Alumni Key to College of Arts and Sciences Commercialization Efforts

The College of Arts and Sciences is leveraging its alumni to increase commercialization success.  Alumni involved in the Dean’s Advisory Committee and the Technology Oversight Committee (TOC) donate their skills, knowledge, and experience to advise faculty and startups.

The Deans Advisory Committee’s Commercialization and Tech Transfer Subcommittee is committed to supporting the college’s efforts with commercialization and industry engagement.  Members of the subcommittee advised ASC’s new Office of Industry Partnerships and Research Collaborations during the strategic planning process and continue to provide valuable perspective as experienced business leaders and entrepreneurs.  They support activities that foster an entrepreneurial culture and suggest programs to advance faculty innovation activity such as the Inspire Innovation grant program.  

"The collaboration between our alumni and the College has been incredibly impactful,” said Dean Olesik, dean of Natural and Mathematical

Sciences. “Having such dedicated and exceptional alumni is a true asset, driving our innovations forward with their unwavering support and expertise."

The College’s Technology Oversight Committee, made up of alumni members with business, technical, and entrepreneurial experience, is deeply engaged with faculty inventors and entrepreneurs. Formed in 2016 by Dean Susan Olesik, who was then the department chair for the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the Technology Oversight Committee (TOC) provides feedback and mentorship to faculty who are pursuing commercialization of their inventions.  The committee is managed by Cheryl Yeack and Elizabeth Drotleff, from the Office of Industry Partnerships and Research Collaborations, and led by alumnus Dr. Gary Booth, VP Procter & Gamble (retired).  The TOC is now college-wide with alumni representing multiple disciplines and plays a significant role by providing industry-focused perspectives on the commercial impact of inventions, market applications, and business plan development. The engagement of the TOC members has propelled College inventions to greater commercialization success and within a shorter time horizon.

"We care deeply about mentoring faculty because we know the incredible potential their innovations have to impact society,” Booth said. “Sharing our industry experience and insights is our way of giving back and ensuring their groundbreaking research reaches its full potential in the marketplace." 

Prolific inventors, such as Dr. Dehua Pei, deeply appreciate the opportunity to engage with TOC members.

"Working with the Technology Oversight Committee has been incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Pei said. “Their insights and mentorship have been instrumental in advancing our research from the lab to the marketplace, significantly accelerating our commercialization efforts."The college celebrates the efforts of its alumni and is appreciative of these partnerships that have contributed to the College’s increasingly valuable commercialization success