Jennifer Spencer ’93 and her husband, David, are making UTSA and San Antonio a bold destination

David and Jennifer Spencer traveled to Memphis in 2021 to cheer on the Roadrunners, who staged a memorable comeback victory over the Tigers that afternoon.

NOVEMBER 21, 2024 — Jennifer ’93 and David Spencer have dedicated much of their lives to advancing UTSA and San Antonio’s military community through philanthropic generosity and medical innovation. The pair have contributed to a range of university initiatives, making gifts in support of engineering, cybersecurity, Athletics, the Honors College, scholarships for immigrant students, The Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band (SOSA) and student life.

Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics for Teaching from the UTSA College of Sciences. She credits UTSA’s supportive and welcoming environment for helping her succeed following her gap between high school and college.

“I was a non-traditional student,” Jennifer said. “I waited seven years to get serious about college.”

Jennifer’s UTSA degree led to a career as a middle school teacher in San Antonio, where she worked for several years before transitioning to the finance industry, which led to her collaborative work with her husband, David.

“Seeing the university's growth over the years has been amazing. It has transformed into a world-class, comprehensive university.”

Jennifer and David joined their son, Sam, on the field at a recent UTSA football game. Sam is a freshman studying music education and is a member of The Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band.

As a couple, the entrepreneurs have launched various companies that have supported software development, health care solutions and trauma care for the U.S. military.

In 1996, the Spencers founded OnBoard Software, a software development company that provided engineering, software and other services to the U.S. Department of Defense and military contractors. Jennifer served as vice president and treasurer, and guided by the Spencers, the company grew and culminated in its sale to MTC Technologies for $34 million in 2005.  

The Spencers became involved with UTSA in the mid-1990s, during a period of growth for what is now the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. They focused on supporting the university’s cybersecurity initiatives and improving the student experience. The pair was particularly drawn to UTSA’s desire to become a “destination campus,” where students could live, learn and engage with the community.

"As a former commuter student, seeing the university's growth over the years has been amazing. It has transformed far beyond the school I attended into a world-class, comprehensive university,” Jennifer said. “It’s been a true joy to witness UTSA’s evolution, and I’m proud to be playing a small part in helping that vision come to life."

Jennifer points to their son, Sam, a UTSA freshman studying music education in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts and a member of the SOSA Marching Band as proof of that vision.

“Sam looked at several schools, but UTSA was his overwhelming favorite. He said he felt right at home,” Jennifer said. “Access to a fast paced and fulfilling on campus life was a big factor in his decision.”

In 2007, the Spencers established the David and Jennifer Spencer Distinguished Chair for the Dean in Engineering to enhance the student experience through engineering initiatives promoting creativity and teamwork.

The couple has also supported UTSA Athletics, including a $250,000 gift in 2009 to help launch Roadrunners Football. In 2020, they contributed another $250,000 to support the construction of the Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence.

"What's good for UTSA is good for San Antonio," David said. "Every vibrant community has a top-quality public institution of higher education. Supporting our flagship university is essential for San Antonio. Today, UTSA is remarkable. It benefits not only the city, but the state, the country and even the world."

The Spencers founded Texas Intrepid Ventures in 2008 to drive economic growth and support businesses aligned with their commitment to advancing health care solutions, particularly those benefiting veterans and military communities in San Antonio. This work led David to found Prytime Medical Devices Inc in 2011, which is dedicated to developing improved trauma care solutions. Among the products to come out of Prytime is the Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) device, a minimally invasive solution designed to control internal bleeding prior to and during surgery.

David continues to honor Jennifer’s alma mater by hiring several UTSA alumni and offering internships to current students. Of Prytime’s 35 employees, four are UTSA graduates.

“I believe UTSA’s greatest asset is its students. They are incredible ambassadors and exceptionally talented,” David said. “Their skills and dedication reflect the high standards that UTSA upholds. When we look for the brightest talent, UTSA consistently delivers. These students are exactly the kind of forward-thinking professionals our industry needs.”

With the anticipated integration of UTSA and UT Health San Antonio, the Spencers envision a promising future for military medical research and commercialization in San Antonio, one that they hope will position UTSA as a national leader.

“We feel so blessed to live in San Antonio, to support UTSA, and to work with people who genuinely care about the military and our community,” Jennifer said. “UTSA is a gift that will keep giving for generations to come.”

— Jordan Allen