Speakers: Debra Lam, Founding Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, and Clarence Anthony, the inaugural Workforce Development Program Manager for the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation.

Abstract: Traditionally, research labs rely on, and benefits from, the work of undegraduate and graduate research assistants and visiting reseachers/scholars, with many being on track for the professoriate. However, higher education can benefit from engaging in increased opportunities that develop talent pools that are fluent in, and capable in building, public-private partnerships. This session will showcase how the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation’s Fellowship and Internship programs has leveraged early career talent to bolster research and economic development activities.

Bios:
Debra Lam is the Founding Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a statewide public-private partnership committed to investing in innovative solutions for shared economic prosperity. She continues to lead smart communities and urban innovation work at Georgia Tech. Prior to this, she served as Pittsburgh’s inaugural Chief of Innovation & Performance where she oversaw all technology, sustainability, performance, and innovation functions of city government. Before that, she was a management consultant at a global engineering and design firm, Arup. She has received various awards, including being named one of the top 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitcal. She has worked and lived in the United Kingdom, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. A graduate of Georgetown University and the University of California, Berkeley, Debra serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta and was most recently appointed by the U.S Department of Commerce to the Internet of Things Advisory Board.

Clarence Anthony Jr. is the inaugural Workforce Development Program Manager for the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation. His goal is to develop initiatives that engage current and emerging talent in capitalizing on their strengths and developing new skills to build a strong workforce within the Southeast region. Clarence has 12 years of experience in higher education, working in career services and student affairs. Prior to joining the partnership, he worked at the Georgia Tech Career Center, University of Michigan, and University of Florida Career Centers serving student-athletes, first-generation and low-income college students, and graduate students. Clarence holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Florida, a Master of Arts in psychological counseling from Columbia University, a Doctor of Philosophy in counseling and counselor education from the University of Florida, and a Master of Business Administration program at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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IPaT: GVU Lunch Lecture Series