Trey Sprinkman ’96 is a U.S. Army veteran and serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the private sector. As the president and co-owner of Sprinkman Real Estate and Sprinkman Design Collective, he is passionate about staying connected with his alma mater, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in consumer science. Sprinkman serves as a member of the School of Human Ecology Dean’s Advisory Board and regularly hires Human Ecology students and alumni in internship and staff roles. A strong proponent of paid internships, Sprinkman is driven to ensure that students have the opportunity to complete internships without worry about financial restrictions.
You have hired Human Ecology students and alumni as interns and staff — what do they bring to their roles?
The students and alumni from the School of Human Ecology who we’ve hired have high levels of empathy and understanding. They are able to interpret the needs of our interior design clients, translating feedback into spaces that capture the essence of the individual. Human Ecology students and alums care deeply about what they do and the lives they touch. They quickly form trusting relationships that are critical in allowing our clients to willingly invite us to transform their most intimate space: their home.
As human ecologists, these professionals look to improve people’s lives by taking a human-centric approach in all they do. Focusing on the betterment of others’ environments is a motivating reason to not only come to work each day, but to also live a positive life.
How do you and your team at Sprinkman Interior Design incorporate sustainability and innovation in your work?
Our team is dedicated to constant improvement. In addition to always asking ourselves and one another “What can we do better next time?”, we keep up with the latest in design and sustainable practices. We are committed to working with vendors, suppliers and builders who do the same and are committed to using sustainable practices within their own businesses.
What makes you proud to be an alum of the School of Human Ecology?
The Consumer Science program (now Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies) gave me a phenomenal start to emerge as a confident, well-versed business and entrepreneurial person. From the knowledgeable, experienced professors, to the rigorous and varied course load, the School of Human Ecology is positioned to offer all of its students a great start in their professional careers upon graduation.
In your time as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board, what accomplishment stands out to you?
Since I joined the Dean’s Advisory Board in 2017, I have spent time helping Dean Soyeon Shim and the school find ways to work toward providing all students with paid internships. During my first few years on the board, we raised thousands of dollars to support students whose internships would have otherwise been unpaid.
Every Human Ecology student’s internship is an opportunity for them to gain knowledge and insights within their field and industry. I was fortunate to complete a paid internship when I was a student. I believe every student deserves to be paid for their time and talents when working as an intern.