Florida State University has hired a new associate vice president of strategic partnerships and innovation to boost the commercial development of the university’s innovations, with a particular focus on the technology transfer process and business engagement.
Valerie Landrio McDevitt, currently an executive director with the AdventHealth Research Institute in Orlando, will assume the post on Dec. 7.
“We are thrilled to have a leader with Valerie’s wealth of experience joining our team,” said Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson. “In this new role, McDevitt will be responsible for driving transformative and sustainable initiatives to expand our innovation ecosystem.”
McDevitt is an established leader in the higher education research community with 25 years of experience in the development and commercialization of technology. She was the former Associate Vice President for new venture development at the University of South Florida where she spent over 18 years supporting research and technology commercialization including incubation, strategic planning, startup funding, technology transfer, economic development, external engagement, and related grants and contracts.
At USF, McDevitt elevated the technology transfer program to one of the top 20 ranked by the prestigious Milken Institute. In 2019, McDevitt moved to the AdventHealth Research Institute, where she has had leadership and operational responsibility for sponsored programs, research integrity and compliance, corporate site management, portfolio management and technology transfer.
She has been an investigator on several grants related to building economic development programs and serves on the BioFlorida Executive Committee and AUTM Public Policy Committee.
McDevitt received her master’s degree from the University of Florida in analytical chemistry and her law degree from Emory University. She is a member of both the Florida and Patent Bars.
“I am passionate about the role of research and innovation in driving social and economic growth,” McDevitt said. “I look forward to contributing to the efforts of the outstanding leadership team, faculty and staff at Florida State to further expand the university’s impact in innovation and partnerships.”
As AVP of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation, McDevitt will oversee the FSU Office of Commercialization and the Office of Business and Industry Solutions as well as faculty recognition efforts. She will report to Patterson and serve as a member of the Office of Research’s senior leadership team.
“Entrepreneurship and business engagement are major priorities for FSU, and I am looking forward to working with Valerie to build upon our efforts in this area,” Patterson said. “We have been spending a lot of time on this, and Valerie coming on board is an important piece of that puzzle.”
In addition to hiring McDevitt, FSU has put a number of policies and initiatives in motion over the past year to spur entrepreneurship at the university, including:
- Fast Start, a simplified tech transfer program that will allow FSU researchers to bring their own technology to market quickly.
- 1Clik Licensing, a program that allows industry to license FSU technologies the same way a shopper puts something in an Amazon cart.
- A new partnership with Tallahassee-based incubator Domi Station, allowing greater access to FSU’s research and development resources while giving FSU faculty and students the opportunity to work with DOMI businesses on projects and internships.