Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Knoxville Business News Tennessee Mountain Scenery Background
October 19, 2023 | Tom Ballard

U News | Rice-based organization recognizes “best of the best”

Twelve universities were awarded top honors in nine categories, several others were commended, and another earned a Legacy Award.

The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC), headquartered at the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship in Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, has announced its top higher education-based programs for entrepreneurship.

Those honored and the category of recognition were:

Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Center

  • Schools with less than 5,000 students: eHive at Waynesburg University; and
  • Schools with more than 5,000 students: Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

Outstanding Contributions to Venture Creation

  • Harvard Innovation Labs at Harvard University.

Exceptional Activities in Entrepreneurship Across Disciplines

  • Blackstone LaunchPad at the University of Buffalo; and
  • Highly Commended: Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University.

Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education

  • Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Excellence in Entrepreneurship Teaching and Pedagogical Innovation

  • Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

Outstanding Student Engagement and Leadership

  • Schools with less than 5,000 students: Center for Entrepreneurship and Community Development at Loyola University New Orleans; and
  • Schools with greater than 5,000 students: Center for Entrepreneurship Education at Northeastern University.

Exceptional Contributions in Entrepreneurship Research

  • Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship; and
  • Highly Commended: Institute of Entrepreneurship and Private Capital at London Business School.

Nasdaq Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence:

  • Schools with less than 5,000 students: Kirzner Entrepreneurship Center at Francisco Marroquin University; Highly Commended: Steven Dorfman Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California Lutheran University; and
  • Schools with greater than 5,000 students: Coleman Entrepreneurship Center at DePaul University.

GCEC Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

  • Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at Dallas.

GCEC also recognized Rebecca J. White, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center in the Sykes College of Business, at the University of Tampa, its Legacy Award. White currently holds the Walter Chair of Entrepreneurship and has led the entrepreneurship program since 2009.

At the University, she is responsible for curriculum development across several entrepreneurship degree programs and annually facilitates the academic engagement of over 450 students under the mentorship of a dedicated faculty cohort.



Like what you've read?

Forward to a friend!

Don’t Miss Out on the Southeast’s Latest Entrepreneurial, Business, & Tech News!

Sign-up to get the Teknovation Newsletter in your inbox each morning!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


No, thanks!