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George Mason business college renames center after Anil and Anupama Sharma
The college will host a formal celebration this fall to recognize the Sharmas’ generosity and mark the center’s newly named future.
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Bhavana P - Thu, 13, Aug 2026
- 18:24 EDT
- 35
Anupama and Anil Sharma meet with Costello College of Business leaders to discuss their vision for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship that will bear their names. / Photo by Duane Bailey, Costello College of Business.
George Mason University announced in a statement on Aug.13 that its Costello College of Business will rename its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship after Northern Virginia entrepreneur Anil Sharma and his wife, Anupama.
The renaming follows a gift from the couple, which the university said will expand opportunities for students, entrepreneurs and the region's innovation community. The center will be known as the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Sharma came to the United States from India in 1997 and founded McLean-based 22nd Century Technologies later that year. What began as an IT consulting business has grown into a $600 million government contracting firm providing IT, cybersecurity, cloud and digital transformation solutions to government agencies across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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“Building a business taught me that success is never only about one person. People give you opportunities, people trust you, people teach you, and communities create the conditions in which you can grow. At some point, you have a responsibility to help create those opportunities for someone else. That is what Anupama and I hope this center will do,” Sharma said in a statement.
Sharma, an angel investor, has also invested in and mentored startups and small businesses. Through his involvement with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, he has supported initiatives including the Patriot Pitch Competition, which provides George Mason students and recent alumni a platform to present business ideas and early-stage ventures.
The Sharmas' gift will help the center expand its role as an integrated platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing together students, faculty, entrepreneurs and partners to collaborate, mentor and develop new ventures.
Costello College dean Ajay Vinzé said the gift would strengthen the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem and expand opportunities for students, alumni and community members.
“This is a significant milestone for both the Costello College of Business and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and one that will ensure our center’s role as the preeminent place at George Mason University where the future takes shape for innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and industry leaders,” Vinzé said.
The college plans to hold a formal naming event and celebration this fall to recognize the Sharmas' contribution and mark the future of the newly named center.
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