From vision to value: Women impacting STEM through intellectual property

Dr. Almesha L. Campbell is an exemplary leader in research, technology transfer, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development, particularly within the academic realm where she serves as the Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University. Dr. Campbell has secured federal grants and contracts for innovation, entrepreneurship, and research translation programs, amassing approximately $12 million since 2016. This underscores her commitment to advancing research translation and promoting underrepresented minorities' participation in innovation and entrepreneurship. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Board of Directors and an honorary member of the National Academy of Inventors.

As the Eastern Regional Outreach Director for the USPTO, Elizabeth Dougherty carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the USPTO's East Coast stakeholder engagement. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Ms. Dougherty ensures the USPTO's initiatives and programs are tailored to the region's unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.

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Dr. Carol Feghali-Bostwick is a Distinguished University Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. She currently holds the Kitty Trask Holt and SmartState Endowed Chair and serves as the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Development, and Wellness in the College of Medicine. Dr. Feghali-Bostwick’s research interests focus on fibrosis across organs and disorders such as systemic sclerosis/scleroderma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. She holds multiple patents. She is the founder and director of the Coaching and Resources for Entrepreneurial Women (CREW) program which provides coaching and mentoring in entrepreneurship to women in National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutional Development Awards Program (IDeA) states. She also launched #STEMLIKEAGIRL, a program that encourages girls to engage in STEM.

Dr. Elizabeth Loboa has served as Southern Methodist University's (SMU) Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs since July 2020. She brings a distinguished academic record and broad university leadership experience to the role. At SMU, she has successfully challenged community members to establish academic priorities through the duration of the current strategy plan to allow SMU to reach its full potential as a premiere research and teaching university with global impact. As a trained biomedical engineer and established researcher, Loboa understands the importance of data and reporting structures that will best shape and define the university's academic structure. She has a deep commitment to transparency and has opened up multiple avenues for consistent and open communication across the university.

Loboa has been recognized for her work as an engineer, inventor, researcher, and leader. She is a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academy of Inventors, the American Society of Medical Engineers, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. She is the recipient of the University of California Davis Distinguished Engineering Alumni Medal, as well as the Stanford University Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award. She was also recently inducted into SMU's Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society.

Prior to SMU, Loboa was the first woman to serve as dean of the University of Missouri's College of Engineering and Ketcham Professor of the College of Engineering. She also served as vice chancellor for strategic partnerships at Missouri. She received both her doctorate in mechanical engineering and her master's degree in biomechanical engineering from Stanford University and earned her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from University of California Davis. 

Dr. Cassandra Quave is a writer, professor, speaker, podcast host, mother, explorer, and ethnobotanist. She is an endowed Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health, Herbarium Curator, and Assistant Dean of Research Cores at Emory University, where she leads anti-infective drug discovery research initiatives and teaches courses on medicinal plants, food, and health. Quave is a Guggenheim Fellow, Fellow of the Explorer’s Club, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and recipient of the National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communication. 

Quave’s research has been profiled in the New York Times Magazine, BBC Science Focus, PBS, NPR, and the National Geographic Channel. She writes a biweekly newsletter on Substack, "Nature’s Pharmacy," and has authored pieces for The Conversation, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. 

Jamie Renee serves as the Executive Director for the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Before assuming the role as Executive Director, she served for two years as the Senior Advisor to the Academy's founder and president, Dr. Paul Sanberg, overseeing strategic partnerships, board engagement, and team development. As Executive Director, she is committed to growing the impact of NAI through strategic partnerships and intentional member engagement and making strides in reaching and involving underrepresented populations in the innovation and invention ecosystem.

Jamie has a heart for humanity and a mind for business. She has more than 25 years of corporate and nonprofit experience, having served in leadership roles within Home Depot, OAI, The Children's Home, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity. An alumna of the University of North Florida, Jamie is certified in strength-based professional coaching from Gallup, social responsibility planning from Yale, and culture creation from Harvard.

Before her appointment at the Academy, Jamie founded Good Day Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and culture alignment. Her firm worked with organizations and leaders committed to leveraging best practices that put people first and build a culture of inclusivity, trust, and cohesion. She has extensive experience developing and implementing strategic plans, leadership and team coaching, and project implementation. Having overseen multiple mergers and acquisitions, her passion for building cohesive teams and inspiring positive change helps take teams and operations to new levels.

Jamie is an avid lifelong learner and loves to teach what she learns. As part of her commitment to "be the good in the world," she founded Engage364, a nonprofit focused on mobilizing business leaders to engage with at-risk youth to help them discover and make a plan for their purpose.