Entrepreneurship - Pitt Business - University of Pittsburgh

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Tom W. and Jeanne H. Olofson
University of Pittsburgh graduate Tom W. Olofson
(BBA ’63) understands the changing, evolving
interests of business students.
“It’s been very clear in recent years that the students in Pitt’s business schools,
at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, have developed an increased
interest in the subject of entrepreneurship,” he says. “Not too many years ago,
more students focused on traditional career routes, which meant going to
larger, more established companies. Now I see significantly more interest in
entrepreneurship, not just at Pitt, but also at business schools across the country.
Jeanne and I want to see the University of Pittsburgh at the leading edge of
research and practice [in this field].”
These observations are why, in 2003,
Tom W. and Jeanne H. Olofson pledged
$1.5 million through their foundation to
fund the chair in entrepreneurial studies.
They now have fulfilled their pledge,
creating a permanent endowment for the
chair that will bear Tom’s name. It’s one
of the focal points in the Katz School’s
plans to bring entrepreneurship into its
classrooms, complementing an already
stellar outreach program. A national
search is in progress to find a world-class
academic to fill the position.
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