This year was marked by tremendous growth, impact, and transitions for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and our entrepreneurial community at Trinity University. We expanded our programs, deepened our connections, and cleared milestones that advanced our collective journey.
Through every milestone, our focus remains steadfast: building the premier undergraduate program in entrepreneurship to better support Trinity University's undergraduate students.
Building the Engine
We understood our focus in 2024 would be on building the engine before attempting to put it into high gear, so we focused on hiring and training our new team, which continues to adapt and thrive. The year opened with the announcement that, after an intensive search in Fall 2023, I was named director of CIE. This meant I needed to hire my replacement and re-balance my team. Through the search process, Liz Murillo was promoted from within to CIE leadership, and we welcomed three new staff members: Elsa Fernandez as program manager, Chad Reumann as assistant program manager, and Sheree Hill as our much-needed part-time administrative support specialist. All three of them have had intriguing careers and have brought fresh energy and expertise to the office.
CIE also welcomed new members of our part-time faculty, worked to onboard them, and brought in Dr. Katherine Troyer, director of the Collaborative for Learning and Teaching, to discover best practices in teaching and learning at five faculty workshops.
While four full-time staff might sound robust, my research on CIE structures illuminated that for an office that serves a student body (vs. is focused in a particular school or department), a much larger staff is typical. To help fill this gap, I decided to allocate gifts from generous donors back to students in the form of four internships, spanning 28 weeks, advancing student experience and knowledge, while supporting CIE.
The interns’ work is varied and includes media, marketing, event support, research, and acting as student ambassadors to help increase collaboration across campus. This initiative gives students hands-on, real-world experience in a nonprofit innovation center, increasing their success in career opportunities while expanding their network. Our outstanding Trinity interns in Fall 2024 included Jose Ignacio Mora ’27, Samya Dawadi ’27, Barbara Cevallos ’27, and Madelynn Gonzalez ’25. Meet our interns who made this introductory Instagram post that received more than 150 likes. Jose has already been offered an internship with Dell for Summer 2025. The interns were excited to share their experiences from this semester and prepared this slide deck of their reflections.
Becoming Discoverable
Our office underwent a major renovation, featuring a new entrance that symbolizes a fresh beginning and increased accessibility for our growing community. This fall, we reopened in a newly renovated space featuring a student co-working area, an administrative office, a multi-purpose conference room, an informal meeting area, and two additional staff offices to support our growing team.
Fireside Chat and Book Signing
We proudly welcomed the first headline speaker hosted by CIE, Arlan Hamilton—venture capitalist, serial entrepreneur, author, and founder of Backstage Capital—for the CIE’s first high-profile speaker event. The fireside chat with Dr. Brandi P. Jones, vice president for People, Culture, and Community, was followed by a book signing and reception.
Programs and Events
With +21,000 hours in events this year, we focused on expanding access to entrepreneurship at the earliest stages of the journey and inspiring students who haven’t yet self-identified their entrepreneurial spirit. We successfully hosted a headline event in October, just days before the signature Pitch Competition, a film screening with a DJ just a week after, and welcomed the Trinity University Network of Entrepreneurs (TUNE) during Alumni Weekend. We also expanded the Entrepreneurship through Acquisition program and continued key initiatives such as the Early Stage Investor Panel, startHER, Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), and the Louis H. Stumberg Venture Competition.
Here are some highlights:
- In Summer 2024, Trinity Accelerator expanded its reach by welcoming participants beyond the Stumberg Competition, allowing students ready for the Accelerator to join regardless of their competition involvement.
- Through the startHER program, Trinity students dined with 10 prominent San Antonio entrepreneurs from the Trinity Alumni network as well as from the San Antonio startup ecosystem, including Dr. Shantana Robinson, Jessica M. Brysch, and Lauren Carson ’02.
- In October 2024, the student venture Powerlifting Depth Checker (PDC) triumphed in the final round of the Stumberg Competition, earning a $25,000 prize. Since its inception in 2015, this prestigious competition has awarded an impressive $574,000 in prizes to support student ventures.
- VMS celebrated its 6th anniversary and the +25 volunteer mentors that support this program. Our mentorship program flourished, expanding to include 13 workshops (11,700 minutes in workshops!).
- We launched the first Peer to Peer series where student entrepreneurs come together to ask questions and solve problems.
Looking Ahead
Nothing happened by accident. We’ve been working hard to build CIE, and our efforts will continue in earnest into the new year. Below are a few of the initiatives we plan to take on in 2025:
- 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Stumberg Competition. We plan to celebrate the 10th anniversary at the final round in the fall.
- Re-organizing the Entrepreneurship in Residence as a staff role to back-fill needed program support and better serve students today. The search for this newly positioned role opens in January 2025.
- Conducting a full entrepreneurship minor curriculum overhaul to meet updated standards from the University, including creating classes at four credit hours, as well as streamlining the student experience while expanding a menu of options for students to customize their minor. This year we plan to submit the updated curriculum for review and feedback by the University Curriculum Council.
- With our partners in Alumni Relations and Development, we’re re-visiting alumni interest in the Immersions program and reconsidering who qualifies as a “Traveler.”
Expanding the cultural impact of the Trinity Accelerator program by incorporating more
local experiences outside of the startup ecosystem. - Expanding the VMS to serve a handful of community lead (not affiliated with TU) ventures.
- Updating CIE’s presence on the University website to reflect the new direction and options available to students.
- CIE will have its first Advisory Board since its founding. The first meeting is planned for March 27, and the foremost topics for discussion include a comprehensive review of CIE and how it is positioned within the University, the curriculum of the entrepreneurship minor, and reviewing the CIE’s budget, existing grants and partnerships, and new opportunities.
It is, without a doubt, going to be an incredible and eventful year. Thank you again for your dedication to Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Trinity University.