TULANE TALK

March 2, 2012

Good Morning:

Of all the awards and accolades Tulane has received for its community engagement efforts, one of the most gratifying came just before Mardi Gras when we received the Ashoka U-Cordes Innovation Award.

The award was presented at the Ashoka U Exchange, an annual event held this year at Arizona State University, which brings together more than 400 university and social entrepreneurial leaders to discuss how universities can educate tomorrowís leaders to be key players in solving the most pressing challenges of our time.

The Ashoka award confirms Tulane’s role as a leader in fostering social entrepreneurs — individuals who find innovative solutions to address societal problems such as poverty, pollution, inadequate education and more.

Besides establishing community engagement as part of our core undergraduate curriculum, a natural incubator for the next generation of changemakers, Tulane has also created the Urban Innovation Challenge, a program that identifies and supports local social entrepreneurs with on-campus work space, funding and mentorship.

Tulane will tout its growing entrepreneurship efforts at the March 10-16 New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, seven days of workshops and seminars celebrating New Orleans as a national hub of innovation. Our students and alumni will also compete in the Entrepreneur Week’s business challenges.

New Orleans is definitely open for business ventures that do good, and Tulane is, once again, helping lead the way. Thank you all for making this award possible.

Have a great weekend,