The University at Buffalo received the Deshpande Symposium Award for Excellence in Student Engagement in Entrepreneurship. The award annually recognizes one institution that is committed to fostering student leadership and engagement in developing innovative extra and co-curricular activities that support the development of entrepreneurial awareness, skills, and practice.

According to Raj Melville, chair of the Deshpande Symposium Awards Committee, the University was honored with the award for the strength of its programming, the breadth of student engagement, and the diversity of students involved. Tom Murdock, clinical assistant professor of entrepreneurship in the UB School of Management accepted the award at the Deshpande Symposium on Innovative Entrepreneurship in Higher Education held in Phoenix, Arizona.

“UB is turning heads on an international level. We are gaining a reputation as a top destination where big thinkers and innovators can hone their entrepreneurial skills,” Murdock said at the Phoenix event that brought together academics, policy planners, and practitioners to discuss best practices in integrating entrepreneurship throughout their college and university communities.

The Deshpande Foundation was founded by Indian-origin entrepreneur Gururaj Deshpande and his wife Jaishree. Its annual symposium draws hundreds of faculty, administrators, students, and business executives for discussion on an array of topics, including entrepreneurial culture and ecosystems, innovative entrepreneurship curricula, research commercialization, startups, and emerging trends.