Dr. Saleha Khumawala is the Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting and the Founding Director of the SURE℠ (Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship) Program at Bauer College of Business, University of Houston. The innovative SURE℠ Program is an educational platform that creates a value-added partnership between UH students, under-resourced entrepreneurs and industry experts. It helps students develop the Power skills they need in an uncertain world and economically empowers under-resourced entrepreneurs in local communities. To-date, the Program has trained over 400 students, educated 1,400 + aspiring entrepreneurs and launched or materially expanded over 550 businesses. The SURE℠ Program and Dr. Khumawala have received numerous awards and accolades including the Piper Professor 2018 award, the 2019 University Economic Development Association’s National Award of Excellence for Innovation + Talent and the Houston Business Journal’s Diversity in Business Award in 2021. Currently establishing a Center for Economic Inclusion and a SURE CDFI.
