2025 Fall Commencement • December 13, 2025

St. Mary’s University celebrates accomplishments of University and Law graduates at Fall Commencement

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.