Fostering Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M: A Collaborative Effort

The Texas A&M University System, in collaboration with its flagship university and Halliburton, recently brought together distinguished former students of the university who are influential figures in the business world. The objective of the meeting, which took place at Halliburton’s headquarters in Houston, was to deliberate on the future of entrepreneurship at Texas A&M. Entitled “Shaping the Future of Entrepreneurship at Texas A&M: A Collaborative Vision,” the event provided a forum for approximately 50 participants to participate in presentations and discussions pertaining to the establishment of an “entrepreneurial hub” on campus.

Chancellor John Sharp of the Texas A&M University System commended the exceptional students and faculty of the institution, stressing the significance of students, research, and commercialization in nurturing entrepreneurship. He also highlighted the university’s recent selection by the United States Space Force to lead an initiative in advancing in-space operations, demonstrating Texas A&M’s leadership in innovation.

Mark A. Welsh III, President of Texas A&M, took part in a panel discussion titled “Investing in our University and Texas,” where he emphasized the distinction between innovation and entrepreneurship. He articulated his vision for Texas A&M to become the premier university for entrepreneurship in the United States. Additionally, Jennifer McFerrin-Bohner, daughter of Texas A&M benefactors Dorothy and Artie R. McFerrin ’65, underscored the need for a comprehensive ecosystem at Texas A&M, inclusive of students, faculty, start-ups, and industry, to tackle real-world challenges.

Throughout the day’s discussions, there was consistent emphasis on the importance of collaboration and teamwork in fostering entrepreneurship. It was recognized that entrepreneurship flourishes when students, faculty, staff, industry leaders, former students, donors, and other stakeholders collaborate cohesively to promote innovation on campus. Mike Francis ’06, CEO and co-founder of NanoTech, emphasized the critical role of the university’s alumni network and faculty in nurturing entrepreneurship.

Jeff Miller ’88, CEO of Halliburton, discussed the significance of breaking down barriers to cultivate entrepreneurship at Texas A&M. He affirmed the company’s dedication to supporting education at the institution, such as through the Halliburton Engineering Global Programs.

As a Tier-One research institution, Texas A&M invests significantly in research, with the research often yielding practical solutions. Dr. Elsa Murano, director of the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development, highlighted the conversion of research into application and its implications for entrepreneurship.

Another central focus of the discussions was on preparing students to become future entrepreneurs. The importance of instilling an entrepreneurial mindset and critical-thinking skills among students was emphasized. Jim Donnell, director at the Meloy Texas A&M Engineering Entrepreneurship Program, outlined the program’s efforts to incorporate an entrepreneurial component into engineering education.

The day’s events aimed to stimulate a discourse about entrepreneurship at Texas A&M and leverage the university’s collective momentum to propel the entrepreneurial ecosystem forward. With the backing of the esteemed attendees and the broader Aggie community, there is an optimistic outlook for the future of entrepreneurship at Texas A&M.