Goldfarb Named Dingman Center Academic Director

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Nov. 17, 2014 - The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has appointed Brent Goldfarb as academic director of the school’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. 

Goldfarb, associate professor of management and entrepreneurship, will direct research and education programs for the center. He succeeds faculty colleague Rajshree Agarwal, who will direct Smith’s new Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets. 

“Brent is ideal for this role,” said Smith School Dean Alex Triantis. “He pushes his students out of their comfort zones. His #RealEntrepreneurship, for example, has challenged them to conceive, launch and operate actual companies.”

Goldfarb’s research focuses on technology applications and strategies for driving startups and the economy.

As a teacher, his curricular savvy has inspired some of Dingman’s most popular programs. In addition to the #RealEntrepreneurship course, he leads the AdVENTURE Challenge: China, recently featured in BizEd magazine. 

“The Dingman Center and Smith faculty expertise help create a platform for students not only to gain practical skills but also the conceptual skills necessary to succeed in the today’s business environment,” said Goldfarb. “In my role as academic director I can continue to bridge the gap between academia and practice.”

Goldfarb will develop courses similar to AdVENTURE Challenge: China, a program described as “Amazing Race meets venture creation.” Competing students spend a week in China learning critical thinking skills through the practice of customer discovery. The customer discovery challenge culminates with a final competition for cash prizes alongside peers from Israeli and Chinese business schools.

“Brent’s expertise has been invaluable to the Dingman Center and our students,” said Dingman Center Managing Director Elana Fine. “His increased role will strengthen our ties to faculty and further integrate Dingman Center programs into the Smith School curriculum.  Our combined vision is to create a broader portfolio of courses and experiences to attract and equip students interested in entrepreneurship.” 

In addition to providing resources for students, the Dingman Center plays an integral role in the Washington-Baltimore region’s entrepreneurial community. Its Dingman Center Angel network provides area entrepreneurs with mentoring on funding pitches and access to one of the region’s most active groups of angel and venture capital investors. 

“Brent will reinforce the Dingman Center as a preeminent facilitator of entrepreneurial practice and education,” Triantis said. 

About the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
The Dingman Center has been at the forefront of entrepreneurship education and practice for more than 25 years. The center’s primary activities include helping students build their ventures, creating experiential learning opportunities and providing regional entrepreneurs with access to capital. Within the region, the center operates Dingman Center Angels, the area’s most active angel investor network with more than 40 members and 50 companies funded since 2005. In 2014, the Dingman Center received the prestigious NASDAQ Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers.