By Danny NikanderStaff Writer
*Please note that the print issue reflects the wrong author of this story. The Chronicle regrets this error and extends our apologies for any confusion this has caused. On Oct. 1, the Zarb School of Business opened a new center for entrepreneurship. The center will be run by Executive Dean Mark Lesko. Mark Lesko is a former politician and U.S. Attorney. The Yale University graduate is the executive director of a collaborative research institution called Accelerate Long Island that intends to “commercialize research and create an entrepreneurial ecosystem,” according to their website’s mission statement. According to Lesko, the new center intends to focus and expand entrepreneurship studies across campus. This includes providing professional experts to talk to students, creating startup companies and connecting Hofstra’s entrepreneurship program with other successful programs around Long Island. “Students will be heavily involved with the initiatives of the center,” said Kaushik Sengupta, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship. “For example, the Zarb entrepreneurship student club, Hofstra University Start-Ups, is expected to engage with the center regarding student competitions, guest speakers, assistance in business planning and other related initiatives.” Additional plans for the new center include organizing business plans like Hofstra’s CPXi Venture Tech Challenge, which previously offered a $100,000 prize for the team of students that proposed the best technological business plan. CPXi Chief Executive Officer, Board Chairman and Hofstra alumnus Mike Seiman, sponsors the contest. Despite being an entrepreneurship program, the new center will be open to all students. “The Center for Entrepreneurship wants to get students from any major in the University involved in its programs,” said Lesko. “Many students, arts and sciences [students], for example, will go on to work in the private sector after graduation, and learning more about entrepreneurship can assist in their career development.” Hofstra students are eager about the development of this new center. “I think that this new center is a very appropriate response to the new atmosphere of startups,” said junior finance major Sandy Rittenhouse, “Startups are a hot topic today, especially tech startups. There is huge opportunity for those looking to pursue a career in such businesses but for success it’s important to have as many resources as possible.”