From ASU labs to the University of Silicon Valley, Jon Relvas is turning student ideas into real-world industry impact across Arizona.
In a sunlit lab at Arizona State University, a team of students huddled over laptops, designing solutions for real-world challenges at companies like NASA, Starbucks, and Zoom. Behind the scenes was Jon Relvas, the connector who turns ideas into action.
Relvas arrived at ASU’s R&D lab in 2020, a place rich with student talent but with few corporate partnerships. With a career spanning two decades in strategic business development across technology, software, professional services, and nonprofit sectors, he brought a practical, execution-oriented approach—and a belief that students learn best by doing.
“Jon and I both shared a relentless drive for execution, and a belief in getting things done. Together, we took that drive and grew a portfolio of R&D partnerships that included some of the world’s most respected companies: Zoom, Procter & Gamble, NASA, Adidas, Starbucks, and many others. Jon was instrumental in building that bridge between our student innovators and global industry leaders,” says Dr. Mark Naufel, then director of the ASU lab and now president of the University of Silicon Valley (USV).
These partnerships weren’t just logos on a wall. They were opportunities for students to work directly on industry projects, gaining hands-on experience that would set the stage for their careers. After ASU, Relvas took his expertise to Northeastern University, serving as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, where he strengthened talent pipelines, workforce programs, and collaborative research initiatives.
Before his academic career, Relvas spent more than 20 years in leadership roles at companies including Aspect Software, Pearson, TTEC, and Insight. This blend of corporate and academic experience gives him a rare perspective. He understands what companies need, how universities can deliver it, and how students can thrive in the gap between.
An Arizona native, Relvas earned both his bachelor’s degree in Purchasing and Logistics Management and his MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU. He also serves on the board of Upward for Children and Families, supporting children with special needs and their families—a reflection of his commitment to community that extends beyond professional achievements.
Joining a Leadership Team Rooted in Arizona Innovation
At USV, Relvas joins a leadership team already steeped in Arizona innovation. Dr. Naufel has spent his career advancing real-world, interdisciplinary learning, including founding the Luminosity Lab at ASU, where students tackled complex global problems and competed internationally.
Robert Vera, Chief Experience and Partnership Officer, brings experience mentoring student founders and building early-stage startup ecosystems. At Grand Canyon University, he helped launch a venture accelerator that gave students access to mentorship, investors, and national exposure.
Together, the team is redefining what higher education can look like: student-centered, industry-integrated, and relentlessly relevant. The old walls between academia and industry, they argue, must come down.
Why This Matters for Arizona
Relvas’s journey—from corporate strategy to academic partnership leadership—illustrates the power of purposeful connections. At USV, students will gain real-world experience, companies will tap emerging talent, and Arizona’s ecosystem will continue to shine on a national stage.
“It’s about turning ideas into action,” Relvas says. “When students, faculty, and industry work together, everyone benefits. That’s what we’re building here at USV.”
As the University of Silicon Valley grows, one thing is clear: Arizona’s students, companies, and communities are poised to see innovation in action like never before—and Jon Relvas is leading the charge.
