Pittaway OHIO entrepreneurship professor inducted as Longenecker Fellow

Luke Pittaway, Ph.D., O'Bleness Professor of Entrepreneurship at Ohio University, was inducted as a USASBE Longenecker Fellow at the organization's annual conference held Jan. 7.

Founded in 1981, The United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) is a premier network of educators, scholars and researchers who work together to advance the entrepreneurship discipline, impact public policy, and provide an inclusive community for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ventures.

Pittaway was nominated to become a Fellow by Heidi M. Neck, Ph.D., Professor of Entrepreneurship and Jeffry A. Timmons Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Babson College. Neck highlighted Pittaway as a preeminent scholar and pioneer in the field, with over 8,000 citations of his work.

"Justin G. Longenecker was an important leader in our discipline, and he left his imprint on USASBE,” Pittaway said. “The fellowship named after him includes many of the top researchers, leaders, and public servants in entrepreneurship and small business management. Many of these fellows provided inspiration for me when I started my career as an academic.”

Pittaway's previous awards and recognition from the organization include USASBE's Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year award in 2018 and USASBE’s Ray Smilor Volunteer Award in 2017. The USASB Outstanding Emerging Entrepreneurship Program was also awarded to OHIO in 2015.

"Luke Pittaway is one of those key contributors to the organization who not only is a resource for brilliant ideas and concepts but also actively develops aspiring entrepreneurship educators to be the best versions of themselves," said Julienne Shields, president and CEO of USASBE.

The lifetime Longenecker Fellow appointment recognizes Pittaway as a leader and expert authority on entrepreneurial learning. Pittway is eager to mentor USABE members.

“What I like about joining the Justin G. Longenecker Fellows is that we get to mentor up-and-coming junior professors in our discipline, who are members of Voinovich USASBE. That is an outstanding aspect of the fellowship, and I am looking forward to doing my part to help. It is truly an honor to join such an amazing group of people.”

Mark Weinberg, dean of the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, has worked with Pittaway for well over a decade.

“This is a well-deserved recognition and honor for Dr. Pittaway. He is a leader in entrepreneurial research and education in both business and social enterprises and has worked closely to apply this expertise to promoting entrepreneurial business ventures and incredible student opportunities,” Weinberg said. “It has been a pleasure to work with him at Ohio University and we look forward to working with him as he serves as a USASBE Longenecker Fellow.”