Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
GRANTS EXPO & RESEARCH WEEK
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Thursday, April 22, 2021 Innovation and Tech Transfer: What is in it for me? 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM The Commercializer, LLC presents: "Innovation and Tech Transfer" Moderators:
Janeya Griffin, The Commercializer™ - a strategy consultant, serial and social entrepreneur, advocate for Intellectual property, ownership, inclusive innovation, social justice, and generational wealth, specifically within underserved communities. A HBCU STEM graduate, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and the daughter of two formerly incarcerated individuals; at the young age of 16 she and her younger brother of 6 were introduced into the world of what it meant to experience hardship. Not knowing it would be a catalyst in helping her to fulfill her purpose. In addition, she is Co-founder and the Chief Strategy Officer of a creative agency called ConCreates, focused on serving the men, women, and children both behind and beyond bars, including changing the narrative and stigma behind how society views people with criminal histories and how people with criminal histories view themselves.
Nona Cheeks, MBA is founder/CEO of Innovatyr, LLC an applied science and technology consulting firm and former Chief of the Strategic Partnerships Office at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. In this role she directed the Technology Transfer, Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Research, and Global Partnerships initiatives. Nona has been an invited speaker to many domestic and international conferences on the topic of technology commercialization. Nona is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Loyola University of Maryland. She also studied and earned certificates in leadership and management at the University of Chicago’s School of Business and Simmons College. Nona enjoys working with youth and young adults in exploring technology commercialization and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Thursday, April 22, 2021 Innovation and Tech Transfer: What is in it for me? (Continued) Panelists:
Dr. Michael L. Curry currently
Donald H. White, Ph.D., is a
serves as an Associate Professor in
chemist from Richmond, Ca. and a
the Department of Chemistry and
graduate of John F. Kennedy High
Adjunct Associate Professor in the
School located on Richmond’s
Department of Materials Science
Southside in the heart of the San
and Engineering at Tuskegee
Francisco Bay Area.
University. He received his Bachelor
Dr. White earned his bachelor’s and
of Science degree in Chemistry
Master’s in Chemistry and his PhD in
with a minor in Mathematics from
Material Science & Engineering
the University of West Alabama and
from the illustrious Tuskegee
earned his PhD in Analytical
University. As a Tri-Alumnus, his
Chemistry from The University of
research includes the synthesis,
Alabama. As a university professor
derivation, and incorporation of
and researcher focused on building
nanocellulose into synthetic
a more sustainable future, Dr. Curry,
polymers. As a graduate student at
President, founder and CEO of
Tuskegee he was a part of one of
Eco-friendly Plastic Materials and
the largest multidisciplinary
The Color of STEM Foundation,
consortia funded by The National
dedicates his lifework to creating
Science Foundation: The Center for
the next wave of minority
Sustainable Nanotechnology (CSN).
innovators. His goal is to increase
Dr. White’s passion in research has
the number of highly trained
led him into his mission of STEM
minority professionals within the
education under the trade name Da
STEM and entrepreneurship
Chemist he goes into the public-
pipelines, strategically move the
school system to teach kids in
needle forward on minority-inspired
middle and high school the
innovation, and powerfully influence
importance of chemistry. This has
the movement of STEM diversity.
led Dr. White to author a children’s chemistry book which teaches basic laboratory skills and chemical concepts.