Loyola establishes an advisory board for its innovation center

Loyola University Maryland is among the select group of organizations participating in the recent EDA Tech Hubs application. Before that, the university’s Simon Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship guided its latest cohort of entrepreneurs through a tailored curriculum, culminating in a demo day held in Q2. Now, the center is taking a new step by forming an advisory board comprising local business leaders and entrepreneurs, marking a significant development in its growth.

This has undoubtedly been a dynamic period for Loyola, with individuals like Wendy Bolger, the center’s founding director, playing a crucial part.

“We are looking forward to working with this amazing group of advisors,” said Bolger in a written statement. “They are an accomplished, committed, and diverse group. Many of them have been informal advisors to us over the years, and the time is right for us to formalize their roles and engage them as a group. I can’t wait to hear their ideas for the Simon Center going forward.”

Bolger hopes that by inaugurating this advisory board, the center, which was established in 2018, will gain “both inspiration and capacity.” She noted that a significant portion of the board consists of Loyola alumni. She envisions that their personal experiences as former students and commitment to the institution will greatly enhance the networks and expertise available for Loyola’s diverse student body.

“Specific needs for both student and founder constituencies encompass mentorship, explicit advice, and inspiration/models,” she told Technical.ly. “Students often seek opportunities to kickstart their careers, whereas entrepreneurs require support in areas such as customer acquisition, services, recruitment and capital investment to launch or expedite their ventures. This advisory board is strategically positioned to fulfill all these needs.”

Bolger envisions that by leveraging the advisory board’s extensive networks and resources — ranging from time and talent to valuable insights — the center can harness these assets to benefit students and aspiring Black and women founders.

The inaugural meeting of the advisory board is scheduled for September.

Who is on the advisory board?

The board consists of:

• Lisa Cawley, managing director of Screendoor
• Mike Gill, chairman of Evergreen Advisors
• Nick Hawkins, associate with Womble Bond Dickinson
• Pava LaPere, CEO of EcoMap Technologies
• Nick Simon Sr., managing director of Blackstone Life Sciences
• Susie Simon, of the Simon Family Foundation
• Nichole Sullivan, founder and chief maker of Keppel & Kismet
• Mike Walton, principal of THA Advisory Services

Cawley, Hawkins and Nick and Susie Simon are all Loyola alumni.