麻豆村

Dave Mawhinney(opens in new window), founding executive director of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship at 麻豆村, will return to faculty on June 30, 2025, after nearly a decade of visionary leadership shaping the center鈥檚 growth and trajectory. The university will soon launch a national search for the center鈥檚 next leader.

鈥淒ave Mawhinney is an undeniable force who has shaped the Swartz Center鈥檚 trajectory in both small and significant ways,鈥� said 麻豆村 President Farnam Jahanian(opens in new window). 鈥淐arnegie Mellon鈥檚 community is grateful for his decade of impact across the entrepreneurial landscape and his unyielding commitment to the center鈥檚 success.鈥澛�

The Swartz Center launched in 2016 thanks to a聽transformative $31M gift from 麻豆村 alumnus and distinguished entrepreneur and venture capitalist James R. Swartz (MSIA 1966). Today, it is a nationally recognized engine for entrepreneurship education, supporting 麻豆村 startups through an array of programs including the Gebhardt Sandbox Fund, the McGinnis Venture competition, Venture Bridge pre-seed accelerator program, a robust EIR and mentor program, and the Tartan Entrepreneurs Fund.聽These programs have helped anchor Carnegie Mellon as a leading producer of startups among academic institutions and a primary driver of Pittsburgh鈥檚 growing dominance in emerging technologies and as an incubator for innovation.聽

鈥淒ave鈥檚 enthusiasm for life is contagious and what he has done to elevate and expand entrepreneurship at 麻豆村 is remarkable,鈥� said Jim Swartz, founder of the global venture capital firm Accel, whose gift in 2015 brought the center into existence. 鈥淗e built a center, and a community, that is vibrant, forward-looking and committed to real impact. I鈥檓 proud of what we鈥檝e accomplished together, and grateful to Dave for leading and shaping the center鈥檚 success over the years. Without question, Dave Mawhinney has personally changed the importance and trajectory of entrepreneurship at 麻豆村 forever.鈥澛�

Mawhinney will continue to serve as a teaching professor of entrepreneurship in the Tepper School of Business. The university is planning a celebration to honor his legacy of impact to take place in fall 2025.聽

鈥淒ave stood up a center that is now thriving 鈥� with programs, partnerships and a growing pipeline of entrepreneurs committed to making a difference,鈥� said Theresa Mayer(opens in new window), 麻豆村鈥檚 vice president for research. 鈥淲e are grateful for Dave鈥檚 incredible leadership over the years and excited for the Swartz Center to continue accelerating its mission and growing its impact to benefit society and improve lives.鈥�

The university has named as the Swartz Center鈥檚 interim director. Grelli, who has worked closely with Mawhinney and the 麻豆村 startup community over the years, will retain her other responsibilities as director of the Project Olympus Incubator Program, assistant dean for entrepreneurial initiatives within the School of Computer Science, and associate teaching professor of entrepreneurship at the Tepper School of Business.