Letter From Allan Martinez Venegas ’14

Returning to the place that shaped so much of who I am brings both joy and a deep sense of responsibility to carry forward the impact Macalester has on everyone who passes through our campus.

Quote from Allan Martinez Venegas ’14 Letter

Dear Macalester Community,

Honored. Grateful. Inspired. Three words that begin to describe how I’m feeling a little over a month into my role as the new Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Macalester. As a United World College and Macalester alumn, it feels like a homecoming and a full-circle moment. Returning to the place that shaped so much of who I am brings both joy and a deep sense of responsibility to carry forward the impact Macalester has on everyone who passes through our campus. As I get fully into my role in collaboration with our fantastic team, here are the key tenets that will guide our work at the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Department: 

The Heart and the Mind
At the core of our work is a commitment to train both. We prepare students to think with analytical clarity and creative imagination, to approach problems with emotional intelligence as well as tactical skill. This balance of rigor and creativity is what makes innovation in the liberal arts so powerful.

Beyond a Center, An Ecosystem
Entrepreneurship and innovation at Macalester cannot live within one department alone. We are cultivating an ecosystem that stretches across campus and into the wider community, engaging faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners. Together, we are weaving innovation into the fabric of Macalester life.

Authentic Outcomes
The results of this work are tangible. Students learn to question the status quo, observe the world with rigor, collaborate to build ideas, and take bold action for justice and sustainability. They embrace prototyping, experimentation, and feedback as tools for shaping meaningful change.

Career Readiness for the Future
Creativity is consistently ranked among the top leadership skills of the future. Our students leave Macalester future-ready, as adaptable, curious, and confident innovators prepared to make an impact in whatever fields they pursue.

Ethics at the Core
Above all, we anchor this work in a deeper consciousness of responsibility. Whether launching start-ups or applying their skills in roles that don’t carry the title of “entrepreneur,” our students learn to lead with integrity and a commitment to others.

This is only the beginning of what we will build together. The work ahead is not just about programs or projects. It’s about shaping a culture where bold ideas are born, tested, and carried into the world with integrity. It’s about reminding ourselves that innovation is not a buzzword, but a practice of imagination and responsibility that belongs to all of us.

At Macalester, we have everything we need to lead in this space: the creativity of our students, the wisdom of our faculty, the dedication of our staff, and the global reach of our alumni. My hope is that, together, we will make entrepreneurship and innovation a defining strength of the Macalester experience, one that prepares our students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of impact.

With gratitude and excitement,
Allan Martinez Venegas
Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation