Nationally honored entrepreneur Hamid Andalib returns to UTC

Hamid Andalib’s return to UTC comes on the heels of receiving the 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Photo by Patrick Mashburn.

Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumnus A. Hamid Andalib is returning to his alma mater to help prepare the next generation of entrepreneurs through a new teaching role in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.

Beginning in spring 2027, Andalib will serve as an adjunct instructor for ETR 1010: Entrepreneurship: The Mindset and Skillset, a general education course designed to introduce students across campus to entrepreneurial thinking, innovation and opportunity recognition. The course explores the mindset and skillset needed to think and act entrepreneurially across industries and career paths, including both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Andalib’s return to UTC comes on the heels of receiving the 2026 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, one of the nation’s most prestigious recognitions honoring individuals whose lives and work embody the American spirit of service, leadership and opportunity. Presented annually by the Ellis Island Honors Society, the award has recognized distinguished leaders including Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden, Muhammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, Elie Wiesel, Indra Nooyi, Sandra Day O’Connor and Eric Schmidt.

Born in Dezful, Iran, Andalib arrived in the United States at age 17 with limited resources and a determination to build a better future. Within five years, he earned a degree in electrical engineering from UTC while working his way through school.

“When I came to America, it was all about survival,” Andalib said. “UTC gave me not only an education, but a sense of community and belonging that shaped the rest of my life.”

Shortly after graduation, Andalib purchased The Loft, then the largest restaurant in Tennessee, launching an entrepreneurial career that would eventually take him to Silicon Valley and establish him as a nationally recognized business leader. In 2000, he founded VIPGift, an early innovator in the incentive and loyalty industry, growing the company into a national platform generating more than $120 million in annual revenue before its successful exit. Today, he serves as founder and CEO of EE Incentives, a Chattanooga-headquartered company recognized among the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Despite his business success, Andalib has consistently emphasized the importance of service, mentorship and community impact.

“My life has been phases,” Andalib said. “First survival, then learning to live, then striving to succeed. But success by itself is not enough. When your success becomes a blessing to others, that’s when you reach significance.”

Hamid Andalib, center, talks to two other people at a campus event

Hamid Andalib recently was on the UTC campus for the May 6 “Join the Momentum” event at the Wolford Family Athletic Center.

Dr. Robert Dooley, dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, said Andalib’s return to the classroom reflects the college’s commitment to connecting students with experienced leaders who bring practical insight and perspective.

“Hamid’s entrepreneurial journey, leadership and commitment to service made him a natural choice for inclusion in the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in 2002,” Dooley said. “His experiences in life and business provide invaluable perspective for our students. Having alumni like Hamid actively engaged with campus enriches the learning experience in ways that cannot be replicated in a textbook and reflects a strong commitment to his alma mater.”

Through ETR 1010, Andalib hopes to help students develop not only business knowledge, but resilience, adaptability and purpose-driven leadership.

“The science of success can be taught in books,” Andalib said. “But the art of success comes from experience—through obstacles, setbacks, failures and perseverance.”

The course is open to students across campus and focuses on entrepreneurial thinking as a valuable skillset regardless of career path or industry. Topics include innovation, opportunity recognition, uncertainty, entrepreneurial psychology and entrepreneurship as both a mindset and method.

In addition to his business leadership, Andalib has served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards, supported scholarships and educational initiatives and helped raise millions of dollars for healthcare and community organizations.

Looking ahead to his return to UTC, Andalib said he hopes students leave his classroom understanding that purpose and people matter as much as professional achievement.

“If your purpose is bigger than yourself, a power bigger than yourself will show up,” he said. “To me, significance means this: how can I impact as many people in the most positive way I can?”