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Partnership Portal

Partner Engagement Strategy

Chancellor–launched initiative focuses on streamlining and enhancing corporate engagement across NC State.

Improving University-Wide Partner Engagement

NC State is implementing a new plan to maximize partnership impact by improving coordination of corporate engagement across campus. A few of the benefits of this more holistic approach include:

  • Internal clarity on routing of opportunities.
  • Improved entry points and navigation for current and prospective partners.
  • Overall strengthened alignment to maximize mutual value exchange.

About the Corporate Relations Task Force

To best position NC State for the future, in November 2022 Chancellor Woodson launched an internal task force to optimize university-wide corporate engagement. The Corporate Relations Task Force was charged with creating a more collaborative model for industry partnerships and corporate relations that aligns roles and responsibilities across the university, while defining appropriate goals and success measures. 

Associate Vice Chancellor for Partnerships Mark Schmidt served as chair of the task force, which consisted of internal stakeholders representing relevant functions throughout NC State. Strategic recommendations have been finalized and implementation, known as the Partner Engagement Strategy, is underway. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Partnerships Dawn Mason is leading the Partner Engagement Strategy, working collaboratively with the Principals Committee and Workgroup.

For additional background about the task force, including how these efforts will further enhance the university’s corporate engagement, click here.

Partnership Vision

To be widely recognized as the leading land-grant university for partnering with industry, government and nonprofit entities, propelling extraordinary economic growth throughout the region, state, nation and world.

Principal Committee Members

  • Mark Schmidt, Ph.D. – Associate Vice Chancellor, Partnerships
  • Dawn Mason, Ph.D. – Assistant Vice Chancellor, Partnerships
  • Keisha Demps – Director, Partnerships
  • Genevieve Garland, Ph.D. – Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Research Development and Operations, and Chief of Staff, Office of Research and Innovation
  • Alicia Knight – Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, Office of Finance and Administration
  • Chris Boyer – Assistant Vice Chancellor, Strategic Brand Management
  • Samara Hannah – Executive Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations
  • David Hinks, Ph.D. – Dean, Wilson College of Textiles  
  • Megan Jacob, Ph.D. – Senior Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Karen Hollebrands, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Education
  • Denis Provencher, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
  • Rob Scheller, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Natural Resources 
  • Soolyeon Cho, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Design 
  • Chris Frey, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Engineering 
  • Lex Kemper, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Sciences 
  • Josh Stern, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
  • Vikas Anand, Ph.D. – Associate Dean, Poole College of Management