Fortune Small Business has recognized the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center as one of the ten “cool” universities in the country for entrepreneurial programs and research. The university joined schools liked Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, and the University of Texas—Austin on the list.
“We have accomplished in a little more than two years what many entrepreneurship centers have been attempting to do for decades—to be listed,” said Alan Carsrud, executive director of the Pino Center. “I believe this initial success is the result of not trying to be like so many others, but of instead attempting the different approach of bringing entrepreneurship campus-wide. Our dynamic partnership with other colleges within the university enables us to offer entrepreneurship to artists, engineers, accountants, chemists, and students in many disciplines who otherwise would not be exposed to it.”
Carsrud credits a number of supporters—including the College of Business Administration—with helping the Center make its mark so quickly.
“The support of the college and the collaboration among it and the colleges of engineering and computing and of arts and sciences have been critical, along with the hard work of the center’s faculty and staff,” he said.
Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam was delighted with the important contributions the Pino Center has made to the college and was pleased by the recognition.
“With the establishment of the Pino Center, entrepreneurial activities within the college have accelerated tremendously,” she said. “It was very rewarding to be recognized for the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our college and for the significant entrepreneurial accomplishments of our students.”
Carsrud also acknowledged the major impact of the support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the initial endowment from Sergio Pino.
“Without their support, this achievement would not have been possible,” he said.
The Pino Center is one of the Foundation’s eight centers around the country. Two others—at Howard University, Washington, D.C. and at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY—also ranked in the top ten in the Fortune Small Business article, which is titled “10 Cool Colleges for Entrepreneurs” and which described all the programs as “cutting edge.” The article and brief descriptions of the winners can be found here.
