lasting impact and “more than what currently exists.”
- “You have to have some kind of connection to what they care about...But I think most importantly it’s focused on what’s possible as opposed to what currently exists.” — Scott (40:15).
- Current Role in Wyoming:
- Land-grant mission woven into his personal story; 1/3 of business students are first-gen (42:39).
- Fosters confidence and real-world relevance for students adjusting to “big” university life.
8. Insights from Running & Hitting the Wall
- Perseverance and Leadership:
- Marathoning as metaphor for pushing through adversity in leadership roles (49:40).
- “The moment where you’ve hit the wall is the moment where you know you’re going to define your life in one direction…or another. You give up—you have to live with that. Those are the things that harden you.” — Scott (50:05).
- Made tough budget cuts as the nation’s youngest dean; values learning from difficulty.
9. Action-Oriented Advice
- Counsel to Younger Self:
- “Stop being so hard on yourself and just get going with action. Action builds competence. Action helps you figure out direction and course.” — Scott (51:58)
- Advice to Listeners on Going Big:
- Celebrate the dignity of work and opportunity.
- “Boy, I think it’s recognizing the dignity that comes from work and purposeful work. If you look at the Czech Republic, Botswana, Iron Mountain, there are amazing opportunities if the incentives exist...In this country, there’s all kinds of incentive to improve yourself and take off.” — Scott (53:29).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Mentorship:
- “He was the first professional in my life who said, you have talent and you should really not underestimate yourself.” — Scott (12:19)
- Adaptability:
- “Action builds competence. Action helps you figure out direction and course.” — Scott (51:58)
- Vision for Higher Ed:
- “The entrepreneur is there to shake things up and just break them out of their natural inertia.” — Scott (37:18)
- Resilience:
- “Those are the walls you run through, and you become a person who can go big.” — Scott (51:23)
- Purpose:
- “Celebrate the dignity that comes from work and purposeful work.” — Scott (53:29)
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 04:51 — Growing up in Iron Mountain, MI; early influences
- 07:23 – 09:28 — Lessons from McDonald’s and early responsibility
- 11:50 – 14:13 — Mentorship of Dave Prochytko changes Scott’s life
- 18:35 – 27:49 — Graduate school, fieldwork in Czech Republic and Botswana; institutional influence on prosperity
- 28:53 – 34:06 — Mobility, moving for opportunities, and institutional transformation
- 36:14 – 38:06 — Being an educational entrepreneur and challenging complacency
- 39:07 – 41:52 — Fundraising philosophy and partnership stories
- 42:39 – 46:12 — Relevance of business education for Wyoming’s first-gen, rural students; storytelling as economic education
- 49:40 – 51:28 — The marathon metaphor for leadership and perseverance
- 51:58 – 54:35 — Advice to younger self; advice to listeners
Closing Takeaways
Dr. Scott Beaulier’s story is a testament to the transformative power of opportunity, grit, and mentorship. He urges leaders in higher education—and anyone seeking to “go big”—to reject complacency, embrace change, and keep the focus on opening doors for others. For first-generation students and rural communities, he stresses that their unique strengths are crucial assets, not barriers. And for all listeners, his parting wisdom is to recognize the dignity of purposeful work, act boldly, and keep moving forward, no matter the odds.
Summary compiled by [Your Expert Podcast Summarizer] for Going Big! with Kevin Gentry.