Members of our diverse mentor network work one-on-one with student entrepreneurs to
build their confidence, develop their business prowess and connect them to opportunities
for funding and more.
All budding entrepreneurs need a mentor to be successful. The Center for Innovation
and Entrepreneurship’s growing Mentor Network provides guidance, support and connections
to help students pursue their passions with confidence and see their ideas through.
Meet the Mentors
Our mentor network is 24 members strong and growing. The network ranges from first-time
startup founders to serial entrepreneurs from a variety of industries including bio-tech,
healthcare, technology, retail and many more.
Frank DeSantis ’99
Vice President of Innovation and Breakthrough Technology at Stanley Black & Decker
Joan Kanner
Co-founder of Bottoms Up Bagels
Larry Fiorino ’84
Founder and Former President of G.1440 and President of Fiorino Consulting
Andy Grossman
Partner at Green Thumb Industries (GTI)
Shahab Kaviani
Co-founder & CEO at CoFoundersLab
Ziying Tang
Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Sciences
Find a Mentor
Students looking for the right mentor are encouraged to come to CIE events or the entrepreneurship competitions to grow your network and meet potential mentors. For more information, contact the
program director, Jan Baum at jbaum AT_TOWSON.
Become a Mentor
Are you an entrepreneur, innovator or business leader who has wisdom to offer? We’d
love to talk to you about joining our network.
Why be a mentor?
Personal fulfillment from helping the next generation
Develop your leadership skills guiding another individual.
Build your own connections through networkingopportunitieswith other business owners, founders, etc.
Contact the director, Jan Baum, at jbaum AT_TOWSON to learn more.