Dan Maguire, entrepreneur and 1994 VT graduate with a degree in management science, will deliver the keynote address at Virginia Tech’s fall 2021 university commencement ceremony on Friday, Dec. 17.
Maguire’s career began in the government industry where he provided information technology and related consulting services to federal agencies.
He went on to receive his MBA at the University of Georgia in 2002. He has since founded multiple technology startup companies, growing and ultimately selling them to strategic buyers. Now “intentionally unemployed,” he sold his last venture company in March 2020.
Maguire serves in multiple capacities at Virginia Tech. He is a member of the Division of Student Affairs Alumni Advisory Board and is the 2018 recipient of the Student Affairs Alumni Aspire Award.
He also serves as an alumni scholar of practice with the Thrive Living-Learning Community and is a member of the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs Advisory Board.
Maguire lives in Great Falls, Va. When not in work mode, he enjoys fishing, mountain biking, and spending time with his family, which includes three children and three dogs.
The university commencement ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. and the graduate school ceremony will be at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.
Graduate School speakers
Three graduate students will share thoughts about their graduate education journey. Their short remarks are modeled on the Nutshell Games created by the Center for Communicating Science. The doctoral students are Sara Jamal Eddin, Ph.D., architecture and design research; Anza Mitchell, Ph.D., education, curriculum, and instruction; and Bennett Grooms, Ph.D., fisheries and wildlife sciences.
In addition, Jonathan Foote and Carolina Dayer, professors at the Aarhus School of Architecture in Aarhus, Denmark, will receive the Graduate Alumni Achievement Award at the graduate commencement ceremony. Foote received his master’s degree in architecture in 2001 and his doctorate in architecture in 2013. Dayer earned her masters of architecture in 2007 and her doctorate in architecture in 2015. During their graduate studies at Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center, they became engaged and married.
During the years since they graduated, they have continued their connections with Virginia Tech as lecturers and committee members. Foote created an international network program that allowed many faculty members from both his institution and Virginia Tech to visit and cooperate with each other. Those who nominated them for this award said they embody the university motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) and have a deep and sincere commitment to the highest quality of work to serve the field and care for the growth and well-being of individuals with whom they work – both students and colleagues. They will accept their award via video.
