Our Impact
Catalyzing transformation—in organization and in communities.
From our top-ranked New Venture Development Program to professional education to inspiring initiatives, the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship aims to make a mark on our entire community that’s far beyond the classroom. As far, in fact, as great business thinking can reach.
29%
of new ventures developed in the McGuire Center in the last three years have launched
2,200+
students have graduated from the McGuire Center
35 Years of Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education
It’s been a journey born of inspiration and innovation—and fueled by more than three decades of brilliant minds and collaborative people. The McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship was originally founded (and named) in 1984 with the support of University of Arizona alumnus and entrepreneur Karl Eller. It defined its mission and built its reputation under the tenure of then-director and Anheuser Busch Chair holder, Gary Libecap. In the more than 30 years since the center was established, more than 2,000 graduates have gone on to launch hundreds of ventures—often based on the plan they conceived in the program. Since then, many more have applied their entrepreneurial skills as a significant competitive advantage in the workplace. The center and its capstone teaching program were both renamed in 2003 in recognition of the Christopher McGuire ’63 BS (Mechanical Engineering) and his wife, Carol ’62 BS (Family and Consumer Sciences) through a donation from the H.N. Frances C. Berger Foundation. The foundation and the McGuires have provided significant support to the center and its program since its inception. Today, the McGuire Center remains a catalyst for entrepreneurial principles and skills—and as for the future, no possibility is out of reach.
“The program’s biggest impact on me has been the change in my mindset. Everything I do now is done through the eye of an entrepreneur.”
Ricard Hernandez '18 PhD (Controlled Environment Systems), McGuire New Venture Development Program
Recognition
The impact and reach of the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship has been recognized not only by those we directly impact but also around the nation and the world.
The McGuire New Venture Development Program has been recognized for excellence by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and SUCCESS magazine and is a past recipient of the Nasdaq Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award.
2010: USA Today and the Princeton Review called the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship the "crown jewel" of the University of Arizona.
2012: Received an award for Outstanding Contributions to Advance the Discipline of Entrepreneurship at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference.
2013: Named Innovator of the Year in Academia at the Arizona Governor's Celebration of Innovation.
2013: Recognized in a World Bank report as one of two exemplar programs in the U.S. for best practices in entrepreneurship education.
As of 2019, the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship’s undergraduate program is ranked #6 nationally among public schools (and #10 overall), and its graduate program is ranked #5 nationally among public schools (and #15 overall). Alumnus Max Cutler '13 BSBA (Finance and Entrepreneurship) has even been selected for the 2019 Forbes “30 under 30.”
Looking forward, we’re already excited for the developments ahead—and the opportunities to bring new innovations and new opportunities to the world at large.