The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas has been recognized by its university peers with an award citing the program’s contributions to advancing the discipline of entrepreneurship.
IIE Executive Director Joseph C. Picken accepted the honor last weekend at the annual conference of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, a three-day gathering in Houston of more than 340 university educators and center directors.
The award cited IIE’s outstanding work in promoting and supporting entrepreneurship education as a field of study. To be eligible, the institute had to demonstrate d contributions to local economic development and service to the surrounding entrepreneurial community.
Award criteria also focused on education development and mentoring. IIE provided examples of assistance to other entrepreneurship centers, outreach programs and efforts to stimulate and encourage entrepreneurial activity across North Texas.
“It is clear that the GCEC judges recognized the tremendous impact that UT Dallas’ Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has had on advancing the discipline of entrepreneurship since its founding in 2006,” said Donald F. Kuratko, executive director of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers and the Jack M. Gill Chair of Entrepreneurship at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
“This is an exceptional honor, as it is bestowed by a judging panel of previous winners of the award,” Karatko said. “There is no greater honor than the recognition by your peers at other award-winning programs in entrepreneurship. We believe UT Dallas stands as a proud representative of the very best in entrepreneurship centers.”
Membership in the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, which was founded in 1996, totals 244 university-based organizations.
“We were pleased and humbled to be acknowledged as one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the country,” Dr. Picken said. “This award specifically recognized the outstanding community outreach programs the institute offers, the unique venture development partnership between the IIE and the UT Dallas Office of Technology Commercialization and the collaborative nature of the institute’s engagement, both with the community and the other institutions of higher education across the state of Texas.”
The institute has been a team effort since its founding, Dr. Picken added, “with outstanding support from the administration and the deans, an active and engaged executive committee and advisory council, the tireless efforts of Assistant Director Nancy Hong and an outstanding cadre of student volunteers, sponsors and community supporters.”
Media Contact: Kris Imherr, UT Dallas, (972) 883-4793, imherr@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu
| “We were pleased and humbled to be acknowledged as one of the top entrepreneurship programs in the country,” said IIE Executive Director Joseph C. Picken. |  |
