Cornwall named Educator of the Year

Belmont professor and the Jack C. Massey Entrepreneurship Chair Dr. Jeff Cornwall was named the Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year award from a national small business organization last week.

The United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship gave Cornwall the honor as their national conference Friday. He led the organization as its president in 2011 after serving as a fellow there.

Cornwall said he never expected the award from the group, but was thrilled his family was able to go with him to see him receive it. His nomination came from several faculty members from other schools across the country.

“From what I understand, they focused on the innovation I’ve done with this department,” he said.

Faculty and administration both in and out of Belmont thought Cornwall’s award was both deserved and noteworthy.

“To be named the most outstanding educator in one’s field in higher education is the highest compliment a professor can receive,” said Dr. Pat Raines, the dean of the College of Business Administration, in a statement. “Jeff’s professional accomplishments and the prestige that he has brought to Belmont’s entrepreneurship program make him an extraordinarily worthwhile recipient of this award.”

Cornwall, who teaches several entrepreneurship classes and advises the school’s E-Club and Collegiate DECA, is also optimistic the award can draw more people to Belmont’s program.

“Hopefully, it’s going to help attract more students from across the country,” Cornwall said. “We’ve had an amazing group of students the past few years.”

Cornwall’s blog “The Entrepreneurial Mind” was cited by members of the selection committee as a reason why he won the honor. The website is part of the Forbes blog network and linked to by organizations such as the Christian Science Monitor and U.S. News and World Report. He also writes a regular column for The Tennessean’s business section.

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