Jain Family Foundation Supports Grad Students with New Fellowship

Thanks to a generous gift from Anurag and Gunjan Jain, 50 graduate students in the Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas have been awarded scholarships in honor of Dipak Jain MS’86, PhD’86.

The Jains said their gift recognized their uncle Dipak Jain’s belief in spreading kindness and appreciation of his time as a UT Dallas graduate student.

“Gunjan and I firmly believe in access to education and recognize how transformative the experience can be,” Anurag Jain said. “We are honored to support a new generation of leaders, innovators and world-changers with this fellowship. We have a deep appreciation for UT Dallas and the impact it has had not only here in North Texas, but globally.”

The new Jain Family Fellows come from nearly 40 different undergraduate universities and are enrolled in seven different master’s programs in the Jindal School. Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Jindal School dean and the Caruth Chair, noted that eligible recipients may qualify for tuition waivers, allowing them to maximize their $1,000 scholarships into benefits valued at up to $25,000, depending on their enrollment timing.

“We can only do [this] because we have benefactors like the Jains,” Pirkul said.

Aakanksha Bhat, a business analytics and artificial intelligence graduate student, said, “The fellowship represents far more than financial support. It’s a symbol of belief, encouragement and possibility.”

With a background in auditing and taxation, Bhat decided to step into the world of analytics and artificial intelligence. The move, she said, was exciting but also filled with uncertainty.

“Knowing that I have the support of the Jain family gave me the courage to take the leap wholeheartedly and embrace challenges along the way with confidence and determination,” she said. “It has allowed me to dedicate myself fully to my studies and to explore experiences that are shaping me both academically and personally.”

Melissa Bettis, assistant dean of development and alumni relations in the Jindal School, expressed her appreciation for the Jain Family Foundation’s generosity.

“This fellowship is more than just financial support — it’s a meaningful investment in our students’ futures. Moments like these remind us why we do what we do, which is to build bridges between passionate donors and the bright minds they’re empowering.”