PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University has received a $25 million gift from an alumnus which it will use to launch a center for entrepreneurship to provide students with academic expertise and real-world experience in innovation.

The gift from Jonathan M. Nelson, founder and CEO of Providence Equity Partners, will support the creation of a program with an “action-oriented and interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship,” the university said in a statement.

The Jonathan M. Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship will work in collaboration with other departments and programs at Brown to provide students with a strong academic grounding in entrepreneurship, the university said, as well as experiences and mentorship opportunities.

“The Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship positions Brown to amplify our impact, extend our reach, and educate the next generation of Brown students with the knowledge and practical skills to actively engage in entrepreneurial activities,” Brown President Christina Paxson said in a statement.

Funding from Nelson’s gift will allow the university to begin planning for a new facility for the center which will include space for “entrepreneurs-in-residence.”

Nelson, a 1977 undergraduate alumnus, serves as a fellow on the university’s corporation. Brown’s Nelson Fitness Center bears his name in recognition of his philanthropy. His gift is part of Brown’s $3-billion Brown Together campaign, launched in October 2015.

The new center will be open to students at the university. Rhode Island School of Design students also will be welcome to participate in center activities.

“Embedded in Brown’s culture is a desire of students to make a positive difference in the world,” Nelson said in a statement. “In many cases this is ultimately expressed by students seeking to provide a service or product through innovation. The vision for this center is to provide the tools and real-world exposure that will increase the chances of success for Brown students aspiring to be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs."

For more information about the center visit Brown’s website.

larditi@providencejournal.com

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