San Diego Business Journal – January 23, 2026

Tyson & Mendes co-founder Robert Tyson is headed back to his alma mater Villanova University, this time as a member of the school’s board of trustees. The attorney who coined the term for excessive jury awards in lawsuits – “nuclear verdicts” – and defends companies from them has kept a close relationship with Villanova for many years and previously served as president of the San Diego chapter of the Villanova University Alumni Association and as a member of the school’s President’s Advisory Council.

Tyson also tapped Villanova University School of Business Professor Nathan Coates to help launch insurtech startup Schaefer City Technologies.

Tyson described Villanova as playing “a formative role” in his career.