We are thrilled to announce the 13th Annual Deshpande Symposium Award winners! Selected from a pool of nominations from across the world, these institutions and individuals have a proven track record of significant contributions to the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship within their campuses, communities, and beyond. Now in its 10th year, the Awards Ceremony continued the proud tradition of closing out the second night of the Deshpande Symposium by offering attendees an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments within the wider community of innovation & entrepreneurship (I&E) leaders.
“These winners are broadening participation and catalyzing economic and societal impact,“ said Phil Weilerstein, president and CEO of VentureWell. “We are proud to highlight their efforts in innovation that span the sciences, arts, and humanities.”
Congratulations to the following awardees:
Excellence in Student Engagement in Entrepreneurship
Waynesburg University, Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
Excellence in Curriculum Innovation in Entrepreneurship
University at Buffalo, School of Management
Outstanding Contributions to Advancing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education
Andrew J. Maas, Associate Vice President for Research, Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development, Louisiana State University
The Entrepreneurial University
University of Maryland
We would like to thank the Deshpande Symposium Awards Committee for their commitment and diligence in facilitating these awards. This year’s distinguished committee consisted of several of our past awardees:
- Nathalie Duval-Couetil, director, University Entrepreneurship Initiatives, Purdue University
- Deborah Hoover, CEO, Entrepreneurship Education Consortium
- Sarah Lubik, director, Entrepreneurship, Simon Fraser University
- James McLellan, director, Dunin Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Center, Queen’s University
- Jacqueline Moloney, chancellor emerita, University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Kevin Oye, executive director, Gordon Institute, Tufts University
- Barry Rosenbaum, senior fellow, University of Akron Research Foundation
- Jack Wilson, president emeritus, University of Massachusetts
Raj Melville, former executive director of the Deshpande Foundation, and Steve Tello, an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, co-chaired the committee.
About the Deshpande Symposium
Co-founded by the Deshpande Foundation and the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2012, the Deshpande Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education brings together academics, policy planners, and practitioners to discuss best practices in integrating entrepreneurship throughout their college and university communities. This year marks the second year VentureWell has led the programmatic vision and operational management of the symposium. Read more about the symposium and the awards.