Posted on April 21, 2015 by KC Gonzalez
Lisa Montoya
In an effort to highlight the cross disciplinary nature of entrepreneurship, UTSA College of Business Dean Wm. Gerard Sanders has named Lisa Montoya as Associate Dean of Entrepreneurship Programs. She will also continue to serve as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the College of Business.
In this new role, Montoya will coordinate all educational and experiential entrepreneurial activity in the College of Business. Anita Leffel has been named Director of Entrepreneurship.
“Our goal is to be one of the premier entrepreneurship programs in Texas and the first choice for students,” said Montoya. “We’d like to see more students starting companies and going into businesses and jobs related to entrepreneurial ventures.”
Currently at the undergraduate level, students can major in entrepreneurship and any UTSA student can minor in entrepreneurship. At the graduate level, an MBA concentration in entrepreneurship is offered as well as a graduate certificate in technology entrepreneurship and management.
Future plans include adding coursework in marketing new products and services and legal and intellectual property.
In addition to the academic coursework, students can test their entrepreneurial mettle through several experiential learning opportunities such as a biannual Pitch Competition and Student Technology Venture Competition.
Students may also network with like-minded individuals through the student organization, College Entrepreneurs Organization. Advised by Leffel, the group organizes the Pitch Competition and brings in business founders to coach and advise them.
“All this exposure to entrepreneurs will help our students develop an entrepreneurial mindset,” says Leffel.
“We plan to offer students a signature experience in every required course,” said Montoya. “Students will interact with entrepreneurs, launch a quick business start-up, mold a well-crafted business plan and work with start-up companies. Our goal is to build students exposure to entrepreneurial experiences and teach them entrepreneurial competencies that will help them succeed in their own businesses.”
Wendy Frost—
Please send your comments to: wendy.frost@utsa.edu
— KC Gonzalez
