Austin, Texas – AUTM, a global non-profit whose members support the commercialization of academic research, welcomed its new chair, Almesha L. Campbell, Ph.D., who serves as assistant vice president for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University (JSU). She is the first Black person and the first from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to chair the AUTM Board of Directors.
Campbell, who has been an AUTM member since 2010, spoke at the close of AUTM’s Annual Meeting in Austin, urging attendees to join her in expanding AUTM’s vision of advancing innovation through inclusivity and collaboration.
“As equity, diversity, and inclusion have come to the forefront of corporate consciousness, AUTM was an early leader in ensuring that inclusion was adopted as one of its pillars,” Campbell told the audience. “We have made progress to ensure access to people from diverse backgrounds, international regions, and industries – but we understand that more is to be done. So I thank AUTM’s Board for selecting me now and giving me this opportunity to help continue the organization’s vision.”
In her JSU role, Campbell provides strategic direction and vision for defining partnerships in commercialization and innovation between JSU and other institutions, funding agencies and industry stakeholders. She was instrumental in the development of JSU’s new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and leads National Science Foundation-funded initiatives designed to help change the perception of underrepresented minorities in both of those fields.
AUTM CEO Stephen Susalka said of Campbell “Almesha has been a passionate and strategic advocate for inclusivity as a catalyst for impactful innovation, and her guidance will help AUTM build on the progress we as an organization have made so far toward realizing that vision.”
President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., commended Campbell for continuing to shatter glass ceilings as she leads by example for JSU students interested in technology careers.
“On behalf of the Jackson State University community, I want to congratulate Dr. Campbell on this milestone achievement to chair AUTM,” said Hudson. “Her tenacity and passion for bringing technology and sustainability opportunities to our students is noteworthy. We wish her continued success.”
About AUTM
AUTM is the nonprofit leader in efforts to educate, promote and inspire professionals to support the development of academic research that changes the world and drives innovation forward. Our community is composed of more than 3,000 members who work in more than 800 universities, research centers, hospitals, businesses and government organizations around the globe. To learn more about AUTM, visit www.autm.net.
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Media Contact: Alonda Thomas, Alonda.Thomas@jsums.edu