On Friday, December 6, during a special EHour, the Center for Entrepreneurship honored one of the most influential champions of entrepreneurial thinking at the University of Michigan.
In a room filled with students, founders, faculty, and friends, we celebrated the official naming of EHour as the Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen EHour—a tribute to a visionary leader whose fearless imagination helped launch Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as we know it today.
The event was hosted by Dr. Zurbuchen’s longtime friend and collaborator, Marc Weiser, Managing Director of RPM Ventures, who helped guide the conversation in true EHour fashion: equal parts insight, candor, and inspiration.
A Moment of Gratitude From Dean Thole
The program opened with remarks from Karen Thole, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, who acknowledged the significance of the moment for Michigan Engineering.
Thole spoke of the energy, creativity, and impact-driven spirit that fills the room every Friday at EHour, describing it as one of the quintessential Michigan Engineering experiences.
She extended heartfelt thanks to Mary and Marc Weiser, whose generous gift made the naming possible and whose sustained support has profoundly shaped the College of Engineering.
Her message to the audience set the tone for the afternoon: this was not just an unveiling—it was a celebration of community, imagination, and the type of leadership that inspires generations.
Thomas & Marc: A Conversation on Ambiguity, Optimism, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset
When Marc Weiser and Dr. Zurbuchen took the stage, it became immediately clear why their partnership has endured across academia, industry, and impact-focused work.
They spoke honestly about failure, uncertainty, and the “cemetery of good ideas” that exists behind every successful mission—whether in space exploration or entrepreneurship. Thomas drew parallels between leading NASA missions and teaching students to think entrepreneurially: in both cases, success comes from building great teams, navigating ambiguity, and continually evolving your approach.
He emphasized that CFE was never meant to measure success by dollars raised or companies launched. Instead, it was built around cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset—one centered on learning, iteration, curiosity, and courage.
Marc reflected on how those principles still drive CFE’s programs today, pointing to program development led by faculty and staff over the years. The conversation felt like a master class in leadership, delivered with humility, humor, and a shared belief that optimism is both a pillar of the ENTR mindset and a revolutionary force.
Recognizing Leadership With Impact: The ZEAL Award
This year also marked the inaugural presentation of the Zurbuchen Entrepreneurship Activator and Leader (ZEAL) Award, created to honor individuals who embody Thomas’s passion for experimentation, optimism, and creating impact through action.
The first recipient, Jason Bornhorst (BSE CSE ’09), is an exemplary example of that spirit. As co-founder of the TechArb Student Venture Accelerator in 2009, Jason helped shape the startup landscape for Michigan students long before “entrepreneurship” was a campus buzzword. He went on to launch a series of successful ventures—four of which have been acquired—all before reaching his mid-thirties. His career reflects the exact type of mindset Thomas envisioned when he helped establish CFE more than 17 years ago.
A Call to Dream Bigger
Thomas closed the session with a message that captured the essence of why this naming matters:
“It is absolutely incredible what people can achieve if they put their heart and soul behind something as a team. As you know, this is our story at the CFE. ”
He encouraged students to reach out, ask questions, and stay curious, reminding them that their ideas, even the smallest sparks, can become “tiny little beacons of hope” that lead to breakthroughs.
And in classic Michigan style, he ended with a heartfelt: Go Blue.
Honoring a Legacy. Inspiring the Next Generation.
The renaming of EHour to the Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen EHour marks more than a new title—it represents the enduring impact of a leader who believed the university could be a launchpad for world-changing ideas.
With Thomas, Marc, and the CFE community together in one room, the message was unmistakable: Michigan’s entrepreneurial spirit is not only alive—it is accelerating.
And this is just the beginning.
Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, the CFE’s founder, is a former University of Michigan professor of space science and aerospace engineering, as well as the leader of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Dr. Zurbuchen advanced landmark missions—from the James Webb Space Telescope to Perseverance, Ingenuity, and beyond.
The naming honors his enduring commitment and influence on both the Center for Entrepreneurship and the future innovators it serves.
Watch the Full EHour Celebration on YouTube
