$3 million endowed gift establishes the Robert Sperandio Professorship in Entrepreneurship at the Simon Business School

This generosity will help Simon recruit and retain top-tier faculty, bolster its position as a leader in entrepreneurial education, and cultivate an innovative mindset

Jackie and Bob Sperandio

A $3 million endowed gift from Jackie Sperandio establishes the Robert Sperandio Professorship in Entrepreneurship at the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School. For 40 years, Robert (Bob) ran Sporting Dog Specialties, a Rochester, N.Y.-based direct mail company that PetSmart purchased in 1997. Jackie’s gift—a tribute to her late husband—will help Simon recruit and retain top-tier faculty, bolster its position as a leader in entrepreneurial education, and cultivate an innovative mindset among tomorrow’s business leaders.

“My husband loved being an entrepreneur and a business person,” says Jackie. “He often said that running a business was like painting a picture—it was a creative act. For him, business wasn’t just about the money, it was about building something from the ground up and interacting with people. He was a wonderful man and I think he would be happy to be honored in this way. And, for me and our two children and two grandchildren, it’s a way to celebrate his life and his work.”

Simon Dean Sevin Yeltekin says, “We are grateful to Mrs. Sperandio for her vision, partnership, and generosity. Gifts like this are exceptional and fuel our greatest ambitions for Simon Business School. Her support perfectly aligns with our new strategic plan—Simon 2025—which focuses on enhancing our position as an intellectual and professional hub for business leaders and empowering our students with the innovative and entrepreneurial mindset necessary for professional success.”

Jackie adds, “Ironically, Bob didn’t think you could teach someone to be an entrepreneur—he believed that you have to have a fire in you. He also believed, as I do, that you must acquire the skills to be successful in business. You do this by learning from those with knowledge and experience, like the professors at Simon have. This is why I chose to endow this professorship.”

Bob was an active member of the community and a long-time volunteer at Lifetime Assistance and Hope Hall, two local organizations that support those with developmental disabilities. Jackie notes that throughout his career and life, he was committed to creating opportunities to help others flourish and contribute to society. “This gift ties in with that wish—to help people become successful entrepreneurs and positively affect the lives of those around them,” she says.

“Bob is a role model to our students and to us at Simon,” adds Dean Yeltekin. “He carried the mantel of entrepreneurship, was passionate about his community, and made a large impact on the Rochester area and in the business world. Jackie’s generosity builds on all of this and is truly inspiring.”

Read more about Jackie and Bob Sperandio and their spirit of entrepreneurship.