The UTSA Institute for Economic Development is housed in the Durango Building on the UTSA Downtown Campus.
(Sept. 3, 2019) – Following a national search, UTSA today announced the selection of Rodrick McSherry as the new Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development, which includes leadership of UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development (IED). McSherry began in this new role today.
At UTSA, McSherry will lead the activities of nine economic development centers and programs, overseeing the Office of Commercialization and Innovation and managing a staff of over 140. His directives include expanding the reach of current programs, building new relationships with stakeholders, and developing new funding sources, both from the public and the private sectors.
This position reports directly to the Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise (VPREDKE).
McSherry’s background includes academic, government and corporate experience. He comes to UTSA from New Mexico State University (NMSU) where he served as associate provost and also lectured on foreign affairs and U.S. international economic development. He served as a senior foreign service officer and worked in many countries including Afghanistan, where he coordinated a $1 billion portfolio of economic development projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. A polyglot, he speaks six languages: Spanish, English, French, Greek, Thai and Russian. He has a Masters of International Agricultural Economics and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Economic Development.
Al Salgado has been serving as Interim Executive Director of the IED since November 2018. Effectively immediately, Salgado has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Small Business and Community Engagement, and will report to McSherry in this new role. Salgado will provide leadership, oversight and coordination of small business and community development programs under the IED, aligning its outreach with UTSA’s strategic plan and mission.
With over 25 years of experience, Salgado is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts particularly with the expansion of the Downtown Campus. In his prior role, he promoted the State Department’s Small Business Network of the Americas, which replicated UTSA’s successful university-based SBDC model and created new opportunities for collaboration in other areas in over 20 countries.
“These strategic leadership changes will help the UTSA Institute for Economic Development grow its programs and its reach, replicating their successful models and building upon their 40 years of service to San Antonio and the South Texas community,” said Bernard Arulanandam, interim vice president for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise.
Established in 1979, UTSA’s Institute for Economic Development hosts nine centers and a variety of programs that facilitate economic, community, and business development at the local, regional, and national levels. Programs serve a range of entrepreneurs, from those who are just starting a business to experienced business owners looking for new markets to communities seeking to improve their economic health.
In a record-breaking year, the IED served 43,320 existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, generating a total of $2.9 billion in direct economic impact in 2018. Of those who received advising, training and business research assistance, over 1,000 businesses were started or experienced significant growth, resulting in the creation or retention of close to 20,000 jobs. Additionally, these businesses generated $291 million in new financing and $35 million in new tax revenue, with new sales, contracts and exports valued at $2.6 billion dollars.
Learn more about the UTSA Institute for Economic Development.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
