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Babson Dedicates Leonard A. Schlesinger Innovation Center, Named After College’s 12th President

First-Year Innovation Center Ribbon Cutting

During the September 9th Founder’s Day festivities, Babson hosted a dedication of the new entrepreneurial hub within the Park Manor West residence hall, named after its 12th president, Leonard A. Schlesinger.

The startup space, now formally known as the Leonard A. Schlesinger Innovation Center, represents the pillars of his tenure at Babson College—encouraging students and faculty to embody Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® as a means to make an impact in their life and in the lives of others.

Leonard A. Schlesinger First-Year Innovation CenterThe center is now one of Babson’s most exciting and engaging learning sites, featuring an amphitheater as well as classroom and collaboration space for students to work on businesses launched within their first-year Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (FME) course. It is a working laboratory for inventing, developing, launching, managing, and liquidating startups and organizations of all kinds.

President Kerry Healey and Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship Erik Noyes formally welcomed President Emeritus Schlesinger to the new working student laboratory, and shared their appreciation for Schlesinger’s work, and his vision for how the space will be used to empower Babson’s newest entrepreneurs of all kinds.

Babson College President Kerry Healey“It’s so fitting to have such an innovative space, in the center of our campus, named after President Emeritus Len Schlesinger,” said President Healey. “He trademarked the notion of Entrepreneurial Thought and Action®—a methodology we as a community live and breathe. And, because of his tireless efforts as Babson president and ambassador for the FME program, we continue to enjoy renowned success as the leader in entrepreneurial education.”

Noyes added, “Time and time again, our FME program has been recognized for its offerings in experiential learning. The uniqueness of the program, and its success, don’t go without the team’s wholehearted determinations, and Len’s vision for the advancement of the program. We thank him, and everyone involved, for helping to develop, create, and launch this new space for students to take risks and seek innovation.”

President Healey then introduced Schlesinger, who acknowledged his pride and honor in being recognized by the community.

“My days here as president were among the best days of my life,” he said. “When I first joined the community, while on an admissions tour learning about everything that makes this place great, I wished for a dedicated space that our tour guides could point to and state, ‘This is where our first-year students work collaboratively to innovate, create change, and embody Entrepreneurial Thought and Action.’ I am more than pleased to see the space come to life, and look forward to the ways in which it will help add to our students’ many achievements.”

After being bestowed with an official citation from Massachusetts State Senator Richard J. Ross, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony with President Healey, Babson Chairman of the Trustees Joe Winn, and Ross, Schlesinger joined attendees for a plaque unveiling and celebration within the new space.

Leonard A. Schlesinger First-Year Innovation Center