The University of Texas at Dallas has hired an expert in strategy and organizational operations management with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector to lead its entrepreneurship efforts.
Carol Marcus-Rehtmeyer, the former president and CEO of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History is putting down roots in Dallas in her new role as executive director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Having the opportunity “to do something extraordinary” inspired her to apply for the institute position, she said. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a business and nonprofit executive, entrepreneur and business turn-around specialist to her new role.
The nationally ranked institute was established at the Naveen Jindal School of Management in 2006. It focuses on instilling an entrepreneurial mindset in its students by providing world-class academic education, industry-leading experiential training and venture coaching so that they become equipped to launch and scale businesses.
The institute also holds several special events and programs including the Big Idea Competition, the UTDesign Startup Challenge and the UT Dallas Seed Fund, which focuses on technology startups founded by the university’s community that are ready for commercial product development.
“I look forward to working with the team here to expand the institute and create a more global profile,” Marcus-Rehtmeyer said. “I want to work to grow the institute into an internationally known organization.”
Her plans include creating working relationships with universities and students from around the world and bringing students to UT Dallas from other countries. She also wants to expand the reach and impact the institute provides its students, faculty, alumni, and the local community.
In addition to leading campus entrepreneurship efforts, she also will be an associate professor of instruction at the Jindal School.
Marcus-Rehtmeyer served as executive director of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History before becoming president and CEO. She also co-founded a Corpus Christi not-for-profit organization, the South Texas Animal Rescue (STAR) and Veterinary Clinic and helped nonprofits improve funding, sponsorships and attendance as the not-for-profit CEO and executive director for the Ed Rachal Foundation.
She was president and CEO of Rehtmeyer Inc., a toy and game development, licensing and manufacturing company in Illinois; founder and CEO of the Toy and Game Industry Foundation; and executive director for the Scitech Hands On Museum in Illinois.
A native of Chicago, she received a BFA in industrial and product design from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Marcus-Rehtmeyer is energized to begin working with entrepreneurs and innovators as executive director of the institute and working with the UT Dallas community.
“My goal is to make our entrepreneurship center a shining star, the place to go to launch innovative and exciting ideas,” she said. “I am excited to be able to collaborate with the many brilliant minds at UT Dallas.”
