2025 Fall Commencement • December 13, 2025
From Jeff Schomburg
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From Jeff Schomburg
December 13, 2025.
More about the commencement speaker:
Jorge Aguilar is the founder and CEO of Trove, a venture-funded hospitality and real estate company
specializing in premium vacation rentals, boutique hotels and multifamily living. Headquartered
in Chicago, Trove manages a portfolio of high-performing properties across multiple U.S. markets
and is expanding internationally through partnerships with some of Mexico’s leading real estate
investment trusts.
A proud graduate of St. Mary’s University, Aguilar earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a double
major in Economics and International Relations before completing a master’s degree in Information
Technology from DePaul University in Chicago. His career began at Rotary International, where
he managed global software initiatives before pursuing his passion for real estate, hospitality and
entrepreneurship full-time.
Under Aguilar’s leadership, Trove has become recognized as a top-performing firm in the Midwest.
He was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Entrepreneurs and is an active member of
the Urban Land Institute. He also participates in the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network, a national
initiative supporting high-growth companies shaping the future of business.
Beyond business, Aguilar serves as president of the Great Lakes Alumni Chapter for St. Mary’s,
where he has strengthened alumni engagement and philanthropy across the region. Guided by a
belief that excellence and generosity go hand in hand, he recently launched the Trove Scholarship,
which supports Trove employees’ children who demonstrate academic promise and character.
Aguilar’s work and leadership reflect the enduring Marianist values of faith, service, community
and a lifelong commitment to doing good in the world.