Dear Colleagues,
Despite her best efforts to keep it quiet, some of you may have heard that Theresa Walker, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Research and Director of the Office for Innovation Development and Commercialization is retiring today. Theresa has been a tremendous asset to the University at Albany in her almost 17 years here. During her tenure, the University has filed 309 disclosures, 231 US patent applications and has had 54 US patents issued. She negotiated 67 licenses and the University has recovered $2.8 million in licensing revenue.
We will miss her wise counsel on issues relating to technology transfer but also a wide range of other matters critical to the University. Many of you know of her other contributions besides protecting your intellectual property, licensing your patented technologies and trade secrets, and copyrighting your work. Dr. Walker has played a critically important role spending countless hours contributing to the development of contracts and agreements on behalf of our faculty and staff. Working with staff of the Division of Research, and the Division of Finance and Administration, then working with State Agencies and Industry she has advocated to codify the academic and intellectual property rights of our researchers and then follow through with negotiation, often with intransigent partners. In addition, she has been extremely active in the encouragement and development of our young student entrepreneurs.
Theresa has always been exemplary in her deep respect for others, her collegial and transparent representation, and her excellent stewardship of her office’s responsibilities. While we are truly sad for her departure, and will miss her greatly, we are delighted at her excitement about the freedom she will enjoy in retirement.
A search for a permanent Director is underway. Peter Gonczlik, who has been in the Office for Innovation Development and Commercialization for almost 12 years, will step in as Acting Director.
James A. Dias, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research – University at Albany
Professor of Biomedical Sciences
Campus Research Officer – Research Foundation
Operations Manager – Research Foundation
Office of the Vice President for Research
University Hall 307
University at Albany
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
Tel: 518 956 8170
Fax: 518 956 8175
