Leadership transition underway at CMU’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship as Mawhinney steps down

Carnegie Mellon appoints interim director and begins national search following Dave Mawhinney’s departure from the Swartz Center after nearly ten years of leadership.

Dave Mawhinney and Jim Swartz, Photo Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University has confirmed that Dave Mawhinney has stepped down from his role as executive director of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, concluding nearly ten years of leadership. As of July 1, Mawhinney has returned to the faculty, where he continues to serve as a teaching professor of entrepreneurship at CMU’s Tepper School of Business.

The university has appointed Meredith Grelli as interim director. A long-time contributor to CMU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Grelli also leads the Project Olympus Incubator Program, serves as assistant dean for entrepreneurial initiatives in the School of Computer Science, and teaches at the Tepper School.

A national search is now underway to recruit the center’s next executive director.

Center credited with expanding CMU’s startup activity

Founded in 2016 through a $31 million gift from CMU alumnus and Accel venture capital founder James R. Swartz, the Swartz Center provides a central platform for entrepreneurship education and support. Its programming includes the McGinnis Venture Competition, the VentureBridge pre-seed accelerator, the Gebhardt Sandbox Fund, and the Tartan Entrepreneurs Fund.

These initiatives support students, faculty, and alumni working to launch startups and commercialize research, contributing to CMU’s standing as one of the top startup-producing universities in the United States.

CMU President Farnam Jahanian says, “Dave Mawhinney is an undeniable force who has shaped the Swartz Center’s trajectory in both small and significant ways. Carnegie Mellon’s community is grateful for his decade of impact across the entrepreneurial landscape and his unyielding commitment to the center’s success.”

Swartz adds, “Dave’s enthusiasm for life is contagious and what he has done to elevate and expand entrepreneurship at CMU is remarkable. He built a center, and a community, that is vibrant, forward-looking and committed to real impact. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and grateful to Dave for leading and shaping the center’s success over the years. Without question, Dave Mawhinney has personally changed the importance and trajectory of entrepreneurship at CMU forever.”

New interim director steps in as center enters next chapter

With Grelli now serving as interim director, the Swartz Center is expected to maintain continuity across its academic and startup-focused initiatives. Grelli has worked closely with Mawhinney over the years and brings cross-campus experience spanning computing and business disciplines.

Theresa Mayer, CMU’s Vice President for Research, says, “Dave stood up a center that is now thriving — with programs, partnerships and a growing pipeline of entrepreneurs committed to making a difference. We are grateful for Dave’s incredible leadership over the years and excited for the Swartz Center to continue accelerating its mission and growing its impact to benefit society and improve lives.”

CMU plans to host a campus-wide event in fall 2025 to formally celebrate Mawhinney’s contributions to the center and its broader impact on innovation at the university.