Doster and Porter featured in 40 Under 40
UCCS is proud to have many in the Mountain Lion family that are working hard and innovating within their community, and two of them were recently honored with the 40 Under 40 designation from Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest.
Staff members Luke Doster, El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) Acting Strategic Program Director, and Seth Porter, Ph.D., Dean of the Kraemer Family Library and Senior Executive Director of Innovation and Technology, were each featured in the publication’s 40 Under 40 list of 2025.
Luke Doster, El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) Acting Strategic Program Director
Doster, who is an alumnus of the UCCS College of Business, was recognized for his work in community service, entrepreneurship and innovation in higher education and local businesses.
“There were some really great people that also were listed and to be among them feels a bit surreal,” said Doster. “It is pretty cool to have the actual award as well. I always loved those laser etched glass awards and now I have one of my own!”
Spearheading the Venture Attractor program and helping establish the UCCS Garage startup incubator, Doster has mentored and bolstered emerging entrepreneurs while securing thousands in grant funding.
“I am most proud of the Torch Grants awards,” shared Doster. “The Torch Grants wouldn’t be possible without donors like Jim Waldrop, All Pro Capital, the College of Business or the amazing companies I have had the honor to work with over the years. I’m a middleman between these two incredible groups of people and it is truly a blessing to be able to work so closely with such high quality people.”
Doster dedicates much of his time volunteering locally with the SOCO Cru Youth Ministry and Lion’s Den Pitch Competition at UCCS. He also founded Spot Together, an online application to help college students build communities within their courses. As noted by Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest, “Doster’s contributions to connect, inspire and mobilize individuals have left a lasting impact on the community.”
“I’d also like to give a massive shoutout to Dirk Hobbs, the Colorado Media Group, and the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest,” Doster said. “They brought back this award and spent a tremendous amount of effort and finances to honor people from our community. That sort of thing is what makes Colorado Springs such an incredible place to live but also grow both personally and professionally.”
[Headshot of Seth Porter]
Seth Porter, Ph.D., Dean of the Kraemer Family Library and Senior Executive Director of Innovation and Technology
Porter, who holds several graduate degrees, was acknowledged for his efforts in higher education, innovation and volunteering. As Dean of the UCCS Kraemer Family Library, he helped earn the 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity Award.
“Recognition like this always feels unexpected because the focus day-to-day is just on doing the work,” said Porter. “It’s meaningful, not so much for me personally, but because it reflects the incredible work happening at UCCS. The teams I work with, especially through the library and C3, are doing some truly forward-thinking, impactful work. This acknowledgment feels more like a recognition of their efforts than anything else.”
As founder of C3 Innovation, Porter facilitates connections between UCCS faculty, staff and students and local organizations to champion curiosity, creativity and community – the three Cs of C3.
“I’m most proud of the projects the Kraemer Family Library has led to reimagine what an academic library can be, and of building C3 alongside my partner Ben Kwitek to help push innovation forward in higher education,” Porter said. “Both are deeply collaborative efforts, and I’m lucky to work with people who are so committed to doing meaningful, future-focused work.”
Through research and volunteering with the Colorado Wine Industry Board, Porter has been “instrumental in promoting strategic development and quality assurance of emerging wine regions,” from the 40 Under 40 testimonial. His research explores the intersection of local agriculture, tourism and regional identity.