University of Michigan today named Kelly Sexton (pictured), assistant vice-chancellor at North Carolina State University (NC State), as its associate vice-president for research, technology transfer and innovation partnerships.
Sexton will begin the role on January 16, having been approved by Michigan’s Board of Regents today.
She will guide the university’s innovation and tech transfer activities from U-M Tech Transfer while also fostering ties with public and private bodies thought integral to the innovation ecosystem.
U-M Tech Transfer generated 12 new companies during the 2017 fiscal year, securing 173 option or licence agreements and processing the disclosure of 444 inventions.
Sexton has worked at NC State since 2006, starting out as a senior licensing associate before becoming director of the office of technology and transfer in 2013, and then assistant vice-chancellor for technology and new ventures as part of a departmental reorganisation in 2016.
The latter role gave Sexton responsibility for a $5m proof-of-concept fund set up to reinforce the commercial potential of NC State inventions. She also led the launch of an alumni angel network, while helping the university increase its startups, licences and options.
She originally began her career in research commercialisation after practising as a postdoctoral research fellow at Stanford University, taking on licensing and contracts internships at that institution’s office of technology licensing in 2006.
Sexton said: “What excites me about this position is the opportunity for [University of Michigan] to strengthen the investment and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state.
“The university is poised to be such an economic driver for the state. I want to be a part of that.”
S. Jack Hu, the vice-president for research at University of Michigan whose office oversees U-M Ventures, added: “Building stronger processes and partnerships to ensure that the results of University of Michigan research can be applied to the benefit of society is a critical part of our mission as a public research university.
“Kelly Sexton’s expertise and experience in all facets of this endeavour will help us strengthen University of Michigan’s reputation for creativity and innovation while broadening our impact on society.”
– Image courtesy of LinkedIn
