ASU forms non-profit organization
dedicated solely to support research

July 18, 2005 -- Arkansas State University in Jonesboro has formed a non-profit organization with its own governing board established solely to promote research and scholarly activities of ASU faculty and staff.

Early last week, the board of directors was approved and met for the first time, establishing the bylaws. “We’re still working on our actual name and developing a logo,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hood, associate vice chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer at ASU.

The board of directors include: Dr. Barry Marrs of AthenaBio in Newark, Del.; former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater of the Patten Boggs Law Firm in Washington, D.C.; Julie Ellis of the Butler Snow Law Firm in Memphis, Tenn.; Nancy Chrisman of the Jonesboro Central Planning Commission; Dr. Connie Meeks of Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Jonesboro; Dr. Glenn Bowers of Syngenta, in Bay; and John Freeman of Liberty Bank in Jonesboro. ASU President Dr. Leslie Wyatt and Dr. Susan Allen, vice chancellor for Research and Academic Affairs, serve as ex-officio members.

“This group was formed to support research and innovation and to move those innovations into the community in northeast Arkansas. We will support and encourage knowledge-based technology for our faculty members across all disciplines. Then through business development, we’ll be taking that research or technology to industry in the area as well as creating new businesses,” said Dr. Hood.
In addition, the organization will solicit and manage non-government grants and contracts for research and support the processing of intellectual property and licensing of patents.

The new ASU Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI) will be a major component, she said, although this non-profit organization will support research among all of ASU’s 11 colleges.

According to Dr. Hood, establishing separate research organizations or non-profits is common among universities in the country.

ASU President Dr. Les Wyatt has encouraged the formation of this research support function, stating: “this will give assistance to faculty members who wish to commercialize their intellectual property and to add an additional revenue stream to the university’s income.”

She said, “having a separate non-profit organization with its own governing board of directors allows for more flexibility in structuring agreements with businesses. We are excited about this new opportunity to assist ASU by increasing its research presence in the state.”


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