Loyola co-hosts Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Annual Conference
The movement of innovation and entrepreneurship that is underway at Loyola University Maryland was showcased on a global stage at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) Annual Conference, “Leading with Entrepreneurship: Succeeding in Revitalization.” The conference at Loyola, which the University co-hosted with the University of Baltimore, from Oct. 13-16, 2021, attracted 320 in-person attendees and approximately 200 more online.
The conference brought together higher education faculty and staff from around the
world who are interested in learning and sharing best practices in entrepreneurship
education and teaching innovation.
“We are honored to bring together some of the institutions and innovators who demonstrate what a great place Baltimore is to start a new venture, and to share our values of revitalization and inclusive entrepreneurship with our global cohort of peers,” said Wendy Bolger, founding director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Loyola and the University of Baltimore were selected as co-hosts for this international conference after a competitive bidding process. Johns Hopkins University’s student hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, FastForward U, as well as the University of Maryland’s The Grid, and the city’s first accelerator, ETC (Emerging Technology Centers), hosted events, joining 17 financial sponsors.
Keynote speakers during the conference included Marcus Bullock, CEO of Flikshop; Allysa Dittmar, co-founder of Clear Mask; Philip Gaskin, vice president of entrepreneurship for the Kauffman Foundation; Nnadaga and Louise Isa, co-founders, lor tush; and Ryan Maliszewski, CEO of Mozzeria. Loyola faculty and administrators also presented during the conference including Bolger, Herbert Jay Dunmore, television station manager, Lynne Elks, lecturer in economics, Raenita Fenner, Ph.D., assistant professor of engineering, Bill Romani, Ph.D., entrepreneur in residence, and Michael Tangrea, Ph.D., endowed professor of biology.
“Bringing GCEC to Baltimore offered an opportunity to showcase our city and our entrepreneurial ecosystem as a model of revitalization to GCEC members all over the world,” said Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., acting provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We continue to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship at Loyola and we are grateful for this opportunity to demonstrate that to the world.”
A closing celebration and awards ceremony with Baltimore musicians and local food and drink was held at the American Visionary Arts Museum on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Pictured above: Henry Mortimer, director of the University of Baltimore's center for entrepreneurship and innovation, and Wendy Bolger, director of Loyola's CI&E