Somiah Lattimore named executive director of the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs
Lattimore will replace Sean Collins, who has been serving as the interim director since 2023.
Somiah Lattimore M.A. '09 has been named executive director of the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs.
“We are pleased to welcome Somiah to the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs,” said Saonee Sarker, dean of the Pamplin College of Business. “Her expertise in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial thinking directly supports our college’s strategic priorities and strengthens our commitment to preparing students for success in a rapidly changing business world.”
Lattimore comes to Virginia Tech from the University of Richmond, where she served as the founding and senior director of the Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship initiative. She also held roles at Virginia Commonwealth University and worked previously at Virginia Tech, where she launched FourDesign, a student-run design studio, as its inaugural director in 2009.
“An entrepreneurial mindset is central to the Pamplin student experience,” Lattimore said. “If we can combine that mindset with the spirit of Ut Prosim and service, we can position our students for success after Virginia Tech as true Hokies who can support their communities and organizations.”
One strategy Lattimore brings to the Apex Center that supports this entrepreneurial mindset is discovery.
“While the center is housed within the Pamplin College of Business, my vision for Apex is to become Virginia Tech’s hub for discovery — where any student, from engineering to the arts, can test ideas, build ventures, and gain the confidence to lead. Entrepreneurship thrives when perspectives collide, and we want Apex to be that collision point,” Lattimore said. “We are also here to support our alumni and faculty who may be finding business and entrepreneurship later into their careers, just as I did, and break down the barriers that are in their way.”
Lattimore has been a catalyst for building entrepreneurial ecosystems across various industries, launching companies ranging from design to consumer products, and beyond, while also investing as an early-stage backer. Her work has not only shaped innovation curricula at universities and accelerator programs, but also contributed to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Virginia. By bridging start-ups, academia, investment, and community, she brings a vision for how Virginia Tech can empower Hokies to lead with purpose and impact in every field.
Now, she will step into this role as the center marks its 10th year. The Apex Center for Entrepreneurs, housed within the Pamplin College of Business, inspires and empowers Virginia Tech students to turn their passion, purpose, and ideas into action. The center offers interdisciplinary programs to any Hokie, from any major and any year with the opportunity to engage in all phases of the entrepreneurship and new venture development process, and encourages alumni to interface with the next generations of entrepreneurs.
Lattimore earned a bachelor's degree in art and a Master of Fine Art in graphic design from Radford University. She has a Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech.
