菲尔·沃尔泽
Three Old Dominion University leaders – Sarah Jane Kirkland, Kevin Leslie and Gymama Slaughter – have been named to Virginia Business magazine’s 100 People to Meet list for 2024.
The magazine described the people on the list as “fascinating newsmakers, professionals and go-getters worthy of your valuable networking time.”
Kirkland and Leslie were designated as “rainmakers.” In the recently created position of associate vice president for corporate partnerships, Kirkland “is building bridges between academia and the corporate world, creating new opportunities for partnership and growth,” the magazine said.
柯克兰说, “It is my vision that by intentionally engaging business and industry, we will develop a strong educational ecosystem that will not only support the talent development of our students but will also attract businesses to the region, providing more economic opportunity for everyone in our community.” She was previously president and CEO of the Civic 领导 Institute.
Leslie was appointed the University’s first associate vice president for innovation and commercialization. He is the former executive director of the Hampton Roads 生物医学 研究 Consortium.
“We work closely with faculty, 工作人员, and small businesses to protect and develop their ideas, explore pathways for bringing those ideas to the marketplace, and connect them to resources and opportunities,莱斯利说. “Companies and organizations from the regional ecosystem are critical partners, and we’re grateful to have so many.”
Slaughter, executive director of the 研究 Center for Bioelectronics, was listed as an “innovator.” She focuses on “research to diagnose and treat cancer without invasive surgery,” Virginia Business said. “She’s also involved with community outreach to engage young people, especially from underrepresented minority groups, in STEM-related fields.”
Slaughter has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and received the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award, recognizing commitment to research and student learning.