The 2024 Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award was presented to the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation this month, making the institute one of only five universities to win this award twice.
November 21, 2024
By TCU Neeley School of Business
The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at TCU was presented with the 2024 NASDAQ Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award last week at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC). This national recognition is the highest recognition that a university entrepreneurship center or institute can receive. The award honors centers that have made and are expected to continue making contributions in advancing entrepreneurship and driving economic growth, according to the GCEC.
The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which is part of the TCU Neeley School of Business, previously received this award in 2003, and is one of only five universities to win this award twice.
“The NASDAQ Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence is a special award created by the GCEC in association with NASDAQ to recognize the outstanding efforts of entrepreneurship centers worldwide,” said Holly DeArmond, executive director at GCEC. “The list of past winners in this category is incredible. These centers stand out as best in class in higher education entrepreneurship, and we are happy to honor the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Texas Christian University with this prestigious and well-deserved award.”
Rodney D’Souza, the executive director for the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Davis Family Entrepreneur in Residence, credits the collaborative effort across the campus and beyond for creating sustained excellence.
“Receiving the GCEC 2024 NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award is an incredible honor for our program,” D’Souza said. “This award is a testament to our amazing students and the broader community we serve. This honor shines a spotlight on their ingenuity and determination. We hope this recognition fuels their passion even further and encourages them to push the boundaries of what's possible.”
According to the judges’ comments, they were impressed by the entrepreneurship program’s year-over-year growth in student enrollment and strong cross-campus engagement demonstrating the support of university leadership. TCU President Daniel W. Pullin agreed with those sentiments.
“This national recognition appropriately honors the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for a high level of excellence developed, cultivated and sustained over many years. They embody what it means to operate at the speed of business,” Pullin said. “The institute’s diverse offering of programs, research and community partnerships are ever-evolving to mirror the current industry and looking around the corner to prepare our students for what is coming next.”
The outstanding entrepreneurship program with standout faculty and staff with administrative commitment from the highest levels, according to additional feedback form the judges. The academic and staff leading the way in the institute and in partnership with the program deserve the high praise, said Craig Crossland, the John V. Roach Dean for the Neeley School of Business.
“I proudly applaud the faculty and staff in the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the collaborative approach the team models with colleagues across campus, with academics at other universities and with industries on a global scale,” said Crossland. “Every organization looking to be an industry leader must incorporate an entrepreneurial mindset to foster inspired ideation, innovation solutions, and forward-thinking creativity. The institute is a stellar example of combining all of those traits with high academic rigor and leading-edge research, and directing all of those benefits to our students,” Crossland said.
