Personal gift from the 22nd Century Technologies CEO and his wife will expand opportunities for students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and future business leaders
MCLEAN, VA / ACCESS Newswire / August 19, 2026 / 22nd Century Technologies (TSCTI) announced today that George Mason University's Costello College of Business will rename its Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in honor of its CEO Anil Sharma and his wife, Anupama, following a personal gift from the couple to support entrepreneurship and innovation for students and future business leaders.
The gift reflects the Sharmas' belief in education and their desire to give back by helping others pursue opportunities of their own.
Anil Sharma came to the United States from India in 1997 with $100 and the determination to build a future. Later that year, he founded McLean-based TSCTI - leading the IT consulting business into a $600 million government contracting firm providing IT, cybersecurity, cloud, and digital transformation solutions to federal, state, and local government agencies across all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico.
Today, TSCTI is a Certified National Minority Business Enterprise employing more than 6,000 people nationwide, including more than 600 cybersecurity subject matter experts.
"I know from personal experience that no one builds a successful life or business alone," Sharma said. "Along the way, people open doors, place their trust in you, share what they know, and create opportunities that help you grow. Anupama and I believe that when you are in a position to do the same for others, you have a responsibility to do so. We hope this gift helps more students and aspiring entrepreneurs see what is possible and see a support system to pursue it."
Sharma has put that philosophy into practice as an active angel investor and mentor to startups and small businesses. His engagement with George Mason has included the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and its Patriot Pitch Competition, which gives students and recent alumni the opportunity to present business ideas and early-stage ventures. He has also been closely engaged with George Mason's government contracting community.
The gift also reflects the Sharmas' ties to Virginia and the Northern Virginia region. Headquartered in McLean, 22nd Century has grown from its Northern Virginia roots into a national organization. The company's focus on STEM, innovation, and entrepreneurship is closely connected to Sharma's continued engagement in the region's business and technology community and his interest in developing the next generation of business leaders in Virginia.
"Today's college students are graduating as artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation reshape every industry," Sharma said. "The future will belong to those who can learn faster, adapt continuously, think critically, and stay resilient during change."
George Mason University plans to hold a formal naming event this fall for the Anil and Anupama Sharma Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
About 22nd Century Technologies
22nd Century Technologies, Inc. (TSCTI), founded in 1997, is an IT systems integrator with more than 6,000 professionals supporting private-sector organizations as well as the DoW and federal civilian, state, and local agencies. With AI and innovation at its core, TSCTI delivers mission-critical solutions in Digital Transformation, Cloud Enablement, Cybersecurity, IT Infrastructure, and Enterprise Modernization. Learn more at www.tscti.com.
Media Contact
Ben Farrell, ben.farrell@tscti.com, 540-290-9602
SOURCE: 22nd Century Technologies
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