Aziz and Farahnaz Hashim Endow Faculty Position in Franchise Entrepreneurship

ATLANTA - Sept. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Aziz Hashim, who is one of the most successful and respected executives in the restaurant industry, and his wife, Farahnaz Hashim, have endowed a faculty position in franchise entrepreneurship at the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

The Aziz and Farahnaz Hashim Faculty Position in Franchise Entrepreneurship provides the School of Hospitality with the resources to support hiring a subject-area expert and expanding the graduate and undergraduate curriculum to encompass this fast-growing business model.

“It is crucial that hospitality programs educate the next generation of industry leaders about franchise entrepreneurship,” said Aziz Hashim. “Within the quick-service restaurant category, there is a lack of formal training. It is my hope that through this endowment the School of Hospitality and the Robinson College of Business will help fill this void.”

“Incorporating franchising into our curriculum will further increase the relevance of a Robinson College education,” said School of Hospitality director Debby Cannon. “Considering that Atlanta is home to more than 82 franchise headquarters, many of which are hospitality-centere, there should be considerable demand for these offerings from the beginning. This demand from the industry, combined with Aziz Hashim’s generosity and expertise, creates an ideal learning environment for our students as they prepare for future leadership positions.”

Hashim is president and CEO of NRD Holdings; the first franchisee sponsored and managed equity fund, and chairman and CEO of Impact Investments, which focuses on ventures on the African continent. He entered the business in 1996 with one quick-service restaurant and eventually owned more than 60 in the U.S. and internationally. In 2014, Nation’s Restaurant News named Hashim to its “Power List” which recognizes the 50 most influential individuals who are leading and in the food service industry.  He serves on the executive committee of the International Franchise Association and the Board of Advisors of the Robinson College of Business.

Named in honor of the founder of Days Inn, the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business is the oldest and largest program of its kind in the state. Founded in 1973, it is among the top 30 hotel management programs in the world. For more information, visit hospitality.robinson.gsu.edu >> (http://hospitality.robinson.gsu.edu/)